and incense and valuables suited to it. This had become widespread in the time of Abraham, the leader of those devoted to Allah alone. For this reason, Allah’s close friend said:

“What do you worship? Is it falsehood—gods besides Allah—that you desire? What, then, do you think of the Lord of all worlds?”

He also said to them:

“Do you worship what you carve, when Allah created you and what you make?”

The story of Abraham’s dealings with his people is mentioned in several places in the Quran; it concerns only his forbidding them to associate partners with Allah. This contrasts with the story of Moses and Pharaoh, which clearly shows that Pharaoh openly denied and rejected the Creator.

Allah also relates how Abraham argued with the man who disputed with him concerning his Lord:

“Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord because Allah had granted him kingship? When Abraham said, ‘My Lord is the One who gives life and causes death,’ he replied, ‘I give life and cause death.’ Abraham said, ‘Allah brings the sun from the east, so bring it from the west.’”

It may be said that this man denied the Maker. Even so, the account does not explicitly establish this. A person may call others to worship him without explicitly denying the Creator as Pharaoh did. In any event, “the story of Abraham” is more readily an argument against them than an argument in their favour. This is clear—all praise belongs to Allah. Indeed, what Allah relates about Abraham indicates that he affirmed of Allah what they deny of Him. Abraham said:

“Indeed, my Lord hears supplication.”

What is meant is that He answers supplication, just as a person praying says, “Allah hears whoever praises Him.” He hears and answers a supplication only after it comes into existence, not before it exists. As Allah Most High said:

“Allah has indeed heard the words of the woman who disputes with you concerning her husband and complains to Allah. And Allah hears your conversation.”