The Leader of Mankind – Imam un Naas – Prophet Ibrahim’s (A.S) Legacy in Tawheed and Obedience

(Everyone has to undergo a certain form of leadership in life, be it a family leader, a business leader, a house leader, or even an event leader. The rules of leadership lie in grooming one’s self and being obedient to the leader. Every Muslim is supposed to follow and obey his Prophet. Leadership, if done as a duty, can be turned into a privilege and a blessing, or it can be cursed and can cause misfortune. This article explores the route to successful leadership. Prophet Ibrahim (Alaihissalam) was chosen as the Imam of Mankind by Allah, an honour and a privilege. But how did he reach this position? Obedience to Allah.) (ﷺ) Before Allah gives success or brings someone out of a crisis, He makes him undergo tests to affirm the strength of his Faith. The harder the test, the stronger the faith. Prophets underwent the most difficult tests, and they were chosen to lead their people. Each Prophet was a leader of his people, guiding them to truth and salvation. Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) was a messenger for the entire humanity, and whoever comes after his prophethood will have to obey and follow him. Ibrahim’s (Alaihissalam) prophethood marked a perfect example of obedience, which was a result of his Tawakal upon Allah that prompted a response from Allah as well. But this tawakal was associated with submitting his will to the will of Allah. Fulfilling Tawheed is a Submission to Allah

”When his Lord said to him (Ibrahim), ‘Submit’, he said, ‘I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds.’” [Surah Al Baqarah, 2:131]

Ibrahim preserved this submission and also asked his sons Ismail and Is’haq, and his grandson Yaqub, to preserve it. In other words, he passed on his legacy and leadership to his sons. Even when death was about to take him, he spoke about adhering to the obedience to Allah in the matter of Tawheed and other commands. A sincere leader, a concerned father Ibrahim (Alaihissalam) was.

“And this (submission to Allah, Islam) was enjoined by Ibrahim (Abraham) upon his sons and by Ya`qub (Jacob) (saying), ‘O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except as Muslims.’” [Surah Al Baqarah, 2:132]

The first and strongest reason for Ibrahim to be qualified for leadership of mankind was his adherence to Tawheed. In the above verse, he instructs his sons to not submit themselves to any idol worshiping and any form of shirk. He even supplicates to Allah to protect his offspring from shirk.

“My Lord! Make this city of Makkah secure, and keep me and my children away from the worship of idols.” [Surah Ibrahim, 14:35]

The two verses mentioned above teach an important usool of leadership in Dawah. Instruction to shun shirk and to make supplications to remain far away from shirk. Successful leadership is not about self-confidence, but is about dependence upon Allah, i.e., Tawheed Atammahunna – An Obedience Par Excellence The following verse teaches about the benchmark of obedience and its fruits, along with the qualities of Ibrahim that qualified him to be the Imam of mankind.

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [Allah] said, ‘Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people.’ [Abraham] said, ‘And of my descendants?’ [Allah] said, ‘My covenant does not include the wrongdoers.’” [Surah Al Baqarah, 2:124]

Prophet Ibrahim (Alaihissalam) underwent difficult tests

1. In the Most Severe Crisis, He rejected the Help of the Angels: He was thrown into a fire that was fueled for many days; loads of wood were collected to make the fire huge to teach him a lesson and prevent people from following Tawheed. When he was thrown from a catapult, three angels came to him, turn by turn, to offer him help and to save him from the fire. However, he refused them saying, “Hasibyallahu wa Ne’mal wakeel (Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs).” This was the test of Ibrahim’s trust and faith in the help of Allah, and his faith brought results. Allah commanded the fire to be cool and a place of safety for Ibrahim. Ibrahim stayed in the fire for forty days and used to say, “Those were the most luxurious days of my life.”
2. He Parted with His wife and Infant Son: Allah commanded him to leave his wife Hajra and his infant child Ismail in the empty barren valley of Makkah with no one around. He did not hesitate to execute the command. Ibrahim was able to perform such an obedience because he maintained absolute trust in Allah. His supplication at the time of parting displays his Tawakal.

