3.1 The Seller of Idols-Cold Fire

The Seller of Idols-Cold Fire
The seller of idols
Ibraheem's family lived in a city called Babylonia long time ago. His father, Azar, was famous in the city because he was fabricating and selling idols. Given the wide spread worship of idols at that time when everything the mind can think of was worshipped, no wonders that the idols' manufacturer and vendor be famous. The city even had a huge building where idols of different kinds, qualities, and shapes were kept and to which people prostrated and worshipped.

Since his childhood Ibraheem had a strong aversion for the idols. He could understand why his people, his father included, are prostrating to and worshipping these stone and wood statues they have made with their own hand. How could people believe that these inanimate man-made bodies would harm or benefit them? It was reported that Azar sent Ibraheem with his other brothers to sell the idols he has made in the city. The other sons managed to sell theirs regularly while Ibraheem returned to his father with his statues unsold because he went around in the city saying to the people: "Who will buy something that will not harm him nor benefit him?" Not surprisingly that Ibraheem's statues remained unsold with such poor marketing efforts.

3.1 The Seller of Idols-Cold Fire

Azar's son
Ibraheem was intelligent and gifted with spiritual understanding since his young age. Allah opened his heart and mind to Divine Wisdom as mentioned in the Holy Quran "Indeed We bestowed aforetime on Ibraheem his (portion) of guidance, and We were Well Acquainted with him (as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah etc.). (Ch 21: 51).

As a child he noticed that his father used to make strange statues. After long observations and thoughts, he finally decided to ask his father about what he is making. Azar answered that he was making statues of gods. The small child was astonished by this answer and he spontaneously rejected the idea altogether. How could these statues be gods? He told himself. I used to play with these statues sitting on their backs.

It was narrated that one day his father saw him riding one of the statues called "Mardukh" he became furious and ordered his son not to repeat it again. Ibraheem asked: "What is this statue, father? It has big ears than ours." His father answered: "It is Mardukh, the god of gods, son! And these big ears show his deep knowledge." This made Ibraheem laughed even though he was only seven years old at that time.

Ibraheem could not understand how people come to worship what they have made with their own hands? He knew that these gods are just stone and wood that could neither help nor harm anyone; they could not eat, drink, hear or speak. He was shocked when he saw people, his own father included, prostrating and begging these idols for help and even crying in the process.

3.1 The Seller of Idols-Cold Fire

To make things worse, Azar expected Ibraheem to become a priest when he grew up. He wanted his son to serve their gods. Now how can Ibraheem who had nothing but hatred for the idols become a priest? On the contrary, Ibraheem thought he should counsel his people and convince them to give up worshipping idols in order to worship Allah alone. He decided to begin with his own father because he not only worshipped these idols but he is also the one who is making them and providing them to the community.

The advice of Ibraheem
Ibraheem's father was very angry and furious about his son's attitude towards the idols because his father not only worshipped idols but sculpted and sold them as well. Thus, the attitude of his son is very embarrassing for him. Moreover, what his son is calling people to will put an end to the family business. A business practiced by their fathers and grandfathers in the family. How could Azar allow his son to make such a sinful act?

On the other hand, Ibraheem thought that it was his duty as a good son to advise his father against this evil so that he could be saved from ALLAH's punishment. He approached his father wisely and began using gentle words in order to convince him to abandon worshipping lifeless idols. The Holy Quran reported to us the dialogue between Ibraheem and his father as follows (Ch 19: 43-48):

3.1 The Seller of Idols-Cold Fire

"O my father! Why worship that which heareth not, and seeth not and can profit you nothing? O my father! Verily! There has come to me of knowledge that which came not unto you. So follow me, I will guide you to Straight Path. O my father! Worship not Satan. Verily! Satan has been a rebel against the Most Beneficent (ALLAH). O my father! Verily! I fear lest a torment from the Most Beneficent (ALLAH) overtake you as that you become a companion of Satan (in the Hellfire)."

He (the father) said: "Do you reject my gods, O Abraham? If you stop not this, I will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely before I punish you."

Abraham said: "Peace be on you! I will ask Forgiveness of my Lord for you. Verily! He is unto me, Ever Most Gracious. And I shall turn away from you and from those whom you invoke besides ALLAH."

In his "Tafseer" of the above verses, Ibn Khathir said: "Here Allah recounts the argument between Ibraheem and his father and how he invited him to the truth gently, explaining to him the falsehood of worshipping idols that could not hear the supplication of their worshippers or see where they were. How could such idols then support them or provide them with sustenance?! But his father became angry and did not understand what all these questions meant. He turned a deaf ear to his advice and even threatened him".

3.1 The Seller of Idols-Cold Fire

Ibraheem was not discouraged by the harsh responses that he received from his own father. Notwithstanding that negative result, he decided to give the same advice to his people. He was fully aware that he may suffer harm by challenging his people and publically questioning their way of worship. But it was his duty as a messenger from Allah to deliver his message of truth to his people.

