Ibrahim was the son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Shelah, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah [according to the narration of the People of the Book].

When Ibrahim's father was 75 years old, he had Ibrahim and his two brothers Nahor, Haran (Haran would have a son called Lut, another Prophet). It is said Ibrahim was the second son, Haran died during the life of their father. They likely lived in Chaldeans (Babylonia).

Ibrahim married Sarah, who couldn't have children. It is said that Terah (Ibrahim's father) moved with them to Canaan (the land of Bayt-ul Maqdis). They lived in different areas, including in Haran; where they worshipped idols and stars; and in Syria, where people worshipped seven stars - they would face the north pole and engage in rituals and sacrifices. They all believed in these ways, except Lot, Abraham and Sarah.

Ibrahim was endowed with spiritual understanding from an early age. Allah enlightened his heart and mind and gave him wisdom from childhood. Allah showed Ibrhaim (and mankind) that celestial objects, and indeed all creation, do not deserve to be worshipped as they are directed and controlled by their Creator. The stars, moon and sun all rise and set and are precisely submissive to the rule of Allah. Nothing can hide from Him. He is the Everlasting, Eternal and there is no god worth worshipping except Him.

Allah gave Ibrahim the reasoning he needed every time he argued with his people.

Then when he saw the moon rising, he said, “This one is my Lord!” But when it disappeared, he said, “If my Lord does not guide me, I will certainly be one of the misguided people.”6:77

After realising the ignorance of worshipping creation other than Creator, Ibrahim understood that these objects cannot harm nor benefit him; not the idols, stars, moon or sun.

And indeed, We had granted Abraham sound judgment early on, for We knew him well ˹to be worthy of it˺.21:51

Years passed and Abraham grew. Since his childhood his heart had been full of hatred for these idols. He could not understand how a sane person could make a statue and then worship what he had made. He noticed that these idols did not eat, drink, or talk, and that they could not even turn themselves right-side-up if someone turned them up-side down. How, then, could people believe that such statutes could harm or benefit them?

Abraham did his best to make his people heedful to the belief in the oneness of Almighty Allah and to the worship of Him alone. He tried to reason with the idol worshippers.

˹Remember˺ when he questioned his father and his people, “What are these statues to which you are so devoted?”21:52

They replied, “We found our forefathers worshipping them.”21:53

He responded, “Indeed, you and your forefathers have been clearly astray.”21:54

They asked, “Have you come to us with the truth, or is this a joke?”21:55

He replied, “In fact, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them ˹both˺. And to that I bear witness.”21:56

The most furious was his father (or his uncle who had raised him), for, as it is well known, he not only worshipped idols but sculpted and sold them as well. Abraham felt that it was his duty as a good son to advise his father against this evil so that he could be saved from Allah's punishment.

When their lands were swarmed by disbelief, Allah sent Abraham to redirect them to the right way - the path to Allah alone. He warned his people of their shortcomings.

Ibrahim started preaching to his father. He politely invited him to the way of the truth explaining that their idols can't even hear them, let alone be worthy of worship. However his father rejected his message, threatening to stone him. He responded saying no harm will come to him from Abraham. He describes that Allah was kind and gentle to him in calling him to the truth.

˹Remember˺ when he said to his father, “O dear father! Why do you worship what can neither hear nor see, nor benefit you at all?19:42

O  dear father! I have certainly received some knowledge which you have not received, so follow me and I will guide you to the Straight Path.19:43

O  dear father! Do not worship Satan. Surely Satan is ever rebellious against the Most Compassionate.19:44

O  dear father! I truly fear that you will be touched by a torment from the Most Compassionate, and become Satan’s companion ˹in Hell˺.”19:45

He threatened, “How dare you reject my idols, O  Abraham! If you do not desist, I will certainly stone you ˹to death˺. So be gone from me for a long time!”19:46

Abraham responded, “Peace be upon you! I will pray to my Lord for your forgiveness. He has truly been Most Gracious to me.19:47

As I distance myself from ˹all of˺ you and from whatever you invoke besides Allah, I will ˹continue to˺ call upon my Lord ˹alone˺, trusting that I will never be disappointed in invoking my Lord.”19:48

Abraham sought forgiveness from Allah for his father. Although, once he noticed his father was an enemy to Allah, he distanced himself from him, but at no point did he show disrespect or arrogance towards his father. The Prophet ﷺ said, "On the Day of Resurrection Abraham will meet his father Azar whose face will be dark and covered with dust. (The Prophet ﷺ said Abraham will say to him): 'Didn't I tell you not to disobey me?' His father will reply: 'Today I will not disobey you.' 'Abraham will say: 'O Lord! You promised me not to disgrace me on the Day of Resurrection; and what will be more disgraceful to me than cursing and dishonouring my father?' Then Allah will say (to him):' 'I have forbidden Paradise for the disbelievers." Then he will be addressed, 'O Abraham! Look! What is underneath your feet?' He will look and there he will see a Dhabh (an animal,) blood-stained, which will be caught by the legs and thrown in the (Hell) Fire." [Bukhari 3350]

And ˹remember˺ when Abraham said to his father, Ȃzar, “Do you take idols as gods? It is clear to me that you and your people are entirely misguided.”6:74

It is said that in this verse, Azar is in reference to the idol Abraham's father worshipped as many narrators, along with the People of the Book suggest his name was Terah. He was nicknamed after the idol he worshipped, hence the reference to Azar.

Furthermore, he had tried to reason with the idolaters multiple times.

Relate to them ˹O Prophet˺ the story of Abraham,26:69

when he questioned his father and his people, “What is that you worship ˹besides Allah˺?”26:70

They replied, “We worship idols, to which we are fully devoted.”26:71

Abraham asked, “Can they hear you when you call upon them?26:72

Or can they benefit or harm you?”26:73

They replied, “No! But we found our forefathers doing the same.”26:74

Abraham responded, “Have you ˹really˺ considered what you have been worshipping—26:75

you and your ancestors?26:76