Abraham’s Blog 1 — Origins
Hi! I’m Abraham, you may also know me as Ibrahim. It’s nearly 4000 years ago in Iraq, somewhere near Babylon (Baghdad now). This is my story.
I’m the original monotheist, I chose to serve the One God by leaving my country which had a notorious reputation for idolatry. This is what I am most known for by the Muslims.
‘How can you take idols as gods? I see that you and your people have clearly gone astray … I have turned my face as a true believer towards Him who created the heavens and the earth. I am not one of the polytheists.’ (Q. 6.74) I was the first iconoclast, especially when I wielded my axe (you can read about it in Q. 21.51–72).
God came to me (Genesis 12) and said:
‘Get out of this place!
Leave your people and race
Leave your Dad behind
Come to my land.
I’ll make you great,
I’ll bless you like a king,
You’ll be a big blessing.
I’ll bless them when they bless you,
Everyone will be blessed through you.’
I was quite old (75) when I listened to God and began my journey. When I arrived in Canaan (now Israel/Palestine) God spoke to me again — ‘I will give this land to your children’. I built an altar at the place that later became known as the House of God (Genesis 12.7,8, Gen. 28. 16–19, Q. 2.125).
Next blog — ‘Difficult Times’
