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Abraham, you and all future members of your family must promise to obey me.
Abraham, from now on your wife's name will be Sarah instead of Sarai.
Abraham bowed with his face to the ground and thought, “I am almost 100 years old. How can I become a father? And Sarah is 90. How can she have a child?” So he started laughing.
God finished speaking to Abraham and then left.
On that same day Abraham obeyed God by circumcising Ishmael. Abraham was also circumcised, and so were all the other men and boys in his household, including his servants and slaves. He was 99 years old at the time, and his son Ishmael was 13. Lord
One hot summer afternoon while Abraham was sitting by the entrance to his tent near the sacred trees of Mamre, the Lord appeared to him.
Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly ran to meet them, bowed with his face to the ground,
Abraham went quickly to his tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get a large sack of flour and make some bread.”
and they asked, “Where's your wife Sarah?” “She is right there in the tent,” Abraham answered.
One of the guests was the Lord , and he said, “I'll come back about this time next year, and when I do, Sarah will already have a son.” Sarah was behind Abraham, listening at the entrance to the tent.
Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was well past the age for having children.
The Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age?
When the three men got ready to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked part of the way with them.
The Lord said to himself, “I should tell Abraham what I am going to do,
I have chosen him to teach his family to obey me forever and to do what is right and fair. If they do, I will give Abraham many descendants, just as I promised.”
The Lord said, “Abraham, I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are doing all kinds of evil things.
The men turned and started toward Sodom. But the Lord stayed with Abraham.
And Abraham asked him, “ Lord , when you destroy the evil people, are you also going to destroy those who are good?
Abraham answered, “I am nothing more than the dust of the earth. Please forgive me, Lord , for daring to speak to you like this.
“Suppose there are just 40 good people?” Abraham asked. “Even for them,” the Lord replied, “I won't destroy the city.”
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And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain Commands, which he fulfillled: He said: ''I will make you an Imam to the Nations.'' He pleaded: ''And also (Imams) from my offspring!'' He answered: ''But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers.''
Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and you take the Station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We covenanted with Abraham and Isma'il, that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).
And remember Abraham said: ''My Lord, make this a City of Peace, and feed its People with fruits, - such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.'' He said; ''(Yes), and such as reject Faith, - for a while will I grant them their pleasure, but will soon drive them to the torment of Fire, - an evil destination (indeed)!''
And remember Abraham and Isma'il raised the foundations of the House (with this prayer): ''Our Lord! accept (this service) from us: for You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
And who turns away from the religion of Abraham but such as debase their souls with folly? Him We chose and rendered pure in this world: and he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the Righteous.
And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; ''Oh my sons! Allah has chosen the Faith for you; then do not die except in the Faith of Islam.''
Were you witnesses when Death appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: ''What will you worship after me?'' They said: ''We shall worship your God (Allah) and the God (Allah) of your fathers, - of Abraham, Isma`il, and Isaac, - the One (True) God (Allah): to Him we bow (in Islam).''
They say: ''Become Jews or Christians if you would be guided (to salvation).'' You say: ''Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True, and he joined not gods with Allah.''
You say: ''We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma`il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord: we make no difference between one and another of them: and we bow to Allah (in Islam).''
Or do you say that Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do you know better than Allah? Ah! who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah? But Allah is not unmindful of what you do!
Have you not turned your vision to one who disputed with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had granted him power? Abraham said: ''My Lord is He Who gives life and death.'' He said: ''I give life and death.'' Said Abraham: ''But it is Allah that causes the sun to rise from the East: do you then cause it to rise from the West.'' Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected Faith. Nor does Allah give guidance to a people unjust.
Behold! Abraham said: ''My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead.'' He said: ''Do you not then believe?'' He said: ''Yes! but to satisfy my own understanding.'' He said: ''Take four birds; tame them to turn to you; put a portion of them on every hill, and call to them: they will come to you (flying) with speed. Then know that Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.''
Allah chose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of 'Imran above all people, -
You People of the Book! why do you dispute about Abraham, when the Law and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have you no understanding?
Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allah's, (which is Islam), and he did not join gods with Allah.
Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to Abraham, are those who follow him, as are also this Messenger and those who believe: and Allah is the Protector of those who have faith.
Say: ''We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord: we make no distinction between one and another among them, and to Allah do we bow our will (in Islam).''
Say: ''Allah speaks the Truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in faith; he was not of the Pagans.''
In it are Signs manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, - those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah does not stand in need of any of His creatures.
Or do they envy mankind for what Allah has given them of His bounty? But We had already given the people of Abraham the Book and wisdom, and conferred upon them a great kingdom.
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