The Majestic Quran

14. Ibrahim The Prophet Abraham This chapter was revealed in the late Makkan period, after the Prophet’s r journey to Taif, two years before the Hijrah. He planned to call the Banu Thaqif to Islam, only to be shockingly thrown out of the town and pelted with stones. The chapter begins and ends with a simple statement of the purpose of revelation: to affirm the Oneness of God, and to bring people out of the darkness of idolatry into the light of Tawhid . Why is true belief equated with gratitude, and so deserving of reward (7), while idolatry is associated with ingratitude ( kufr )? It is because everything upon which we rely for our existence ultimately comes from God. To pretend that it belongs to a carved statue or idol is frankly insulting to human dignity. Those who worship idols, including the modern materialist, are reminded (9–14) of the stories they knew about the disbelievers of Noah, Ad and Thamud. A graphic account of Hell (15–17) should remind them that punishment in this world will not be the end of it. Followed by two parables: first, the ashes scattered by the wind (18–20) to give ungrateful disbelievers pause to question the lasting value, if any, of the worldly wealth and power of which they’re so proud. The second is the parable of two trees (24–27), one firmly rooted and bearing fruit, and the other uprooted and slowly rotting. The chapter ends with an account of the anguished prayer of Abraham (35– 41), seeking forgiveness for himself, his parents, and his family. The impact of these words on the pagan Arabs, who took pride in their forefather, Abraham , could have been considerable.