The Beginning of Greatness – How It All Began

And he's also a major figure in biblical and Judeo Christian and Judaic studies. So he's actually a central figure to all three fates. Some even call them the father of the three faiths or the monotheistic faiths. But the way we look at Ibraheem Alehissalaam in Islam is actually very different from how our Christian and Jewish brethren look at the same figure. As a matter of fact, my conversations with a friend of mine, who's a rabbi, many of our conversations are about Ibrahima that he said on and what they think about him is almost completely different, completely different from how we perceive him. So it's really important, especially living in a society where the

dominant religious discussion is Christianity, that, you know, you may have been exposed to certain things about Abraham or the story of Adam or etc, you know, the Adam and Eve narrative. And some of our kids have heard these things maybe, you know, in the background, maybe at school, or maybe you know, from other friends and things. So the Islamic version, the Quran and Sunnah, telt narrative, and then the biblical narrative get confused with each other. Right, and one of my attempts, inshallah is to make sure that we understand clearly what it is that we believe and why that's so significant. And inshallah hopefully through the course of this evening, I'll also share some of the

things that make our story, not only unique, but far, far more important to share with the people of other faiths. In other words, even though you can have a conversation with a Christian friend or a Jewish friend, and say, Hey, we believe in Abraham, too. We believe in Ibrahim alayhis salam also, actually, because this narrative is so different, it's almost as though we're obligated to reintroduce them to these prophets, we have to reintroduce them. And when we do, it's almost like and this is I've experienced this personally, it's almost like they didn't even know them, like what they knew of them is completely shattered by this other account, you know, and so some of that I'll

try to highlight this evening as well. Now, the second part of this introduction, I want to share with you that

my personal view, within whatever Quran studies I've been able to do over the last, you know, you know, a decade and a half is that the Quran, a surah of the Quran is perfectly organized. And so if Allah azza wa jal puts a story in a surah. There's a reason he put the story in the Surah. And you know that most of the time, the story is only one small part of a surah. It's not the whole story. It's not the whole surah. So where he places it, and why he places it and all of that, actually, pretty much most of the time, he doesn't even tell us the whole story, he tells us a very small part of the story. And he'll tell some other parts somewhere else, right. So which part he chose to tell

and where he chose to tell it. All of it is strategic. All of it is important, none of it should be overlooked. This is part of trying to understand the Quran. So even though the core conversation I want to have with you today is about 11 or 12. Via It's not much. It's the 120, maybe 100 and 30s, of Surah Al Baqarah. That's it. That's what the story tonight is about. It's a conversation. It's a beautiful conversation that takes place between Ibraheem Alehissalaam and Allah. That's the dialogue that takes place between the two of them. That's what this story is about tonight, but because it's in the 100, and 20s, of Surah Al Baqarah. We need to understand some things about subtle Bukhara.

First, we need to understand where this is and why it is where it is. So the first thing I'm going to do, this is going to be a little bit of a mental exercise, it's going to be tough to do. And the only way I know that you're following along is if you make a little noise when I ask you rhetorical questions when I asked you to repeat something after me or I ask you a question, you're gonna have to call it out out loud, don't raise your hand, it's okay. And you can speak during this program. It's not a football, so it's fine. Okay? If you if the person next to you does not speak kindly elbow them and you know, wake them up in Sharla. Okay, but all the way in the back. I can't even see

your heads anymore, but you need to make more noise than the people in the front so you don't feel like you're disengaged inshallah. So let's build out of mana Rahim. The first thing I want to talk to you about is a layout, a map of pseudo Bukhara. Just a big overview of social Bukhara. And the way I'm going to do that with you guys is I will explain to you that certain Bacara can be broken up into nine parts. Okay. And this is where the mental exercise begins. I'll need you to expect I'll expect you to know what those nine parts are. By the time I'm done with this discussion, because I want this kind of resting in your minds. The first part of social dakara is about the heart. Part

