Some people suppose that he too had sinned even though the book states that he had an elevated status among the apostles because of his certitude, steadfastness, moral behavior, bravery and perseverance. We will read that the pagans caught him after their idols were found broken and asked as in verses 62 and 63 of Surah Anbiya that says:

“They said, “Are you the one who has done this to our gods O Abraham?” (He) said, “No, this one, the biggest (of the idols) did it. Ask them if they can speak!”

The doubt that rises here is “Why did Abraham attribute his deeds to the biggest of the idols, is it not a lie?”

The second doubt is “Verse 89 of Surah Saffat records that when Abraham was banished from the city then he gave the excuse, “Verily I am sick” when he was not. How are these words suited to the status of chastity or innocence? Verse 82 of Surah Shuara says that Abraham professed his mistake and asked for forgiveness: “I am hopeful that He will forgive my faults on the Day of Judgment.” Is this not a confession of sin from this great apostle?

It is also concluded that he was agreeable with those who worshipped the stars, sun and the moon even though he had certitude and his heart was pure from any evil.

In the Verses 76, 77, and 78 of Surah Anam he says: “This is God” each time when he looked at the stars, sun and the moon.

These are the four places in the Qura’n where his infallibility comes under cloud of sins and mistakes.

The Answer:

The senior commentators and the narrators of hadiths have given the answers to all the four doubts with proof but some explanations are not backed by validity. The answer that we have is very reliable and irrefutable.

The Answer to the First Doubt:

Abraham did not say that the biggest idol had done it; he said, “No. this was done by the biggest one” This is the use of a pun which means a terminology that can be construed in two ways and this in no way can be construed as a sin.

This is the same as the words of Imam Sadiq who is reported to have said, “Neither had the bigger idol done it nor did Abraham speak a lie.” When the seeker desired to know about it then Abraham answered, “I asked them “If they can speak then the biggest of them has done it and if they do not speak then it has done nothing. They did not speak and so Abraham did not lie. (1)

Abraham’s suggestion that the biggest idol had done the destruction is a beautiful form of explanation. He preached to them when he saw them worshipping the idols and told them that these wood and stone idols are helpless and cannot speak a sentence on their own so could they solve their problems?

In other words, when it is clear that this is a hint so how could it be a lie? The verse tells us that Abraham sought to unravel their thoughts.

We find many such examples in modern adages i.e. If there are two people and there is a certainty of one being a thief then people say, “ You have not done it nor has he then who but the angels have done it?’

The words are not a lie but they expose the lie in o0ther’s words. But there is a doubt here that the term “BIL FA’L’” IS COMPLETE. Actually it is a logical negation of the belief of the idolaters. “Do you believe that this actually took place in the temple when it is impossible that an outsider could do this because the idols are large in structural and too strong to break? So he can say that the biggest idol is the most powerful and he had put the axe around its neck but they understood that an idol could not do such a thing.

So the signs tell them that whoever has done this is more powerful than the idols.

These are the expositions that tell mankind what those idols that a dumb can do and they were do to teach the idolaters about the weaknesses in their belief.

The third verse does not contain any proof that Abraham could not have been sick. He was sick bodily and he said “ I am sick” not for just for the purpose of breaking the idols but he was bodily weak and they too were not busy the whole day so that Abraham could look for a chance.

Secondly, “Suqam and Saqam” are disease related to the body but at times is also used to define spiritual weakness as suggested by some linguists. Abraham was spiritually sick because of the paganism in the society. So this Saqam may be related to spirituality. When the spiritual disease increased it affected the body also and anyone can be affected with such a situation.

In verse 6 of Surah Kahf the Qura’n addresses the Holy Messenger:

“Body also and anyone can be affected with such a situation.

In verse 6 of Surah Kahf the Qura’n addresses the Holy Messenger:

“Perhaps you would kill yourself in grief (O Mohammad) over their footstep because they do not believe in this narration.”

Some commentators say that Abraham knew that he would be affected with this disease and the word “Saqam” denotes that such a time was close by and so he was unable to go with them.

Verse 88 of Surah Saffat says, “Then he cast a glance at the stars (to deceive them)”. He wanted to show them that he looked up because he wanted to know when the disease would affect him.

The answer to the third verse is the same as given earlier for Adam. What Abraham meant was that mistakes of the apostle are regarded as a defect for the saintly people.

But what was the mistake or oversight committed by Abraham? Some say that it is that which become the cause of man’s neglect like the neglect of food and drinks is a sin considered by God for the saints because of their elevated status.(1)

Abraham’s calling the stars, sun and moon “My Lord” in the 4th verse has been defined in different ways by the commentators.

The most important is that one that we say: “The aim of Abraham was to find out an argument and answer to the idolatry done by the pagans. (Both these verses that give the answer of Abraham to the pagans surround this verse and are a protest against idolatry.)

Thus Abraham adopts a stand against those who worship the stars, the sun and the moon. He first goes along with their ideas then points out their defects. When we see those who accept the earth and the movement of the sun around sun we approve it. So he says the same but does it define the parameter of his words? The earth is very distant from the sun and completes one orbit around it in 24 hours. This tells us that all celestial objects are subject to movements and changes and this negates what he had supposed. (Reflect Deeply)

This is the best way to reject the claims of the opposition and to declare it to be false. Some people have opined that the use of the words “this is God” was to

 create a question in the minds of the people and to reject what they believed when they had set as they always do.

But the premise: “Abraham had said this for his own experience and there is no objection about him being in different stages in the beginning.” But this is incorrect because of the words “O People” As in verse 78 of Surah Anam that says:

“O people! I am indeed free from all that you join as partners in worship with God.”

This is the proof that it was not just for his experience but in protest against the idolaters.

The words of some people support this claim. Abraham had not seen the sky because his mother had kept him secluded in a cave far from prying eyes. This too is very far fetched because how is possible that he never once came out of the cave in such a long period. This assumption is closer to the meaning. (3) Then is the verse that is revealed later telling us about the answer Abraham gave against Azar’s frivolous ideas. Abraham had already attained a pure and high status and was full of certitude. It is only after God had told him about the wonders of the universe that he spoke about it to others and not to himself.

There is a philosophical proof about Abraham’s denial of the stars and the planet being gods. It is said that it is imperative that God’s authority should be infinite for the creations. These things will set will and the creation will be without their effects for sometime till they rise l so it is possible for them to be god.

In conclusion we can say that the rising and setting of these celestial objects tell us that they are programmed to act as they do under the influence of a superior authority. So how can they be the rulers, creators or God?

The movement itself is finite and this is why all moving things are creations and finite. Such things are never infinite in existence. These are things which in philosophy are called “The moving universe” and “all moving things are finite”

So Abraham’s reply had three meanings and these were the denials of the celestial objects, the sun and the moon as gods.

1. Tafsir Nurus Saqlain vol.3 page 343 hadith 84; Behar-ol-Anwar vol.11 page 76 hadith 4 (Chapter on the purity of the apostles)

2. The word “Khatiah” is derived from the word “At-khatao which means the mistakes committed by humans but their intensity varies if they are done purposely or by oversight but is generally for those done without intention. The word “Al Ism” is used for sins that are committed purposefully and they are the ones that keep mankind away from perfection. Tafsir Al Mizan vol.15. Page 285

3. Akhbarur Reza records that Imam Reza said: Abraham came out of his secret place and met the pagans thrice. Tafsir Nurus Saqlain vol.1 page 735. this proof is against this claim. (reflect deeply)