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Ibrahim (AS) was the first Nabi who raised the Arkan (four corners) of
Kaaba, erected its walls, and summoned the people towards it.
After the fire episode Ibrahim (AS) became more popular and this made
the King of Babylon - Nimrood, feel insecure of his throne and position.
Thus he challenged Ibrahim that he - Nimrood was God.
Ibrahim Nabi (AS) argued: “My Lord is He Who gives life and death,” to
which the king haughtily retorted: “I give life and death. I can bring a
person from the street and have him executed, and I can grant my pardon
to a person who was sentenced to death and save his life." Ibrahim
deftly replied: “Well my Lord Allah makes the sun rise from the East.
Can you make it rise from the West?
The king was confounded. He was beaten at his own game, on his own
territory, in front of his own people!
Ibrahim decided to emigrate with his followers - a total of three
hundred and thirty men - to Syria. They traveled continuously until they
reached the city of Haran. The king of Haran was a learned man and had
an intelligent, knowledgeable daughter named Sarrah, who had gained a
little righteous knowledge. Sarrah had decided that she would only marry
the person in whom she would find the righteous characteristics she had
learnt about. The king agreed to his daughter’s condition and made her
such a place from where she could see every one who entered the house
but no one could see her.
When Sarrah saw in the stars that the awaited moment had come, she had a
large feast organized in her house in which each and everyone from her
city was invited. Sarrah could see each person from where she sat but
she herself remained unseen. When not a single native was left, she had
the guests and strangers invited to the feast.
Sarrah had prepared a large crown embedded with pearls and jewels, which
she had decided to place on the head of the man she sought.
When Ibrahim and his followers entered the city of Haraan, they were
taken to this feast and were seated in their thaals. When Sarrah saw
Ibrahim she was determined that he was the man she awaited, thus she
sent a maid with the crown towards Ibrahim.
As soon as the maid put the crown on Ibrahim’s head, he was carried to
the king. The king asked Ibrahim about his native place and where he was
headed. On hearing Ibrahim’s reply the king was satisfied that Ibrahim
was indeed the awaited person. The king explained to Ibrahim his
daughter’s decision and offered her as his wife.
Ibrahim married Sarrah and stayed with her for a few days and took
Sarrah and her father - the king in his be’at (oath). Ibrahim
left with Sarrah and his followers - mumineen, and left the king behind
to call his people towards the Dawat of Ibrahim.
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