one is about the heart. Now there are three things that can happen in the heart as far as Allah is concerned, either you can believe with your heart, you could have disbelief in your heart, or you could have hypocrisy in your heart. Yes, so believers, disbelievers and hypocrites. Those are the three right so Allah will say for example about the believers loughrea Buffy that he can keep up with our A Buffy cuddling with Turkey and look at all the words there's no doubt in it. Doubt is a problem of the heart. Then he says that his guidance guidance from a human biller here the Columbia who you know Allah guide has a heart and then he says with a little McKean This is guidance for who

people who

have Taqwa consciousness of Allah, where is that consciousness? It's in the heart for it naturally come in Tuckwell. Kulu Alladhina you mean una bill? Right. They believe in the unseen Where does belief or Eman rest. It's in the heart. That's why Allah azza wa jal talks about a human being beautified in the heart was a you know houfy Kulu be can be beautified it in your hearts. So it seems in the beginning when Allah talks about believers, the emphasis is on what lies inside a person's heart. Then he switches over and says in Alladhina Cafaro those who disbelieved now, Gopher or disbelief lies were inside the heart. This is why you know Katama Allahu Allah Kenobi him when I

love somebody whom I love Saudi him, their their hearts are the things that are sealed. Then the third group of people some of you are familiar, the first group talked about was the believers who have faith in their heart, the second who have completely rejected faith and have nothing left in their heart and their hearts have been sealed and the third group, pretty scary group may Allah not make us from them. Who is that group? Anyone you know, call it out? hypocrites, very good. And Allah says about 10 fee Kenobi him Murad. Their hearts have a disease in their hearts. There's a disease. So seems the subject matter belief disbelief and hypocrisy all of it tying back to what? The heart

you with me so far, that is part light. That's part one. Here's part two. Part two, Allah azza wa jal switches over to where this entire legacy began. This entire story of Eman and comfort and hypocrisy all of it begins with the first story the story of Adam Alayhis Salam. So our second story or the second part of the surah is the story of Adam Alayhis Salam. And it's a brief account in Surah Al Baqarah, even though a very profound account, Allah tells us things about Adam Alayhis Salam in Baqara that he doesn't tell us anywhere else. So it's very unique. A special status was given to Adam Alayhis Salam in Niger. I don't fill out the Khalifa. Other places in the Quran, he'll

tell us he is creating a Bashar someone made of skin. He's going to be made of clay he's going to be made of dirt to the humility of Adam Alayhis Salam is highlighted in other places. But when Allah highlights Adam Alayhis Salam, and social Bukhara he highlights his special status, a Khalifa on the earth, someone being left behind someone who's going to have multiple generations after him, someone will that'll have a lot of responsibility. And that's why the angels were shocked. How can this creature take responsibility? Attach a Luffy? How can you see Doofy? How as he could demand the angel started wondering how could this this creature be worthy of this honor that Allah has given

him? Right? So that's the second part of SoTL Bacara the story of Adam Allah has set out okay, the story of Adam and Hassan. And of course in this story in particular, have you compared the all other seven times Allah talks about other money Salaam in the Quran, this one time Allah highlights what makes Adam Alayhis Salam special, you know, even more than other places, Allah will mention rule other places which is awesome. But Allah will highlight the knowledge of other Alayhis Salam. But Allah Adam, Allah smart, Allah will also highlight that Adam Alayhis Salam should have been looking out for revelation for himself and his future generations that you know, now that the story of

humanity has begun on the earth. You make sure you pass down to your children, that if and when guidance comes to me, you better do better follow it. That's why the words are in the plural for me, Tiana Kume Mindy houden. If guidance comes to all of you from me, well, not all of us, just him and his wife. That's all they are a mother and our father. So it's not even comyns Yet the comb. Why? Because it includes all of their children. Anyway, let's go back to part one. What was it? Because I need you to keep up with part two.

