“Have you considered what you have been worshipping—you and your ancient forefathers? They are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds, who created me and guides me; who feeds me and gives me drink; who heals me when I am ill; who will cause me to die and then bring me to life; and who, I hope, will forgive my sin on the Day of Judgment.”
Abraham, peace be upon him, and those with him said to their people:
“We are free of you and of whatever you worship besides Allah. We reject you, and enmity and hatred have arisen between us and you forever, until you believe in Allah alone.”
Allah thus appointed the prophets and messengers from Abraham’s family, gave each of them distinctive qualities, and raised some above others in rank. He granted each of them signs of the kind that would bring people to faith. He turned Moses’ staff into a serpent, which swallowed the great multitude of ropes and staffs fashioned by the magician-philosophers. He parted the sea for him, leaving dry ground, with the water standing as barriers between twelve paths corresponding to the number of the tribes. He sent with him lice, frogs, and blood. He shaded him and his people with white clouds that travelled with them, and sent down manna and quails upon them every morning. Whenever they grew thirsty, Moses struck the rock with his staff, and twelve springs gushed forth from it; each group knew its own drinking place.
After him, He sent prophets from among the Children of Israel. Through some, Allah brought the dead to life; through others, He healed the sick. To some He disclosed whatever He willed of His unseen knowledge; for others He subjected created beings; and some He sent