The Life Of Prophet Ibrahim (AS)
One day Allah (SWT) told Prophet Ibrahim (As) to call the people to Hajj, but Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was in the middle of the dessert with no one around him. Ibrahim said "Oh Allah, who will hear me?" Allah (SWT) told him "you do the call and I will mke sure it reaches the people." So even before Prophet Muhammad's time, people were going to Hajj because of Ibrahim's call to them.
When Prophet Ibrahim was building the Ka'ba, he built it with his son Ismael. If we look at our lives today, which son will help their fathers do anything. They're always too busy. But Ismael was right there by his father, building the Ka'ba. Even though it's extremely hot in Makka. Ismael never complained or kept asking "Are we finished yet?" This is the kind of picture we have to learn and teach our children. The reward should not be a bribe, but the reward from Allah (SWT).
Prophet Ibrahim and Yaqoub (AS) both told their children "Allah (SWT)has chosen this religion for you, don't die except as a muslim." This is advise from 2 prophets to their children. Again we look at the advise we give our children today and we find ourselves telling them to become doctors, engineers, lawyers, etc...to make lots of money. But then we complain that they don't know about their religion and they don't pray. They don't know these things because we didn't teach them about it. We are more concerned about their education and preparing them to depend on themselves that we forget to teach them about their religion. It is our responsibility to teach our children about Islam and how to live as a muslim and die as a muslim.
The life of Prophet Ibrahim teaches us about Islam and what surrender to Allah (SWT) really means. A great example would be when the non-believers decided to throw Prophet Ibrahim (AS) in the fire, Allah (SWT) sent Angel Gabriel (AS) to ask him "is there anything you want from me?" Ibrahim (AS) said "from you? No thank you!" Gabriel (AS) then asks "what about from Allah (SWT)" Ibrahim responds and says "Allah (SWT) can see what is happening to me. If he wants to save me, he will save me. We are from Allah (SWT) and therefore we leave ourselves in His hands." Allah (SWT) heard this and gave direct orders to the fire to be cool and peaceful on Ibrahim (AS). So all the fires heard and obeyed, for they did not know which fire Allah (SWT) was talking to. This is what surrendering to Allah (SWT) means.
Ibrahim (AS) couldn't have children for a very long time. When he finally did he was an old man. One day, Allah (SWT) came to Ibrahim in his dream and told him to slaughter his son. So prophet Ibrahim told his son Ismael (AS) "Allah has ordered me to slaughter you, what do you think?" Ismael said "Do as you are told! I will be patient."
When Ibrahim and Ismael reach the place where Ibrahim is to slaughter his son, Ismael asks his father for 3 things 1. To slaughter me with my face down so you don't see my face and change your mind. 2. Wash your clothes from the blood so my mother doesn't see it and remind her of what happened. 3. Sharpen your knife so you don't hesitate if the knife doesn't go threw the first time. When Allah (SWT) saw that they had heard and obeyed, he sent a large sheep to be sacrificed instead of Ismael (AS). This is the mercy of Allah (SWT) and we have to obey only Him!