blow upon the fire around Abraham.” (1)
“We said, ‘O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham.’” (69)
Allah Most High says: “We said, ‘O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham.’” Ibn Abbas said: “Had He not said, ‘and safety,’ Abraham would have died from its coldness.” It is well known in the traditional reports that no fire remained on earth that day without being extinguished; thus, no fire anywhere in the world could be used that day. Had He not said, “and safety upon Abraham,” it would have remained cold forever. (2)
Al-Suddi said: The angels took Abraham by his upper arms and seated him upon the ground, where there was a spring of fresh water, red roses, and narcissi. (3)
Kab said: The Fire burned nothing of Abraham except his bonds. (4) It is said that Abraham remained in that place for seven days. (5)
Al-Minhal ibn Amr said that Abraham said: “I have never known days more delightful than those I spent in the Fire.” (6)
Ibn Yasar said: Allah sent the angel of shade in Abraham’s form, and he sat beside Abraham, comforting him. It is said that Allah sent Gabriel with a shirt of silk from Paradise and a carpet. He clothed him in the shirt, seated him upon the carpet, and sat with him, speaking to him. (7) Gabriel said: “Abraham, your Lord says: Did you not know that the Fire does not harm My beloved ones?”
Then Nimrod looked down upon Abraham from one of his lofty structures and saw him sitting in a garden, with the angel seated beside him, while fire all around him was consuming the wood. He called out to him: “Abraham, great is your God, whose power has interposed between you and what I see. Abraham, are you able to come out of it?” He replied, “Yes.” Nimrod said, “Do you fear that it will harm you if you remain in it?” He replied, “No.” He said, “Then rise and come out of it.” So Abraham rose and walked through it until he came out. When he came out to him, Nimrod asked him, “Abraham, who was the man I saw with you, seated beside you in your form?” He replied, “That was the angel of shade, whom…”