Page "Islamic views on Abraham" Paragraph 19

The Qur ' an discusses a certain conversation between a an unrighteous ruler and Abraham.

Although identification for the unnamed king has been recognized as being least important in the narrative, many historical sources suggest that it was Nimrod, the king who had ordered the building of the Tower of Babel.

According to the narrative, the king became extremely arrogant due to his wealth and power, to the point that he made the claim that he possessed the power of Creation.

Claiming divinity for himself, the king quarreled with Abraham but the Qur ' an describes that he only deepened in confusion.

According to the Qur ' an, Abraham told the king that it is God who makes the sun rise and set everyday, which rendered the king confounded.

This event has been noted as particularly important because, in the Muslim perspective, it almost foreshadowed the prophetic careers of future prophets, most significantly the career of Moses.

Abraham's quarrel with the king has been interpreted by some to be a precursor to Moses's preaching to Pharaoh.

Just as the ruler who argued against Abraham claimed divinity for himself, so did the Pharaoh of the Exodus, who refused to hear the call of Moses and perished in the Red Sea.

In this particular incident, scholars have further commented on Abraham's wisdom in employing " rational, wise and target-oriented " speech, as opposed to pointless arguments.