“O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House so that they may perform prayers. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.” [Surah Ibrahim, 14:37]

3. Obedience without Delay: When he saw a dream that Allah commanded him to slaughter his son Islamil (Alaihissalam), he did not hesitate, and took his son to the area to be slaughtered. The Quran mentions this narrative,

“And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, ‘O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.’ He said, ‘O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.’” [Surah Saffat, 37:102]

Such were these tests that only a man of Ibrahim’s stature could have done it the best manner. His attachment to Tawheed led him to place his trust in Allah and to obey His command. He accomplished them with excellence. The Arabic word atammahunna  in the above verse means to accomplish a task with excellence. Obedience has categories, some do it well and others excel. Ibrahim (Alaihissalam) excelled in accomplishing every command of Allah. Allah says about the reward of His Tawheed, a series of Prophets in his lineage, Including Prophet Muhammed,

“ And We bestowed upon him Ishaq and Ya’qub, each of them We guided, and before him, We guided Nuh and among his progeny Dawud, Sulayman, Ayyub, Yusuf, Musa, and Harun. Thus We reward the good-doers. And Zakariyya, and Yahya and `Isa and Iliyas, each one of them was of the righteous. And Isma`il and Al-Yasa`, and Yunus and Lut, and each one of them We preferred above the `Alamin (mankind and Jinns, of their times). And also some of their fathers and their progeny and their brethren, We chose them, and We guided them to a straight path.

This is the guidance of Allah with which He guides whomsoever He wills of His servants. But if they had joined in worshiping others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them. They are those whom We gave the Book, Al-Hukm, and prophethood. But if they disbelieve therein, then, indeed We have entrusted it to a people who are not disbelievers therein. They are those whom Allah had guided. So follow their guidance.” [Surah Al An’am, 6:84 – 90]

The Fruits of Obedience Are Sweet, Plenty and Long-Lasting The above-mentioned seven verses display the benefits of being firm on Tawheed, and how its impact is felt even in the generations to come.

1. Allah did not send any Prophet after Ibrahim but from his descendants.
2. Allah declares that these were Mohsineen and Saliheen.
3. Allah preferred each of them with a privilege over mankind.
4. Allah chose from his progeny (Prophets) and guided them.
5. The four divine books, Torah, Zabur, Injeel and Qur’an were bestowed through the Prophets born from the lineage of Ibrahim (Alaihissalam).
6. Some of them (Dawood and Suleman) were given a kingdom along side prophethood, while others were only given prophethood.
7. Humanity is supposed to follow their guidance and that is the leadership that Allah bestowed upon Ibrahim (Alaihissalam).

Such was The Leadership of Ibrahim – Imam un Naas One of the titles of Islam is Deen e Ibrahim (The Religion of Ibrahim) and Allah calls it foolish to discard the religion of Ibrahim.

“And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim (Islamic Monotheism) except him who fools himself. Truly, We chose him in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.” [Surah Al Baqarah, 2:131]

There are five characteristics of Ibrahim mentioned in three verses of Surah Nahl that prove the excellence of his Faith,

“Verily, Ibrahim was a Ummah (a leader having all the good qualities), of a nation), obedient to Allah, Hanif (i.e. to worship none but Allah), and he was not one of those who were Al-Mushrikin. (He was) thankful for His (Allah’s) favors. He (Allah) chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a straight path. And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous.” [Surah an Nahl, 16:120-122]

These five characteristics are:

1. He was an Ummah, which means one-man nation
2. Kaniteen- Devoutly obedient to Allah
3. Hanif (Possessed pure and uncorrupted Imaan)
4. He never performed shirk
5. He was grateful to Allah for His favors

The above verses also mentions the blessings Ibrahim (Alaihissalam) obtained through his firmness in Tawheed and Obedience:

1. Allah chose him as His Khaleel (closest friend).
2. Allah guided him on the straight path ( for example, when his people disputed with him and when he debated with Namrood in his court).
3. He received good in this world. Mujahid said, “It refers to the truthful tongue”. [Tafseer Ibn Kathir, Surah Nahl, 16:120]

Where do we stand in Tawheed and Obedience? Are our executions of the command of Allah without hesitations or out of laziness or unwillingness? If we want to be a true follower of Ibrahim, then we have to be obedient like him and that would lead us to the pleasure of Allah and make us good leaders at home, in society and wherever we are.