And part three, there's a switch Yeah, Bani Israel of Colonia Mattia, latian Antara lako what's going on? What do you think this part is? Yeah, the Israelites, I'll call it the Israelites. Allah starts talking to them about the great favor he did to them. You notice also I'll mention some of these things as we go. You notice we were just talking about our father or father who Adam on Instagram and now all of a sudden we're talking about children of Israel, father to children. Okay, and now this these children of Israel Allah is telling them that he did them a huge favor. He they should mention the favor Allah did for them and how he gave them preference over all of their

nations in the world. You know, this is actually very parallel to Adam and he said, What Allah did for us at least salaam as a person Allah did for Bani Israel as a nation because Allah gave them and he said I'm special status didn't need and now didn't Bani Israel also get special status. They gave the guy a special preference that others didn't get Allah give them knowledge that Allah didn't give other nations. Similarly, Allah gave Adam knowledge that Allah didn't give other creatures. Allah tree gave them a preference over all other nations, just like Adam Alayhis Salam was given even a preference over the angels in this case. So there is this matter of preference, but there are other

parallels to, you know, with with Adam and his salon. There was that historical mistake that our parents made and they ate from the tree. Yes, they were tested, and briefly, they didn't pass

Test. And then as a result, there's reprimand. Isn't that the case? Everybody knows that part of the story. Now, is it the case that when Allah will talk about the Israelites are they tested? And they're tested multiple times? Just like who has already been tested? I don't. I don't really said I was told listen, you may not have passed the test this time. Next time around, look out for revelation. It'll keep you from failing the test. That's the point. The Israelites received more revelation than anyone in history. Over and over again to Allah, Mahala can reveal Harloff and Abune. Every time a prophet would be would die. Another would take his place. Go on to part three.

Ah, what is the desert represent? What do you think?

Huh? Why the Israelites? Because they wandered in the desert. Okay, so I'm just trying to get you to remember these things through pictures, right? So we're in this in this in the desert right now of the Israelites, right. So like they say in the Arab expression at el joven. Call me Musa more lost than the nation of Musa because referring to the wandering in the desert. But anyway, so about the Israelites and the parallels they have with Adam Alayhis Salam, Adam alayhis. Salam was, you know, when he was given this revelation, or when he was given this instruction, and you know, he was tempted and he ate from the tree even before then, wasn't it that the angel said he will shed blood?

He literally said, yes, we could demand he will shed blood. And when you read the account of the Israelites, Allah literally says, I didn't I tell you last week guna DeMarco, you're not? Didn't I tell you you're not going to be shedding your blood. And you're not going to be killing your own people and kicking them out of their homes, meaning facade, you know? So Allah says this, and then the Israelites, did they end up doing this shedding blood and causing corruption? Yes. So the complaint of the angels, are you creating someone on the earth who will shed blood and cause corruption? The case study of that in the Quran was who the Israelites making it seem like the

angels were on to something like literally in the same sort of the same wording is being used for the Israelites that they made these, these these mistakes. And that's being highlighted. Now, that the reason it's being highlighted is also significant. Because they were tested time and time and time again, with revolution with difficult trials, just like Saddam was told they would be that the revolution would come and help them. But the problem was the final version, you know, that when Allah told Adam alayhis salam to look for revelation, it started coming. The earliest revelations for example, given to new holiday in Sudan, than previous ancient prophets, like you know, in years,

like you know, Idris, you know, ancient ancient prophets on the earth for especially prophets of the Israelites. But what is the last part of that promise? When the promise is completely fulfilled, Allah's promise of sending revelation is done, there's no more to come? When has that fulfilled?

The Quran, it's the climax of all of it, isn't it? So the promise that was made to Adam on Instagram as he was coming down, the final version of that promise, where it's completely fulfilled is the coming of the Quran and the one nation on the earth that was more qualified to tell that his revelation

more than any other nation that had more background knowledge that had more qualifications, that as soon as they would come in contact with Revelation, they will be the first to know that this is definitely what Allah promised. And this is the final installation of that promise, which nation was that? The Israelites and ironically, when I Taku, Awana, Catherine be don't be the first to disbelieve in it. Not the first to believe they became the first in line to this week. So that's the criticism Allah makes of the Israelites. I'll move along quickly. But before I do, I need you to give me one, two and three. What's one, the heart number two, Adam had Incident Number three, the

Israelites, the trials of the Israelites. And that goes on for a long time, right? That's a big chunk of citizen Bacara. Moving from there to part four. Very good. This is actually what the image for this program was. The title of this program is the father of two nations, we actually started talking this is the passage that I will be talking to you about in detail, but I first wanted to place it for you. What I will be talking to you about is literally section four of the surah how many sections are in this surah according to this, there are nine. So today's discussion when we get there is about section four. And in Section four, Allah switches gear, he stops talking to the

