Abraham, The Friend of God
Both the Koran and the Holy Bible agree that Abraham was the friend of God.
THE KORANIC ACCOUNT
And who has a nobler religion than he who submits to God, does what is right, and follows the faith of saintly Abraham, whom God chose to be His friend (1)?
Abraham was a paragon of piety, an upright man obedient to God. He was no idolater. He rendered thanks for His favours, so that He chose him and guided him to a straight path. We bestowed on him a blessing in this world, and in the world to come he shall dwell among the righteous (2).
And now We have revealed to you Our will, saying: Follow the faith of saintly Abraham: he was no idolater (3).
When his Lord put Abraham to the proof by enjoining on him certain commandments and Abraham fulfilled them, He said: “I have appointed you a leader of mankind” (4).
His people argued with him. He said: “Will you argue with me about God, who has given me guidance? I do not fear your idols, unless my Lord so willed. My Lord has knowledge of all things. Will you not be warned? And how should I fear your idols when you yourselves are not afraid of serving idols not sanctioned by God? Which of us is more deserving of salvation? Tell me, if you know the truth. Those that have faith and do not taint their faith with wrongdoing shall surely earn salvation, while they follow the right path (5).”
Such was the argument with which We furnished Abraham against his people (6).
COMMENTARY ON THE KORANIC ACCOUNT
Abraham the friend of God, obeyed God and believed what God had told him. He did not worship any idols. He was thankful to God. We, the god of Islam along with the angels Gabriel and Michael, blessed Abraham abundantly with financial wealth, cattle, and servants.
The god of Islam claims to have tested Abraham with His commands and Abraham passed and was made a leader of many people.
In the coming world Abraham will be counted with the righteous.
Abraham argued with his relatives about worshiping idols. He implies that there may be some idols approved by god for worship with the statements: I do not fear your idols unless my Lord so willed, and you are not afraid of worshiping idols not sanctioned by god.
Salvation is something to be earned. This is done by not tarnishing ones faith with evil deeds. This concept of earning ones salvation came from the god of the Koran and the angelss Gabriel and Michael.
THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT
But you, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend (7).
And the Lord appeared unto him, (Isaac) and said, Go not down into Egypt: dwell in the land which I shall tell you of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for unto you, and to your seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham your father; And I will make your seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto your seed all these countries; and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statues, and my laws (8).
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report (9)
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (10).
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (11).
But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promise offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall your seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure (12).
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (13)
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith, For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all (14).
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works (15).
You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble (16).
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only (17).
COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT
Abraham the friend of God obeyed Him, kept His charge, His commands, statues and laws. As a result the promises to Abraham were given to Isaac.
Abraham had faith in God. When God showed him the stars and he believed God and his faith was counted to him for righteousness by God. When God told him to sacrifice his only begotten son, Abraham demonstrated his faith by his actions in sacrificing his son and was stopped by God.
Faith and grace go together. Salvation is by faith so that God’s grace may be extended to all people. The works of the law make void faith and grace.
COMPARING & CONTRASTING THE KORAN WITH SCRIPTURE
In the Koran the god of Islam promises to bless Abraham in this life. In Scripture God promises Abraham that he and his seed will be a blessing to the families of the earth.
According to the Koran a person earns salvation through faith and good works. According to Scripture one is saved by faith alone apart from any good work that may be done. God’s grace is extended to all people. What good work one does is the result of one’s faith and does not merit salvation.
In the case of Abraham: he was counted as righteous many years before the sacrifice of his son Isaac; which was a proof of his righteousness. In the Koran Abraham is considered as righteous after his death.
CONCLUSION
The god of the Koran is not the God of Scripture.
The god of the Koran with the angels Gabriel and Michael taught Abraham to say that one earns their salvation. In Scripture one cannot earn salvation for it is given by unmerited favor, grace. God’s grace is extended to all people but only those who receive it in faith receive salvation.
Perhaps you would like to receive this salvation, be righteous, and go to heaven. Jesus, who is God in flesh, was sinless and lived a sinless life. He took your sins and those of the whole world in His own body on the cross and received the wrath of God against Himself; being forsaken by God for those sins. He, Himself being infinite, was able to reduce those sins to zero and said, ‘It is finished’. He then gave up His Spirit and died.
This is the grace of God extended to all men and women. My writing this is God’s grace extended to you through me.
Jesus being a man was able to represent each human individual before God. He shed His blood on the cross and died. Three days later He arose from the dead and forty days later ascended to heaven. This you must believe for salvation, that's faith. Salvation, eternal life is a free gift to you from God; paid for by God.
You must repent of your sins by confessing to God that you are a sinner and invite Jesus into your heart. A sample payer is, “Lord Jesus Christ forgive me of my sins and come into my heart.”
REFERENCES
1. The Koran, Page 73 Paragraph 4:125
2. The Koran, Page 196 Paragraph 16:120
3. The Koran, Page 196 Paragraph 16:123
4. The Koran, Page 22 Paragraph 2:123
5. The Koran, Page 100 Paragraph 6:80-82
6. The Koran, Page 100 Paragraph 6:83
7. The Holy Bible, Isaiah 41:8
8. The Holy Bible, Genesis 26:2-5
9. The Holy Bible, Hebrews 11:1,2
10. The Holy Bible, Hebrews 11:6
11. The Holy Bible, Hebrews 11:8,9,10
12. The Holy Bible, Hebrews 11:16-19
13. The Holy Bible, Romans 4:1-5
14. The Holy Bible, Romans 4:13-16
15. The Holy Bible, James 2:14-18
16. The Holy Bible, James 2:19
17. The Holy Bible, James 2:20-24
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