Are you ˹O Prophet˺ not aware of the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord because Allah had granted him kingship? ˹Remember˺ when Abraham said, “My Lord is the One Who has power to give life and cause death.” He argued, “I too have the power to give life and cause death.” Abraham challenged ˹him˺, “Allah causes the sun to rise from the east. So make it rise from the west.” And so the disbeliever was dumbstruck. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.2:258

Nimrod was an extremely haughty and arrogant king who claimed that he was the lord. He was rebellious and materialistic. Ibrahim showed him that this was not true and highlighted his ignorance. It is likely that Nimrod was the king of Babylon. He was the son of Canaan, son of Kosh, son of Shem, son of Noah. Others say he was the son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah.

Mujahid and others stated that there have been four kings who ruled the earth: two were believers (Dhul-Qarnayn and Suleiman) and two were disbelievers (Nimrod and Nabuchadnezzar). Nimrod ruled for about 400 years.

Qatadah, Suddi and Ibn Ishaq narrated that Nimrod once wanted to kill two men and when they were brought to him he decided to kill one and spare the other. He then arrogantly said that he is the one who gave and took their lives. Hence why Ibrahim said that Allah alone has the power to give and take life.

In the above verse, Ibrahim continues explaining that not only does Allah give and take life but He has subjected the sun and moon to His command. All follow His rule. He then challenged Nimrod that if he had that power, could he make the sun rise from the west instead of the east. If he cannot do that, he surely cannot bring about life or death. After Ibrahim showed him the falsehood of his beliefs, he was dumbfounded.

Whilst Suddi said that argument happened after Ibrahim left the fire, Zaid bin Aslam said that Nimrod strictly controlled resources and when Ibrahim was trying to get his produce, after this argument he did not get any. He then went home and in order to not worry his family, filled his sacks with sand and brought them into his house. He then went to sleep and his wife looked in the sacks to find all sorts of produce. She cooked them and Ibrahim asked where it had come from, she replied that it was from what he had brought back. After this Ibrahim knew Allah was the one who provided for him, The Best of Providers.

Zaid also narrated that Nimrod was commanded to follow the truth multiple times, but he rejected it and threatened that his army and Allah's army should fight. So, Allah sent him a swarm of mosquitos to fight with his people and overpowered them. One mosquito even went into his nose and in frustration, Nimrod hit his head with a hammer and died.