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    The Prophet Abraham

    Written by: Aiza Azam
    Posted on: October 05, 2014 | | 中文

    The Prophet Abraham was born into a community of idolaters, where his own father made statues of wood and stone for worship. Since early childhood, Abraham was averse to this practice, finding it difficult to understand how man could adore objects of their own creation. This mindset hardened as he grew older, pitting him against his family and everyone around him. He would reason with them, using logic and argument to expose the fallacy of their notions, but was unable to overcome their adherence to their beliefs. Matters came to a head when, in frustration with their stubbornness, Abraham took an axe to all the idols that lay in their temple, save one around whose neck he hung his weapon. When accused, he replied the destruction must have been the work of the statue that remained which should be questioned; it brought home to them the fact that a lifeless object could not even speak in its defense, much less possess divine powers.

    However, determined to punish Abraham, the people dug an enormous pit and filled it with firewood to burn. Abraham was catapulted into the raging fire, but Allah ordered the fire to cool and Abraham emerged unscathed. He continued to implore his people to abandon their ways and worship the one true Creator, but found success with only two people: Sarah, whom he married, and Lot, who became a prophet. Abraham and Sarah migrated from their homeland.

    Abraham had two sons; Ishmael was born of Hajar, Sarah’s Egyptian servant whom she gave to Abraham in marriage because Sarah could not have a child. Isaac was born of Sarah a few years later.

    When Ishmael was still a baby, Abraham took him and his mother to an uncultivated desert land and left them there with a few days worth of food and water. When the water ran out, Hajar, in search of relief for her son, climbed the mountain closest to her, As Safa, but found nothing. She descended and crossed the valley to ascend the mountain Al Marwa, with the same result. In distress, she continued back and forth, and would repeat the process seven times before an angel came and dug the earth from where the water of Zam Zam would flow. Hajar’s flight along the valley and mountains marks the origin of the Sa’y rituals of the Hajj.

    When Ishmael was still a child, Abraham, who visited Ishmael and his mother time and again, saw a dream in which he was sacrificing his son. The visions persisted; perturbed, Abraham shared them with Ishmael and his belief that he was instructed in this by Allah. Ishmael told his father that he must do as he was commanded. Abraham led Ishmael to Mount Arafat to carry out the ritual. Enroute, in what is today Mina, the devil tried to persuade him against it and Abraham, undeterred in his decision, threw stones at him (a ritual commemorated in Hajj). Once atop the mountain, Ishmael lay himself down and Abraham, his eyes covered, raised his knife to do what was his bidding. But on opening them he saw that Allah had replaced Ishmael with a lamb; Abraham had passed the test that had been put to him.

    More people eventually settled into the area and Ishmael married within the community. Years later, Abraham asked Ishmael to help him construct a house on a nearby hillock, as he had been instructed by Allah. Thus, father and son together built the Holy Kaaba.

    After his death, Abraham was buried in a land which is current day Hebron, in the West Bank, alongside the prophets Isaac, Jacob and Joseph in the Cave of Patriarchs. Also buried there are all their respective wives. The graves lie under tombs, over and around which was constructed the Masjid-e-Ibrahimi or the Al Khalil Mosque.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021