Hujjat al-Islam Mirdamadian discusses lessons from the story of Prophet Abraham

Rasa - Hujjat al-Islam Sayyed Ahmad Mirdamadian, the chief lecturer at the Holy Jamkaran Mosque in Qom, spoke on the sixth night of the Holy Month of Ramadhan about the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and the lessons we can gain from his story.

News ID: 941

Date: 05 July 2014 - 19:02

Rasa News Agency reports – Hujjat al-Islam Sayyed Ahmad Mirdamadian, the chief lecturer at the Holy Jamkaran Mosque in Qom, spoke on the sixth night of the Holy Month of Ramadhan about the Prophet Abraham (known as “Ibrahim” in Arabic) and the lessons we can gain from his story.

His Eminence said that Prophet Abraham was one of the greatest prophets that God sent to guide mankind. God introduces him in the Holy Quran as an example and a role model for mankind. In the 14th Quranic chapter “Ibrahim,” he is described as praying to God for security, which is one of the greatest divine greatest blessings.

“If we look around ourselves and at the situation in the region, such as the events occurring in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and some other countries, we see that society is realizing the importance of the divine blessing of security,” Hujjat al-Islam Mirdamadian explained.

Referring to prayer of Prophet Abraham, where he asks God to keep his children away from idol-worship, Hujjat al-Islam Mirdamadian explained that in the current era we witness a new form of idol-worship. One of the examples of idol-worship in this era is the subject of humanism in Western society. Humanism considers that man is the central axis of existence, and places the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, over faith.

His Eminence stated that humanism means that whatever mankind says is considered standard, even if he pursues his own egotistical needs over that of his spiritual needs and actions which are for the sake of God. “In fact, the most important idol is the self,” he emphasized.

Hujjat al-Islam Mirdamadian, in reference to the fifth verse of the chapter “Ibrahim” stated: “In this verse, Moses is described as leading the people out of darkness into light. But a question that arises is whether the Jews were led from darkness into the light in actuality.

In verse 62 of the Quranic chapter “al-Baqarah (The Cow),” anyone who performs good deeds is described will enter heaven, whether or not he is Muslim, Jewish, Christian or Sabean. But in chapter “Aale Imran (The Family of Imran),” God says, “Surely the (true) religion with God is Islam.” The answer to this apparent contradiction is that verse 62 of the chapter “al-Baqarah” is in reference to events and the period before Islam. After Islam came, no other religion is acceptable.

He explained that the Quran is a book of divine guidance and in it, God has explained that his prophets were sent as warners to mankind. Prophet Abraham’s mission was to remind his people of the “Days of God.” This refers to the times when God’s attributes are manifested, either in the form of mercy or tribulation.

The day that Prophet Abraham was thrown into the fire but it did not harm him is considered one of the “Days of God.” The days when the Pharaoh and Nimrod perished are also considered “Days of God.”

A narration from the fifth infallible Imam, Muhammad al-Baqir, explains that the phrase “Days of God” in the Quran refers to three days: the Day of Judgement, the day of the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi, and the Day of Return (the resurrection of selected human beings shortly before the final Resurrection).

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