Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)
c. 19th century BCE (Islamic and Biblical tradition).
Ibrahim (Abraham) is the friend of Allah (Khalilullah) and the father of many prophets. He was born into a family of idol-makers; from childhood he rejected idols and sought the true God, reasoning from the stars, moon and sun that only the Eternal deserves worship. He broke the idols, was thrown into the fire (which Allah made cool and safe), and debated the tyrant Nimrod. He migrated with Sarah, Hajar and Lut; Isma'il was born from Hajar in the valley of Makkah, where Zamzam sprang forth. Allah tested him with the command to sacrifice his son; when both submitted, Allah ransomed the boy with a great sacrifice. Ibrahim and Isma'il raised the foundations of the Ka'bah and prayed for a nation of Muslims from their descendants.