This is because it proves the following points: Ibrahim (a.

This is because it proves the following points: Ibrahim (a.s) disobeyed Allah’s commandments. He insisted on his disobedience and continued interceding for Azer with Allah. He resisted intellectual reasons that proclaim: it is impossible to intercede with Allah for polytheists. He mistakenly thought that the punishment of a disbeliever (like Azer) will bring him the worst of meanness and disgrace. What is meaner and more disgraceful than this?

The stupidest people know that this is wrong not to speak of an infallible Prophet who is appointed to guide people. He did not understand the meaning of Allah’s promise that He would protect his dignity and honor. Here is the text of this tradition from Bukhari’s chapter on prophetic commentary.

Ismael narrates from his brother, from Ibn Abu Zaeb, from Sa’eed Maqbari from Abu Huraira who quotes the Holy Prophet as saying: After meeting his father, Ibrahim addressing Allah, says: O my Lord, You promised me that You would not disgrace me on the Day of Judgment. Addressing him Allah says: I do not allow disbelievers to enter into Paradise.[^3] Another tradition (available in this regard) says: Ibrahim (a.s) says: O my Lord!

You promised me that You would not disgrace me, but which disgrace is worse than disgracing of my father?[^4] Fakhr Radi’s opinion The Holy Qur’an says: وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِّلَّـهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ۚإِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ And Ibrahim asking forgiveness for his sire was only owing to a promise which he had made to him; but when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he declared himself to be clear of him; most surely Ibrahim was very tender- hearted forbearing.

[^5] Commenting on this verse, Fakhr Razi mentions the following points: One: The relation of this verse to the previous verses can be studied through the following angles: • This verse intends to say that (S) is permitted to do what Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) was not allowed to do. • This verse intends to say that what links this verse to previous verses is the emphasis it lays on detaching oneself from disbelievers whether they are alive or dead.

The following verses say that the ordinance of detachment from disbeliever is not confined to the religion of Islam. Thus the verse mentioned above indicates the ordinance of detaching from disbelievers was available in Ibrahim’s religion.

✦ ✦ ✦