The modern-world relentlessly venerates man, and through this befouls itself into thinking that ‘failure’, if its definition is failing to see a desired outcome is always a consequence of ‘doing something wrong’ or failing to follow ‘self-help’ protocols.
Ibrāhīm ʿalayhi al-salām is the father of the Prophets, the icon of the monotheistic way and the intimate friend of Allāh.
He lived a life of struggle, having confronted the idolatry of his community from a young age and expended every avenue and approach with his father in an attempt to bring him out of misguidance. In Ibrāhīm ʿalayhi al-salām’s plea with his father, we notice many of what are termed ‘persuasion techniques’, highlighting his sincere and exhaustive effort. He begins by appealing to logic and rationale:
“˹Remember˺ when he said to his father, “O dear father! Why do you worship what can neither hear nor see, nor benefit you at all?”[1]
He then appeals to authority, as a Messenger of the Almighty, to highlight his particular knowledge and commission to his antagonistic father:
“O dear father! I have certainly received some knowledge which you have not received…”[2]
Before phrasing his call in a form of bargain or what is often termed reciprocity, pledging to guide his father to a straight path, should he pledge to follow the messenger:
“…so follow me and I will guide you to the Straight Path.”[3]
Then warns that should he insist on denying the Message of Truth, he is ultimately a follower of the devil, attempting to persuade or influence his father by association:
“O dear father! Do not worship Satan. Surely Satan is ever rebellious against the Most Compassionate.”[4]
And throughout, his address is infused with sincere emotion, choosing to use ‘abaty‘ (my dear father), rather than ‘aby‘ (my father):
“O dear father! I truly fear that you will be touched by a torment from the Most Compassionate, and become Satan’s companion ˹in Hell˺.”[5]
Almost to say that my fear is that the torment of hell simply touches your skin, let alone that you are smouldered in fire.
After these determined attempts, his father shunned his call and even threatened to kill him:
“He threatened, ‘How dare you reject my idols, O Ibrāhīm! If you do not desist, I will certainly stone you ˹to death˺. So be gone from me for a long time!’”[6]
Ibrāhīm ʿalayhi al-salām spared no effort or demarcated ‘persuasion technique’ to exhort his father. His effort was arduous and wholesome and yet the latter remained belligerent. In another article we discussed how one’s reward is by following the Path of Truth, even if fleeting, earthly milestones are never seen. In Ibrāhīm ʿalayhi al-salām‘s plea, we see that if man were to exhaust everything in his repository, as is his duty and for which he is correspondingly rewarded, Allah remains in control of the outcome.
Man is not a master of his destiny, contrary to the ideas espoused by countless self-help writers such as Napoleon Hill in statements such as: “You can influence, direct or control your own environment… (and) make your life what you want it to be.“[7]
The modern-world relentlessly venerates man, and through this befouls itself into thinking that ‘failure‘, if its definition is failing to see a desired outcome is always a consequence of ‘doing something wrong’ or failing to follow ‘self-help’ protocols.
By consequence, for one to see their desired outcome, they must have done something right, and their examples go on to form as case-studies in these self-help books. Eventually, the modern world will revere those who achieve the outcomes they desire, and disregard those who do not, or fall into despair if they follow self-help protocols and see little results. A man of truth utilises, rather than worships effective means to worship God, and will entrust the outcome to the Controller of Affairs, the Almighty.
Ibrāhīm ʿalayhi al-salām did not manage to persuade his father for no fault on the Prophet, but because his father was destined to err, and indeed insisted on it. The story shows that wholesome, guided and above all, sincere efforts may never yield one’s sought after results, as man bears no control over their own destiny, let alone others.
In his later days, Ibrāhīm ʿalayhi al-salām would frequent his cherished son and his fatherly attachment to him grew. Finally, the testing command came, “the most manifest trial”. Again and again, he would see a vision of himself slaughtering Ismāʿīl ʿalayhi al-salām and realised it was a command from Allāh.
But unlike Ibrahim’s episode with his belligerent father, Ismael would instead spare his father from seeing a glimmer of hesitation or needing a moments’ persuasion to fulfil Allāh’s command. Instead:
“He replied, ‘O my dear father! Do as you are commanded. Allāh willing, you will find me steadfast.’”[8]
Notice, that unlike the futility Ibrāhīm ʿalayhi al-salām experienced persuading his father to shun futile idols logically and emotionally, with promise and with warning, Ismāʿīl ʿalayhi al-salām needed nothing of the like.
Allāh replaced a father who would unnaturally shun Ibrāhīm ʿalayhi al-salām when invited to guidance with a son who would singularly heed his father when invited to slaughter. Our destiny is in the control of the Almighty.
References:
[1] Al-Qur’ān 19:42
[2] Al-Qur’ān 19:43
[3] Ibid
[4] Al-Qur’ān 19:44
[5] Al-Qur’ān 19:45
[6] Al-Qur’ān 19:46
[7] Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich
[8] Al-Qur’ān 37:102
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