And so they sought to harm him, but We made them inferior.37:98

When they realised their arguments had no evidence, Ibrahim's people decided to prepare a punishment for him for breaking their idols.

They said ˹to one another˺, “Build him a furnace and cast him into the blazing fire.”37:97

They concluded, “Burn him up to avenge your gods, if you must act.”21:68

They began to collect firewood from wherever they could and build the biggest fire possible. Everyone was ordered to collect wood in service to their gods. They dug a deep pit and filled it with the fire they had gathered, then set it ablaze. Ibrahim was tied onto a catapult to be shot into the fire whose flames were high in the sky.

Ibrahim began to pray to His Lord, the only true Lord. He said 'There is no God (worthy of worship) but You, You are free of all imperfections, O Lord of the worlds! You deserve praise, and the power is for You. You have no partner' He continued 'Allah is Sufficient for us, and how good a Protector He is!'

When Ibrahim was shot out of the catapult and was mid-air, Angel Jibreel came to him saying 'Ibrahim, do you need any help?' He replied 'Nothing from you.' But Allah's help was near.

We ordered, “O fire! Be cool and safe for Abraham!”21:69

They had sought to harm him, but We made them the worst losers.21:70

Ali bin Abu Talib said this meant 'Do not harm him' whilst Ibn Abbas and Abul-Aliah said 'safe for Ibrahim' the coolness would have harmed him. Ka'b bin Ahbar said that the fire did not burn anything except the chains Ibrahim was attached to. Dahhak said that Jibreel was with him wiping his sweat from his face and he did not suffer anything from the fire except that sweat.

Ibn Asakir has narrated from Ikirmah that Ibrahim's mother looked at her son and said 'O my son, i want to come to you so pray to Allah so He could save me from the heat of the fire around you.' Ibrahim said yes and his mother came to him without being harmed from the heat of the fire and embraced him.

Minhal bin Amr said that Ibrahim stayed there for forty or fifty days and Ibrahim stated that those days were the best days of his life. Whereas for his people, they were humiliated in this life and in the hereafter the fire will not be made cool for them.