A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is my answer to a Quora question: “ Was Moses ( a.s. ) the great grandson of Abraham ( a.s. )? ”   No, not even close.   According to the Old Testament, Moses ( a.s. ) was the son of ‘Amram, who was the grandson of Levi, through Qehat.   Levi was the son of Jacob ( a.s. ), son of Isaac ( a.s. ), son of Abraham ( a.s. ).   Between them is seven generations, and just over 400 years.   This would make Moses (a.s.) the great grandson of Levi, making Moses ( a.s. ) the great, great, great, great grandson of Abraham ( a.s. ).

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Due to the nature of the Arabic language, and the limitations of the translations, there is some confusion on the father of Abraham ( a.s. ), according to the Qur’an.   سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنعَام ۞ وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ ءَازَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصۡنَامًا ءَالِهَةً‌ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَرَٮٰكَ وَقَوۡمَكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ ( ٧٤ )   Lo!   Abraham said to his father, Azar, “Take you idols for gods?   For I see you, and your people in manifest error.” (Surah Al-An’am:74)   سُوۡرَةُ التّوبَة وَمَا كَانَ ٱسۡتِغۡفَارُ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوۡعِدَةٍ۬ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ۥۤ أَنَّهُ ۥ عَدُوٌّ۬ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنۡهُ‌ۚ إِنَّ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ لَأَوَّٲهٌ حَلِيمٌ۬ (١١٤)   And Abraham prayed for his father’s Forgiveness only because of a promise he had made to him.   But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy to Allah, he dissociated himself from him: for Abraham w...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ During the night of the Mi’raj , the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), accompanied by Jibril ( a.s. ), travelled to a place where he passed by a large tree whose fruit seemed like a thornless berry, of the kind that gives shade to men and cattle.  Under it, an old man was resting with his dependents.  There were lamps and a great light could be seen.  The Prophet ( s.a.w. ) asked, “Who is this, O Jibril?”   He replied, “Your father, Ibrahim.”   The Prophet ( s.a.w. ) greeted him, and Ibrahim ( a.s. ) returned his greeting, and asked, “Who is this with you, O Jibril?”   He replied, “This is your son, Ahmad.”   He said thus, “Welcome to the unlettered Arabian Prophet, who has conveyed the Message of his Lord, and acted with perfect sincerity with his ummah !  O my son, you are going to meet your Lord tonight, and your ummah is the last and the weakest of all communities.  Therefore, if you are able to have your...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is adapted from the text of the ‘Iyd al-Adhha sermon by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad, on the 05 th October 2014.   Today is the day of sacrifice.   It commemorates the great sacrifice of Abraham ( a.s. ), as he was inspired to sacrifice his only son, Ishmael ( a.s. ), because of what he saw in a vision.   He told his son:   سُوۡرَةُ الصَّافات فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعۡىَ قَالَ يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلۡمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذۡبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرۡ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ‌ۚ قَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفۡعَلۡ مَا تُؤۡمَرُ‌ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ (١٠٢)   Then when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said, “O my son!   I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: now see what is your view!”   (The son) said, “O my father!   Do as you are Commanded: you will find me, if Allah so wills, one practising patience and constancy!” (Surah asw-Swaffat:102)   ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is taken from a transcript of a discourse delivered by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad at his weekly dzikr session held at the Hermitage Masjid, on Thursday, 18 th September 2014.   The personality and mission of Abraham ( a.s. ) has many dimensions and lessons for us.   Throughout his life, he was very much interested in passing on the legacy of monotheism.   However, throughout his travels he realised that he was not attracting the people as he would have hoped for and thus prayed to Allah for a righteous offspring to carry on his teachings.   Today, we will look at one aspect of his personality, which is his total and complete submission to Allah ( s.w.t. ).   Firstly, we need to understand that Abraham ( a.s. ), up to his teenage years, did not grow up with his parents.   When he eventually went home to his parents, he was surprised to see them and his people worshipping idols.   As a matter of fac...