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What Are the Scriptures of Ibrahim (Peace Be upon Him)?
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What are the Scriptures of Ibrahim (peace be upon him)?
ما هي صحف إبراهيم عليه السلام؟
By:
Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
What are the Scriptures of Ibrahim (peace be upon him)?
Praise be to Allah.
The Scriptures of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) are the Scriptures that Allah revealed to His Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him); most of what they contain -- as the scholars said -- were exhortations, wisdom and lessons.
Our Lord, may He be glorified and exalted, has mentioned them in the Holy Qur'an in a number of places, some of which refer to them in general terms and some in more specific terms.
As for the general terms, it is where Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismaa'eel (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Ya'qoob (Jacob), and to Al-Asbaat [the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya'qoob (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Musa (Moses) and 'Eesa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam)" [al-Baqarah 2:136]
And He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismaa'eel (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Ya'qoob (Jacob) and Al-Asbaat [the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya'qoob (Jacob)] and what was given to Musa (Moses), 'Eesa (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allah) we have submitted (in Islam)" [Aal 'Imraan 3:84].
As for the place where they are mentioned clearly and specifically, it is in Surah al-Najm, where Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Did you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) observe him who turned away (from Islam).
34. And gave a little, then stopped (giving)?
35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees?
36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Pages (Scripture) of Musa (Moses),
37. And of Ibrahim (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (Allah ordered him to do or convey):
38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.
39. And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad).
40. And that his deeds will be seen.
41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense"
[al-Najm 53: 33 – 41]
And in Surah al-A'la, where Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Indeed whosoever purifies himself (by avoiding polytheism and accepting Islamic Monotheism) shall achieve success,
15. And remembers (glorifies) the Name of his Lord (worships none but Allah), and prays (five compulsory prayers and Nawaafil __additional prayers).
16. Nay, you prefer the life of this world,
17. Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting.
18. Verily, this is in the former Scriptures —
19. The Scriptures of Ibrahim (Abraham) and Musa (Moses) (عليهما السلام)"
[al-A'la 87:14-19].
Ibn Jareer al-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
What is meant by Scriptures here is the books of Ibrahim and Musa. End quote. Jaami' al-Bayaan, 24/377
Al-'Allaamah al-Ameen al-Shanqeeti (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“and what was sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham)": it is not explained here what this was that was sent down to Ibrahim, but it is explained in Surah al-A'la that it was Scriptures, and that among what it said in those Scriptures was: “Nay, you prefer the life of this world, Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting" and that is in the verse where Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, this is in the former Scriptures —
19. The Scriptures of Ibrahim (Abraham) and Musa (Moses) (عليهما السلام)" [al-A'la 87:14-19].
Adwa' al-Bayaan, 1/45
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) has told us about the history of its revelation, as it was narrated from Waathilah ibn al-Asqa' that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: The Scriptures of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) were revealed on the first night of Ramadan, the Torah was revealed on the sixth of Ramadan, the Gospel was revealed on the 13th of Ramadan, and the Qur'an was revealed on the 24th of Ramadan. Narrated by Ahmad in al-Musnad (4/107) and classed as hasan by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (1575).
In some weak ahadith and in some reports from the Taabi'een there are quotations from the Scriptures of Ibrahim, and it is most likely that they were narrated from the books of the children of Israel which -- even if it is sound -- indicates that the main subject matter of the Scriptures of Ibrahim is wisdom and exhortation.
Dawood ibn Hilaal al-Nusaybi says:
It is written in the Scriptures of Ibrahim (peace be upon him):
“O world (dunya), how insignificant you are to the righteous to whom you adorn yourself. I created in their hearts hatred towards you and dislike for you. There is nothing in creation that is more insignificant to Me than you. Everything about you is insignificant; you are bound to perish; I decreed the day I created creation that you would not last for anyone, and no one would last for you, and even if the one who loves you tried to hold on to you, glad tidings to the righteous who showed Me what they have of contentment in their hearts and they showed Me what they have of sincerity and righteousness. Glad tidings to them: I have no reward for them when they come to me out of their graves except light running ahead of them, and the angels surrounding them, until I grant them what they hope for of My mercy.
Al-Zuhd, by Ibn Abi'l-Dunya (no. 200).
It says in al-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah (15/167): with regard to the Scriptures of Ibrahim and Dawood, they were exhortations and proverbs, with no rulings in them, so they are not included among the books which contain rulings. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The Scriptures of Ibrahim are Scriptures which Allah revealed to Ibrahim, in which there are exhortations and rulings. End quote.
Liqaa'aat al-Baab il-Maftoohah, (no. 176)
And Allah knows best.
