The Qur’an states, “You have an excellent example to follow in Abraham.” (60:4) and “Follow the way of Abraham as people of pure faith.” (3:95) What makes Prophet Abraham, “whom God chose to be His friend” (Qur’an 4:125 & Isaiah 41:8) so special?

All prophets Divinely inspired by the one and only God are of course monotheists. Pious believers of any individual prophet should not “discriminate between anyone of His prophets”  (Qur’an 2:285 & 4:152) This is why prophet Muhammad said, “Prophets are brothers in faith, having different mothers. Their religion is, however, one.”  (Muslim, book #030, Hadith #5836) All prophets have the same father, who is the One God whose inspiration gives birth to their prophethood.

However, each prophet has a different mother (note that the Arabic word umm for mother derives from the same root as the word ummah, i.e. mother nation/tribe, a mother tongue, a motherland), and a target audience that he speaks to at a specific time in history. Thus prophets are brothers in faithfulness to the One God but their Divinely inspired message differs because it must be appropriate for their motherland, their mother tongue, their own people and the historical circumstances of the prophet’s lifetime.  

Therefore, not all monotheistic prophets are the same. “We have exalted some above others. To some (Moses) God spoke directly (4:164)); others He raised high in rank (4:163-6); to “Jesus, Mary’s son, We gave clear signs and supported him with the Holy Spirit.” (2:253). Also, “We have exalted some prophets above others (see 38:41-48) and gave the Zaboor (Book of Psalms) to David.” (17:55)

Prophets Abraham (Qur’an 57:26), Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad all received a Divine book. Abraham was the first of those we know about to receive a Sacred Scripture. All of the others were among his descendants.

Is this what makes Abraham so special that his name appears 69 times in the Qur’an, second only to Moses (136 times)? I do not think this alone is why Abraham plays such an important part in all three Abrahamic religions.  Abraham is famous for the numerous ways God tested him, especially the terrible tests of banishing Hagar and his first born son Ishmael (Qur’an 2:124 & Genesis 9:9-21) and bringing  his son to a special place as an offering to God. (Qur’an 37:100-113 & Genesis 22:1-24)

Most Muslim commentators say the son, unnamed in the Qur’an, was Ishmael. Some Muslim commentators assert it was Isaac. Perhaps both participated in the test at different times, so that each son could produce descendants who in time would become a blessing for other nations of the earth. (Genesis 22:16-18 & Qur’an 4:163) In any case, Abraham’s test with his son became an iconic sign of faith and trust in God’s will for Jews, Christians and Muslims.

In addition to his two sons, Abraham is unique in the numerous prophets God chose from among his descendants, whose names are recorded in the Bible and the Qur’an. With the exception of Balaam (and perhaps Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18), all Biblical prophets and most of the 25 prophets named in the Qur’an, are descendants of Abraham.........

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