Abraham

Abraham (“Father/Leader of many”, Standard Hebrew Avraham; Arabic Ibrāhīm) is the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

His story is told in the Book of Genesis.

All three religions regard him as the ancestor of the Arabs, through Ishmael. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are referred to as the “Abrahamic religions” in reference to their supposed common descent from Abraham.

He probably lived between 2000 BC and 1500 BC.

Abraham is considered the father of the Jewish nation, as their first Patriarch, and having a son (Isaac), who in turn begat Jacob, and from there the Twelve Tribes. To father the nation, God “tested” Abraham with ten tests, the greatest of which being the sacrifice of his son Isaac.

Abraham stands out prominently as the recipient of the promises (Gen. 12:2-7, 13:14-17, 15, 17, 18:17-19, 22:17-18, 24:7).

In the New Testament Abraham is mentioned prominently as a man of faith (see e.g., Hebrews 11), and the apostle Paul uses him as an example of salvation by faith.

Abraham – called Ibrahim in Islam – is very important to Islam, both in his own right and as the father of Ismail (Ishmael), his firstborn son.

Abraham (Ibrahim) is considered one of the first and most important prophets of Islam, and is commonly termed Khalil Ullah, Friend of God. (Islam regards most of the Old Testament “patriarchs” as prophets of God, and hence as Muslims.)

Muslims universally agree that Abraham was a prophet of God.