Is Ideology of Islam "Millat-e-Ibrahim"
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Millat-e-Ibrahim
By ClearVision (http//www.clearvision.com.pk/perspectiveprint.php?id=8)
Principles in QuranSeries of essays on Concepts in Quran
For more info contact [email protected]Millat-e-Ibrahim
Updated Nov 2005
According to Quran, Prophet Abraham (PBUH) is the spiritual father of Islam. He was the first to coin the term Muslim for those who believe and submit to God. Quran says that there is an excellent example in him and those with him. His beliefs, values and thoughts are the guiding principles of Islam and collectively they can be termed as the ideology of Islam.
Quran uses the term Millat-e-Ibrahim for this ideology. This makes it the most important concept in Quran and the whole foundation of Islam rests upon it, because it provides the collection of thoughts, beliefs and values for everyone who follows Islam. There is so much emphasis on these principles that Quran says that a person only befools himself or herself if leaves the Millat-e-Ibrahim .
In this essay we will examine the meaning of the word Millat-e-Ibrahim, its context in Quran and the character of Prophet Abraham (PBUH) which is presented in Quran.
Meaning
Millat means a path or a way in Arabic. Millat-e-Ibrahim denotes the ideology of Prophet Abraham (PBUH) and how he reached them after a long intellectual and spiritual journey. Quran tells us about his experiences in the quest for the truth. How he considered a star, moon and sun as his Gods but rejected them as mere creatures and how he finally believed in their Creator . This whole journey is a guide for anyone who believes in God and follows Islam.
Context
This word Millat is used in 15 different verses of Quran in the following contexts
? Ten of them are related, either directly or indirectly, to the Prophet Abraham i.e. Millat-e- Ibrahim.
? Five of them used in the context when Messenger(s) were warned of persecution, if they do not convert back to the Millat of their people. Prophet Shoaib (PBUH) was warned by the establishment to convert back to their Millat . Some old messengers, whose names are not mentioned, were warned by their people, that they will be driven out of their land unless they return to the Millat of their people . And when the young men who hid in the cave said to each other that if they come to know of us they will either stone us or make us return to their Millat .
From this context it appears that Millat denotes the way of thinking of an individual or a group. It could be intellectual, spiritual, faith, religion or all of them.
What is the Path of Prophet Abraham?
Quran has consistently asserted that Prophet Abraham was Hanifa and he never associated falsehood with God i.e. no shirk. These are the two basic principles in Millat-e-Ibrahim
? Hanifa i.e. Uprightness
? Abstain from Shirk i.e. not associating falsehood with God
These can be better understood when we focus on his thoughts and character which is sketched in detail in Quran, as summarized below
? He was Hanifa i.e. an upright person.
? He did not associate any falsehood with God.
? He was a man with formidable intellects. His intellectual journey He questioned the creed of his people. He even questioned God on resurrection.
? He was fearless in his expression of faith. He argued with the religious establishment and the man who was given the kingdom.
? He was compassionate
? He was obedient to God.
? He was hospitable
Conclusion
Millat-e-Ibrahim is the ideology of Prophet Abraham. It is his faith on his creator, which was the logical end of his intellectual journey and how he held on to his faith by the principles of uprightness and not associating falsehood with God. His uprightness gave him steadfastness, spirit of sacrifice, compassion, and sense of justice. Therefore, God choose him as a model for human conduct forever.
Notes and References
604 ?Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim??
2120 ?never will Jews and Christians be pleased with you till you follow their Millat.?
2130 ?and who turns away from the Millat of Abraham except him who befools himself?
2135 ?and they say be Jews or Christians then you will be guided. Say no the Millat of Abraham the Upright??
395 ?say God has spoken the truth follow the Millat of Abraham the upright??
4125 ?and who can be better in deen than one who submits his face to God and is a good doer and follows the Millat of Abraham the upright and God did take Abraham as a friend.
6161 ?say truly my God has guided me to a straight path a right deen the Millat of Abraham the upright and did not associate falsehood with God?
1237 ?and I have abandoned the Millat of people who do not believe in God and Hereafter ?
1238 ?and have followed the Millat of my fathers, Abraham or Ibrahim , Issac or Ishaq and Jacob or Yaqoob.?
16123 ? and then we inspired you follow the Millat of Abraham the upright and he was not of those who associate falsehood with God?
2278 ??it is the Millat of your father Abraham??
1413, 1820, 387, 788-89
2135, 367, 395, 4125, 6161,16120 & 123
674 ?? do you take idols as Gods? Verily, I see you and your people in manifest error??
2260 ?? My Lord! Show me how you give life to the dead??
2258 ?Have you not turned your vision to one who disputed with Abraham??
1174 ??he began to plead with us for the people of lut??
5124-34 story of honored guests
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Dear mQuran
You have made a beautiful point. I can see the symbolism here.I believe that the thoughts and beliefs of Prophet Abraham(PBUH) is model for all of us who want to follow Islam. This is the spritual and moral platform where Muslims can gather. I see it as a great blessing of my creator and a great opportunity for all of us to build consensus. And allow me to say that this is a platform to build consensus also with the communities who were given scriptures before Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Salam