Qur'an 20081215

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

64. Say: "O people of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, that we associate no partners with God, that we erect not, from among ourselves, lords and patrons other than Allah." If they turn back, say you: "Bear witness that we are Muslims."

65. Ye people of the Book! Why dispute you about Abraham, when the Law and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have you no understanding?

66. Ah! You are those who fell to disputing in matters of which you had some knowledge! But why dispute you in matters of which you have no knowledge? It is Allah who Knows, and you who know not!

67. Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian, but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allah's, and he joined not gods with Allah.

The Family of Imran 3:64-67
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O people of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, that we associate no partners with God, that we erect not, from among ourselves, lords and patrons other than Allah.

Bear witness that we are Muslims.

Prophet Abraham was truly a remarkable person. In the Qur'an, Allah refers to him as a "friend". His name is mentioned in honor along with prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) in every congregational prayer. How is it that he acquired such a high rank in the Sight of God? Most of the prophets mentioned in the Qur'an were either wartime prophets (Muhammad, David, Solomon), or withstood severe oppression (Moses, Jesus, Joseph, Lot). There were some prophets who weren't subject to such extremes (Idris, Luqman), but they did not achieve the highest rank.

Then there was Abraham. He attained Awareness of God at a very young age (15/16), and since there is no mention in the Qur'an of visitation by angels until he got older, he reached Awareness of God by his own reckoning (no books, no human teachers), by the Leave of Allah. Banished by his own family of idolaters, he worked alone most of his life (no followers), in the desert, laying the foundations of the city of Mecca. When prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) visited heaven in the event of Isra'/Mi'raj, he found Abraham waiting in the highest heaven.