Editing Abraham in Islam (section)

===Confrontation with Nimrod===
The Quran discusses a very short conversation between an unrighteous ruler and Abraham.<ref>{{qref|2|258|b=y}}</ref> Although the king in the Quran is unnamed, and this fact has been recognized as being least important in the narrative, outside of the Quran, namely in some of the ''[[Tafsir|tafasir]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://quranx.com/tafsirs/2.258|title=Tafsir Surah 2:258|website=quranx.com|access-date=8 May 2019}}</ref> this king has been suggested to be [[Nimrod]].<ref>''History of the Prophets and Kings'', [[Tabari]], Vol. I: ''Prophets and Patriarchs''</ref> This Tafsir by [[Ibn Kathir]], a 14th-century scholar, has many embellishments in the narrative like Nimrod claiming [[divinity]] for himself. The [[Tafsir]] describes Nimrod's quarrel with Ibrahim, how he (Nimrod) became extremely angry and in his 'utter disbelief and arrant rebellion' became a tyrant.<ref>{{Qtaf|en:ibk|2|258}}</ref>

According to [[Roman Jews|Romano-Jewish]] historian [[Flavius Josephus]], Nimrod was a man who set his will against that of God. Nimrod proclaimed himself as a living god and was worshipped as such by his subjects. Nimrod's consort [[Semiramis]] was also worshipped as a goddess at his side.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} Before Abraham was born, a portent in the stars tells Nimrod and his [[Astrology|astrologers]] of the impending birth of Abraham, who would put an end to [[idolatry]]. Nimrod therefore orders the [[Infanticide|killing of all newborn babies]]. However, Abraham's mother escapes into the fields and gives birth secretly. Flavius Josephus mentions that Abraham confronts Nimrod and tells him face-to-face to cease his idolatry, whereupon Nimrod orders him [[Death by burning|burned at the stake]]. Nimrod has his subjects gather enough wood so as to burn Abraham in the biggest fire the world had ever seen. Yet when the fire is lit and Abraham is thrown into it, Abraham walks out unscathed. In Islam, it is debated whether the decision to have Ibrahim burned at the stake came from Nimrod and the temple priests or whether the people themselves became [[Vigilantism|vigilantes]] and hatched the plan to have him burned at the stake. According to Muslim commentators, after Abraham survived the great fire, notoriety in society grew bigger after this event. Nimrod, who was the King of [[Babylon]] felt that his throne was in danger, and that he was losing power because upon witnessing Ibrahim coming out of the fire unharmed, a large part of society started believing in God and Abraham being a [[Prophets in Islam|prophet of God]]. Up until this point, Nimrod was pretending that he himself was a god. Nimrod wanted to debate with him and show his people that he, the king is indeed the god and that Ibrahim was a liar. Nimrod asked Ibrahim, "What can your God do that I cannot?" Ibrahim replied, "My Lord is He who gives life and death." Nimrod then shouted, "I give life and death! I can bring a person from the street and have him executed, and I can grant my pardon to a person who was sentenced to death and save his life." Abraham replied, "Well, my lord God makes the sun rise from the East. Can you make it rise from the West?" Nimrod was confounded. He was beaten at his own game, on his own territory and in front of his own people. Abraham left him there speechless and went back to his mission of calling people to worship God.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamicity.com/media/ancmts/docum1.htm|title=The Father of the Prophets|work=islamicity.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamawareness.net/Prophets/ibrahim.html|title=Ibn Kathir: Story of Prophet Ibrahim/Abraham (pbuh)|work=islamawareness.net}}</ref>

This event has been noted as particularly important because, in the Muslim perspective, it almost foreshadowed the prophetic careers of future prophets, most significantly the career of Moses. Abraham's quarrel with the king has been interpreted by some to be a precursor to Moses's preaching to [[Fir'awn|Pharaoh]]. Just as the ruler who argued against Abraham claimed divinity for himself, so did the [[Pharaoh of the Exodus]], who refused to hear the call of Moses and perished in the [[Red Sea]]. In this particular incident, scholars have further commented on Abraham's wisdom in employing "rational, wise and target-oriented" speech, as opposed to pointless arguments.<ref>''Book 1: The Prophet Abraham'', Harun Yahya, ''The Unbeliever Advised By Abraham'', Online.</ref>

Abraham, in the eyes of many Muslims, also symbolized the highest moral values essential to any person. The Qur'an details the account of the [[angel]]s coming to Abraham to tell him of the birth of Ismael. It says that, as soon as Abraham saw the messengers, he "hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf."<ref name="q11s69">{{qref|11|69|b=y}}</ref> This action has been interpreted by all the scholars as exemplary; many scholars have commentated upon this one action, saying that it symbolizes Abraham's exceedingly high moral level and thus is a model for how men should act in a similar situation. This incident has only further heightened the "compassionate" character of Abraham in [[Islamic theology|Muslim theology]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}