The fire and the snare - persecution of Prophet Abraham (pbuh) [As-Saffat]

[N. Truth Seeker]

 




As-Salam Alaykom everyone.  Your opinion would be useful for a discussion I'm preparing with our group.  Concerning the persecution of Prophet Abraham by the disbelievers of his community - and it was turning point in his life for soon after he had to leave his homeland - I am quoting some Verses from Surahs As-Saffat, Al-Anbiya and Al-Ankabut as follows:

"They said: Build for him a building and fling him in the red-hot fire."  37:97 Surah As-Saffat.
"And they designed a snare for him, but We made them the undermost."   37:98  Surah-As-Saffat.

"They cried: Burn him and stand by your gods, if ye will be doing."   21:68  Al-Anbiya.
"We said: O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham,"    21:69  Al-Anbiya.
"And they wished to set a snare for him, but We made them the greater losers."    21:70  Al-Anbiya. 

"But the answer of his folk was only that they said: "Kill him" or "Burn him." Then Allah saved him from the Fire. Lo! herein verily are portents for folk who believe."   24:29  Al-Ankabut.  

On reading all of the above Verses, it's clear that they wanted to kill Prophet Abraham by burning him.  They also plotted to set up a trap for him (perhaps something similar to an ambush).  But both plans failed as Allah Almighty saved Prophet Abraham.  This is what I understand.

The points on which I need your opinion are:  

1)  Does the "snare" planned by the disbelievers refer to the fire or was it a different incident?   If it was a different incident (as I think), then the details describing what type of snare or trap it was aren't mentioned anywhere in the Quran, so only Allah would know those details.  

2)  Concerning the fire which the disbelievers prepared to burn Prophet Abraham (pbuh), was he saved by The Almighty after he was thrown into it or prior to that? 

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Walaikum as-Salam brother.  It's so heartening so know your periodical group discussions are still on, MashAllah.

Responding to the second point of your query first, after reading Verse 21:69 Surah Al-Anbiya .. "We said: O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham,"  .... I would think that they did actually throw him into the fire and at that point Allah ordered the fire to be "coolness and peace" for Prophet Abraham so he wasn't hurt.  That seems to be more likely an indication in V.21:69.   If Prophet Abraham was able to get away from his persecutors before they had cast him into the fire, there would probably be no need to turn the fire into coolness.   And Allah knows best.

Coming to the other point .. ....

Though some commentators including A. A. Maududi presume that the fire and snare were the same incident, I tend to disagree.  I think your opinion seems more plausible.  By reading the Quranic Verses of Surah As-Saffat and Surah Al-Anbiya, if you concentrate on the continuity of the narration ... the Arabic expressions "fa" and "wa" at the beginning of V.37:98 and  V.21:70, respectively, can be translated to the conjunction 'and' in English.   This gives me the impression that these were two different incidents.  First, they tried to throw Prophet Abraham (pbuh) into the burning flame.  When Allah saved him from the fire, Prophet Abraham realized that the hostility of his community was too much and decided to leave.  It's possible that the snare or the trap was laid to prevent him from leaving but that too failed.   Or it's possible the snare was set up some time after the incident of the fire, and when that too failed, Prophet Abraham decided to leave. This is my opinion as I understand from the style of the narration of Verses.  Only Allah Almighty has the final answer.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Extremely helpful analysis and to the point.  Big thanks Sister.  May Allah bless you, your family and all our MV team.  Ameen.

Yes, by the Grace of Allah, the discussion group is still on and everyone's dedication is on the increase with the passage of time.  Alhumdulilah again and again to that.

 

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Ameen, ameen .. .... ....

SubhanAllah.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Walaykum Assalam

MashAllah, your explanations are wonderfully articulated, sister and brother.  

 
Concerning the persecution of Prophet Abraham by the disbelievers of his community - and it was turning point in his life for soon after he had to leave his homeland - 
  

"And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Rab Who will guide me."   37:99  Surah As-Saffat. 

"My Rab! Vouchsafe me of the righteous."   37:100  Surah As-Saffat. 


Okay .. so Verses 99 and 100 of Surah As-Saffat refer to Prophet Abraham (pbuh) leaving his home because of persecution of his people, right? 

[N. Truth Seeker]

Walaykom Salam sister Ruhi.

Yes, exactly .........

[Zainab_M]

Well explained Sister Heba.     I too  am of the opinion that the fire and the snare are two separate incidents with ramifications that go about differently.   If someone is thrown into the fire, it's done to kill them immediately.  If someone is caught in a snare, they are trapped awaiting its negative consequences ... like an ambush as brother ts said.

I haven't read Maududi's commentary on this.    Did he mention any reasons or evidences why he thinks it's the same?   

[Heba E. Husseyn]

....   

I haven't read Maududi's commentary on this.    Did he mention any reasons or evidences why he thinks it's the same?   

He hasn't literally stated it but has certainly alluded as such.  Let me quote him:

"The words in Surah Al-Anbiya`: 69 are to the effect: "We commanded: O fire, be cool and become safe for Abraham," and in Surah AI'Ankbut: 24, it has been said: "Then Allah saved him from the fire." This proves that those people had actually thrown the Prophet Abraham into the fire, and then Allah had rescued him from it safe and sound. The words of the verse, "They had designed a plan against him, but We defeated them in their plan," cannot be taken to mean that they had only intended to throw the Prophet Abraham into the fire but could not carry their plan into effect; but when these words are read with the verses cited above, the meaning becomes plain that they had wanted to kill him by casting him into the fire but could not do so, and the Prophet Abraham's miraculous escape proved his superiority and the polytheists were humbled by Allah."

I totally agree with him on this.  It's the first incident in which the idolaters wanted to cast Prophet Abraham in the fire.   Maududi has apparently included both incidents in his commentary - fire and snare.   I think the snare was another incident in which too the idolaters failed.

[Zainab_M]

Yes, I get your point.  You're right.