Israelites and he starts talking about Ibraheem Alehissalaam. Now why is that important? It's important for several reasons. I already told you either. Salam is the universal messenger. Yes. All of humanity, his father, their father, then you go to the role model nation that was supposed to be the model for all other nations, which is who the Israelites. Now actually, interestingly enough, we're going back to another father. We started with a father in section two, who's Adam, then we went to children, which is the children of Israel. And then now we're going back to a father again, which is who Ibraheem Alehissalaam the reason for

which the Israelites rejected the prophets Allah, Allah, Allah He was Saddam.

The primary reason is that he did not belong to the blessed family of the children of Israel. Revelation is a gift given to the children of Israel. These are the chosen people of God. Allah God has made special promises to this nation. And the other children of you know of Abraham are kind of condemned. As a matter of fact, in biblical and Jewish literature. It's my read either he said, I'm not only considered illegitimate but a child who will have evil offspring. This has actually taught off the pulpit. So there is no way that a child of Ishmael because it's my alien salaam, the you know, raised in the Arab land, yes. And from his descendants is the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu

sallam, there is no way he could be receiving revelation. What is Allah telling the Israelites by going over to Ibrahim, listen, if you have respect for Ibraheem Alehissalaam, then you should have respect for all of his lineage. You before you are considered before you consider yourselves children of Israel. By the way, the other name of Israel is Iacob. Before you consider yourselves children of Israel, you should consider yourselves children of his heart, who is his father, as you consider yourselves children of his Hawk, you should consider yourselves children of Ibraheem Alehissalaam. And if you consider yourself children of Rahim, then you are brethren. You are

brothers with who? The Arabs, there's no reason for you to think that ethnically or by race, or by your descendants, you are somehow more special than the children of his married because both of you are tied directly to what makes you people special. What makes you special is that you are children of Ibrahim Ali Salam. So he's taking them back to the original. We're time we're tying things back to the source and the source being Ibrahim Alayhi. Salam, that is why he is the father in my title. He's the father of two nations, which two nations, the children of US Marine, and the children of is half and through his heart, Yaqoob and Yaqoob is called Israel. Right? So those two lines, he's the

father of both of them is he. So he's there in a sense, for as far as Revelation is concerned, he's the second, Adam. In that sense, the Adam that was told Alehissalaam of all of revelation in the beginning. And then the Adam that from for the second one, Ibrahim Alayhi. Salam, from whose descendants revelation will continue on the earth. That's this father, Ibrahim Ali Salam. So that's where his narrative is placed. Now Allah tells us about Ibrahim alayhi salam and his interactions with both of his lineages, which is pretty cool. We're going to see that in this passage. He's going to he's going to have love and adoration and prayers with his son Ismail and their generations, and

then he's going to turn to his heart or actually our boob, and Ibrahim will share a prayer also. So both lines are covered beautifully. So that we don't say well now the children I was married are blessed. Therefore the children of Israel are cursed. Which is the mistake Muslims make so the Israelites we blame them because they hate the children of Ismail but we've become no different. We've become no different so now we say you know the Quran has come and look at these Jews. Look at these balloons, right? Look at these Israelites, look at what they did look at how the Quran complained about and these are definitely inferior people, etc, etc. As a matter of fact, the word

Jewish has become like a foul word and some Muslim circles. Right? And that's actually exactly the same mistake who made they made they were exactly this way by the way, Semitic is the term used for Arabs and you know, and Israelites so we were just as anti semitic as they may be anti semitic towards Arabs and Arabs can be anti semitic towards them or Muslims in general, you know, and so that's going to be addressed Inshallah, by the universal nature of this father Alehissalaam. Okay, let's go back. 1234 helped me out.

Learn

otherwise,

buddy, slide

Ebrahimian is and we got four parts. Have I been able to show you how they're all connected and this moving forward? Here's number five, Part Five.

Part Five is restoring the images and load hump. It's a picture of the garden