What Quran tells about Religion of Ibraham

Undoubtedly there are many religions in the world existing today and also a growing number of people not following any religion. What does Al-Quran say about following a religion and which one? We will see shortly in the light of Ayas/Signs of the Book.

The word for religion in Arabic is ‘Millat’. There is another word which is commonly understood to mean religion i.e ‘Din’. However, the context in which ‘Din’ is used in the Book is ‘judgment’ and not religion.

God instructs every one to follow the religion of Ibrahim in Ayat 95 of Sura 3 Ale Imran.

3:95: قُلْ صَدَقَ اللّهُ فَاتَّبِعُواْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

“Say. Allah speaks the Truth, so you all, follow the religion of Ibrahim, the true in faith; he was not of the Polytheists.”

Then God inspired the Messenger to follow the religion of Ibrahim in Aya 123 of Sura 16:

16:123ثُمَّ �£َوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ �£َنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

“Then We inspired thee (Mohammad), Follow the religion of Abraham the True in Faith, and he was not from the Polytheists.”

The Messenger confirms that God has guided him to the straight path of the religion of Ibrahim in Ayat 161 of Sura 6 Al-Inam.

6:161

قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

“Say : Surely my Lord has guided me to a straight path a judgment established; the Millat (Religion) of true IBRAHIM(Abraham) and he was not from the polytheists.”

Was this inspiration to follow the the religion of Ibrahim or any other order from the Lord, a new instruction for Messenger and people? or the same religion and practice was asked to be followed which was the religion and practice of all previous messengers? The following three Ayas will shed light on this question:

41:43

مَا يُقَالُ لَكَ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ قِيلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِن قَبْلِكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ وَذُو عِقَابٍ �£َلِيمٍ

“Nothing is said to You (Mohammad) that was not said to the Messengers before you: verily your Lord has at his Command (all) forgiveness as well as the most Grievous vengeance.”

46:9

قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِّنْ الرُّسُلِ وَمَا �£َدْرِي مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمْ إِنْ �£َتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ وَمَا �£َنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

“Say (O’ Mohammad) “I am no bringer of new doctrine among the Messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I follow but that which is revealed to me by inspiration; I am but a Warner open and clear.”

42:13

شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي �£َوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى �£َنْ �£َقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يُنِيبُ

“The same Shariat/Way has He established for you all which He enjoined on Nooh ( Noah) – that  We have sent by inspiration to you (Mohammad) – and that which We enjoined on Ibrahim ( Abraham), Moosa ( Moses), and Essa (Jesus):  that you should remain steadfast in Din/Judgement, and make no differentiations therein: to those who join others with Allah, hard is the (way) to which you call them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).”

After you have made it your judgement to adopt the religion of Ibrahim, God names you ‘Muslim’ as stated Aya 78 of Sura Haj

22:78

وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ �£َبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاء عَلَى النَّاسِ فَ�£َقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَى وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