He went to the people and asked if the idols see them when they prostrate to them or if they benefit them in any way. They replied that they knew the idols were inanimate things but their forefathers worshipped before, thus it was enough evidence for them to do the same. Ibraheem tried to persuade them that their forefathers were wrong and this seems almost unthinkable to the people who quickly asked "Are you just joking?" He courageously replied: "I am serious. I come to you with a true religion. I have been sent with guidance from our Lord Who is worthy of worship, Who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and Who regulates all affairs of life, unlike the dumb idols which are just stone and wood."

Like his father, the people became angry and did not understand what he meant. Ibraheem, then, decided to show them the reality of their foolishness: he decided to break their idols to convince them that they are hopeless bodies that cannot even defend themselves let alone protect someone else.

3.1 The Seller of Idols-Cold Fire

Ibraheem breaks the idols
After the argument between him and his father, Ibraheem left the family house. When he realized that the people would not give up worshipping idols, he made the firm decision to destroy these idols. Once the idols destroyed, there is no room for anyone of his people to still believe that the idols can do any good to someone since they cannot even protect themselves, Ibraheem thought.

The people of Babylonia had an annual festival when they rejoiced, celebrated and to which everyone attended. Ibraheem chose that day for the implementation of his plan of destroying the idols. He knew that the city as well as the temple of idols will be empty on that day because even the priests will attend the festival which took place outside the city.

The day of the annual festival came. The streets and the temple were deserted because everybody was at the event. Therefore, Ibraheem came out armed with an axe and heading towards the temple where the idols were kept. He entered the temple and found the food laid in front of the stone and wood statues of the gods as offerings.

Ibraheem wanted to mock the idols before destroying them. So he approached one of the statues and asked: "Come on! The food in front of you is getting cold! Why don't you eat?" The statue remained silent. Then he went around asking all the other statues: "Will you not eat of the offering before you?" (Ch 37: 91). He continued mocking them and said: "What is the matter with you that you do not speak?" (Ch 37: 92).

3.1 The Seller of Idols-Cold Fire

Ibraheem then started hitting the false gods worshipped by the people and destroyed them except a big one on whose neck he put the axe. He cautiously came out the temple and left certain that no one is around to witness what he had just done. He felt consoled because he has given his people a practical proof of their absurdity in worshipping something other than Allah. But will get the lesson and turn back to the truth?

Who did that?
After the festival was over, people returned back to the city. As usual, they headed to the temple where the idols were kept to show them their respect in this special day. They were surprised, shocked, and angry to find their gods lying in pieces all over the temple. They immediately started the investigations to find out who did this to their gods. The name of Ibraheem came to their minds since he was the one who was questioning their worship of idols. A quick order was given to bring him now.

They brought Ibraheem in front of the gathering and asked him if he is the one who did this to their gods. Allah the Almighty said,
"Who has done this to our aliah (gods)? He must indeed be one of the wrongdoers." They said: "We heard a young man talking against them who is called Abraham." They said: "Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may testify." They said: "Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Abraham?"

3.1 The Seller of Idols-Cold Fire

Abraham said: "nay, this one, the biggest of them (idols) did it, Ask them, if they can speak!"

- So they turned to themselves and said: "Verily you are the Zalimun (polytheists, and wrongdoers)." Then they turned to themselves (their first thought and said): "Indeed you (Abraham) know well that these idols speak not?"

Abraham said: "Do you then worship besides Allah, things that can neither profit you nor harm you? (Ch 21: 59-67).

After the investigations and the trial, they ordered to arrest Ibraheem before they meet and decide on how to punish him. It was clear from the trial that they have realized how foolish is their worship of these idols that could not speak nor defend themselves. How can they then defend or protect their worshippers if they cannot defend themselves? But instead of recognizing the truth, their arrogance pushed them to reject it and even deciding to punish Ibraheem.

Cold fire
The people met and deliberated on how to punish Ibraheem. He has broken our gods and humiliated us publically on our festival day. He should pay back for what he has done so that he can serve as a lesson for anyone daring to follow him or to deny our gods. Some of them suggested that they should burn him and this is what they went for.

3.1 The Seller of Idols-Cold Fire

They spent several days collecting firewood in order to prepare a big fire to throw Ibraheem into it. People were incited to participate in gathering the wood as an act of worship to their idols. It was even reported that ignorant, sick women vowed that if they were cured they would donate so much wood to burn Ibraheem.

Once the fire was ready, they asked people to gather in order to witness the punishment of the man who is mocking their gods. Ibraheem was then tied and thrown into the fire. It was reported that Gabriel appeared to Ibraheem hanging between the sky and the earth and told him, "Abraham! Do you need anything?" He replied, as from you, I need nothing. Then Gabriel asked him, "and from Allah?" He replied He knows better my situation.

Immediately Allah's command to the fire came, "O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Abraham." (Ch 21: 69). The fire became cool and safe for Ibraheem. It only burned the bonds that tied him. All the people witnessed the miracle: the fire did not harm Ibraheem and this increased their confusion and shame. Eventually, many people followed Ibraheem after this event.