About
The 'friend of Allah' (Khalīl Allāh) and a model of pure monotheism (ḥanīf). He broke his people's idols, survived the fire, and was tested with the command to sacrifice his son. With Ismāʿīl he raised the foundations of the Kaʿbah; one of the resolute messengers.
The name
A name of non-Arabic origin; the Qurʼan writes it Ibrāhīm.
Khalīl Allāh — the intimate friend of Allah (4:125); a nation in himself (16:120)
Source: Qur'an
The story, as the Qurʼan tells it
- The beginningRaised among idol-worshippers, the son of Āzar, in a people who argued for the gods of their fathers.
6:74
۞ وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ ءَازَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا ءَالِهَةً ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ
21:52-53
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦ مَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلتَّمَاثِيلُ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَٰكِفُونَ
26:69-74
وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ
- The callHe reasoned from the star, the moon and the sun to the One who created them, and called his father and his people gently to Him.
6:76-79
فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلَّيْلُ رَءَا كَوْكَبًۭا ۖ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَآ أُحِبُّ ٱلْءَافِلِينَ
19:42-45
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِى عَنكَ شَيْـًۭٔا
- The signHe broke their idols and left the largest standing; when they cast him into the fire, Allah made it cool and safe.
21:57-67
وَتَٱللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَٰمَكُم بَعْدَ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ
21:68-69
قَالُوا۟ حَرِّقُوهُ وَٱنصُرُوٓا۟ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ فَٰعِلِينَ
- The testCommanded in a vision to sacrifice his son, he and the boy both submitted; Allah ransomed the boy with a great sacrifice.
37:100-107
رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
- The outcomeWith Ismāʿīl he raised the foundations of the House; Allah made him a leader of humankind and took him as an intimate friend.
2:124
۞ وَإِذِ ٱبْتَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِۦمَ رَبُّهُۥ بِكَلِمَٰتٍۢ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّى جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًۭا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِى ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
2:127-129
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِۦمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
4:125
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًۭا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌۭ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًۭا ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًۭا
The lessonPure devotion (ḥanīf) is to turn wholly to Allah, submit when tested, and pray for those who come after. 2:131
إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥٓ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ
6:79
إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًۭا ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
14:40-41
رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ
Duʿāʾ — in their own words
Ibrāhīm after settling his family by the House · 14:40-41رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ
Rabbi jʿalnī muqīma ṣ-ṣalāti wa-min dhurriyyatī, Rabbanā wa-taqabbal duʿāʾ
My Lord, make me one who establishes prayer, and from my descendants too. Our Lord, accept my supplication.
Ibrāhīm and Ismāʿīl raising the foundations of the Kaʿbah · 2:127رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
Rabbanā taqabbal minnā, innaka anta s-Samīʿu l-ʿAlīm
Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Ibrāhīm turning from his people to his Lord · 26:83-85رَبِّ هَبْ لِى حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
Rabbi hab lī ḥukman wa-alḥiqnī bi-ṣ-ṣāliḥīn
My Lord, grant me wisdom and join me with the righteous.
Relationships
FatherHis father (named Āzar in the Qur'an)
SonHis firstborn son
SonHis son, glad tidings in old age
NephewHis kinsman, who believed with him
Wifeper traditionHis wife, mother of Isḥāq
Wifeper traditionMother of Ismāʿīl
Key appearances
Tap a reference to read the āyah — Arabic with English beneath.