Islamic Stories

Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) lived among people who worshipped idols made of stone and wood. His own father was a sculptor of these idols. Ibrahim questioned his people: 'Do you worship what you yourselves carve, while Allah created you and what you make?' One day, when the people left to attend a festival, Ibrahim entered their temple. He saw food placed before the idols as offerings. He mockingly asked them, 'Will you not eat? What is the matter with you that you do not speak?' Then, he smashed all the idols except the largest one, placing the axe in its hand. When the people returned and saw what had happened, they were furious. They questioned Ibrahim, who cleverly replied, 'Rather, this largest one did it, so ask them if they can speak!' The people realized their folly, admitting, 'You know well that these do not speak!' Ibrahim then declared, 'Then do you worship besides Allah that which does not benefit you at all, nor harm you? Uff to you and to what you worship besides Allah! Will you not use reason?'

Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) was the beloved son of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob). His jealous brothers plotted against him and threw him into a well, then told their father that a wolf had eaten him. Yusuf was found by a caravan and sold into slavery in Egypt. Despite the hardships he faced, including false imprisonment, Yusuf remained patient and faithful to Allah. His ability to interpret dreams eventually brought him before the king, and he was appointed as a minister to manage Egypt's resources during a famine. Years later, when his brothers came to Egypt seeking food during the famine, they did not recognize Yusuf, who was now a powerful leader. After testing their character and seeing their transformation, Yusuf revealed his identity. Instead of seeking revenge, he forgave them, saying, 'No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.'

Prophet Musa (Moses) once claimed to be the most knowledgeable person. Allah informed him that there was someone who knew more. Musa traveled to meet this wise man, Al-Khidr. Musa asked to accompany him to learn from his knowledge. Al-Khidr agreed but warned Musa not to question his actions until he explained them himself. During their journey, Al-Khidr did three seemingly wrong things: he damaged a boat belonging to poor people, killed a young boy, and rebuilt a wall in a town whose people had refused them hospitality. Each time, Musa couldn't help but question these actions. Finally, Al-Khidr explained: he damaged the boat to save it from a tyrannical king who was seizing every boat by force; he killed the boy because he would have caused his righteous parents grief and disbelief; and he rebuilt the wall because beneath it was a treasure belonging to two orphan boys, and their father was righteous, so Allah wanted them to reach maturity and retrieve their treasure.

Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) was blessed by Allah with the ability to understand the language of animals and birds. One day, as he was marching with his army of men, jinn, and birds, they came upon a valley of ants. An ant, seeing the approaching army, called out to its fellow ants: 'O ants! Enter your dwellings so that Sulaiman and his armies do not crush you while they do not realize it.' When Sulaiman heard this, he smiled at its words and said, 'My Lord! Inspire me to always be thankful for Your favors which You have blessed me and my parents with, and to do good deeds that please You. Admit me, by Your mercy, into the company of Your righteous servants.'

In ancient times, a group of young believers lived in a city ruled by a tyrannical king who persecuted those who believed in One God. These youths refused to worship idols and feared for their lives. They fled the city and took refuge in a cave, putting their trust in Allah. They prayed, 'Our Lord! Grant us mercy from Yourself and guide us to the right way in our ordeal.' Allah caused them to fall into a deep sleep. They slept for 309 years (according to the lunar calendar), while Allah protected them and even turned them from side to side so their bodies would not decay. When they finally awoke, they thought they had slept only a day or part of a day. One of them went to the city to buy food, only to discover that centuries had passed, the tyrannical king was long gone, and the people of the city were now believers. Their story became a sign for people of the power of Allah and the reality of resurrection.

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) was the closest companion of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). During the migration to Madinah, the Prophet and Abu Bakr hid in the Cave of Thawr while the Quraysh searched for them. When their pursuers came so close that Abu Bakr could see their feet at the cave's entrance, he became worried and said to the Prophet, 'If one of them were to look down at his feet, he would see us.' The Prophet (peace be upon him) calmly replied, 'What do you think of two, when Allah is the third with them? Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.' Allah protected them, and the pursuers left without finding them. Abu Bakr earned his title 'As-Siddiq' (The Truthful) because of his unwavering belief in everything the Prophet said, particularly his immediate acceptance of the Prophet's night journey (Isra and Mi'raj) when others doubted.

Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), the second Caliph of Islam, was known for his justice and concern for his people. One night, while making his rounds in Madinah, he heard children crying in a tent. He found a woman boiling water over a fire with hungry children around her. When Umar asked what she was doing, she explained that she had nothing to feed her children, so she was boiling water to make them think food was being prepared, hoping they would fall asleep from exhaustion. She said bitterly, 'May Allah judge between me and Umar for neglecting us!' Not revealing his identity, Umar immediately went to the treasury, carried a sack of flour and meat on his own shoulders, and brought it to the woman. He then cooked food for the children himself until they were satisfied and fell asleep peacefully. The woman prayed for the kind stranger, saying, 'May Allah reward you! You are more worthy of being the Caliph than Umar!' Umar left quietly, never revealing who he was, his eyes filled with tears for having not known of her situation sooner.

Bilal ibn Rabah (may Allah be pleased with him) was an Abyssinian slave who accepted Islam in its early days in Makkah. His master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, brutally tortured him to force him to renounce his faith. Bilal was made to lie on the scorching hot sand of the Arabian desert with a huge boulder placed on his chest. Despite the excruciating pain, Bilal would only say 'Ahad, Ahad' (One, One), affirming the oneness of Allah and refusing to worship the idols. Abu Bakr eventually purchased Bilal's freedom. Due to his beautiful voice and his unwavering faith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) chose Bilal to be the first muezzin (caller to prayer) in Islam. On the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet commanded Bilal to climb atop the Kaaba and give the call to prayer - the very place where idols once stood and where Bilal had been persecuted for his beliefs.

During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a woman came to Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet's wife, begging for food. Aisha had only three dates in her home and gave them all to the woman. The woman had two young daughters with her. She gave each daughter a date and was about to eat the third herself when both daughters looked at her longingly, wanting more. The mother's heart melted with compassion. Instead of eating the date herself, she split it in half and gave each daughter a portion, keeping nothing for herself despite her own hunger. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) returned home, Aisha told him about the incident. The Prophet was deeply moved and said, 'Whoever is tested with anything regarding daughters and treats them kindly, they will be a shield for him from the Fire of Hell.'

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companions about a man walking along a road who became extremely thirsty. He found a well, climbed down into it, drank his fill, and came back up. Suddenly, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of extreme thirst. The man realized that the dog was suffering from thirst just as he had been. He climbed back down into the well, filled his leather sock with water, held it in his mouth, climbed back up, and gave the dog water to drink. Allah appreciated his deed and forgave his sins. The companions asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, is there a reward for us in serving animals?' He replied, 'There is a reward for serving any living being.'

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) narrated a parable about two men - one wealthy and one poor. The poor man was blind and had physical disabilities but was rich in faith and good character. The wealthy man was healthy and prosperous but arrogant. When they both died and were in their graves, the poor man's grave became spacious and filled with light like a garden from Paradise, while the wealthy man's grave became tight and uncomfortable. On the Day of Judgment, when they would be resurrected, the poor man would be asked, 'Are you pleased with your Lord?' He would say, 'Yes, my Lord, I am pleased.' The wealthy man would be asked the same question, and he would lament the world he left behind. The Prophet explained that Allah does not look at our bodies or wealth but looks at our hearts and deeds. The humble believer who is patient with his condition and grateful to Allah is more beloved to Allah than the one who has everything but shows arrogance and ingratitude.

Prophet Ayub (Job) was a wealthy man blessed with large lands, cattle, and a loving family. Allah tested him with severe trials - he lost his wealth, his children died, and he was afflicted with a painful disease that left him bedridden for years. His body was covered in sores, and only his wife remained with him. Despite all these calamities, Ayub never complained about Allah and remained patient and steadfast in his faith. People abandoned him thinking his suffering was a punishment, but his wife faithfully stayed by his side. After years of patience, Ayub finally prayed to Allah, 'Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.' Allah responded to his prayer, restored his health, gave him back his wealth doubled, and blessed him with children again. His patience in the face of extreme adversity became legendary.

When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr were fleeing Makkah and hiding in the Cave of Thawr, the pursuing Quraysh tracked them to the cave's entrance. Just as they were about to enter, they noticed a spider had woven its web across the cave opening, and a dove had built a nest with eggs right at the entrance. The Quraysh concluded that no one could have entered the cave recently without disturbing the spider's web or the dove's nest, so they turned back. Allah had sent these creatures as a form of protection for His Prophet. The frail spider's web became an iron shield by the will of Allah, proving that when Allah protects someone, nothing can harm them, and the weakest of creatures can become means of mighty protection.

There was once a man who had killed ninety-nine people. Feeling remorseful, he asked about the most knowledgeable person on earth. He was directed to a monk. The man went to the monk and asked if Allah would forgive him for killing ninety-nine people. The monk said no. In anger, the man killed the monk too, bringing his total to one hundred. Still seeking forgiveness, he asked again about the most learned person and was directed to a scholar. He asked the scholar if Allah could forgive him for killing one hundred people. The scholar replied, 'Yes, and who can stand between you and repentance? Go to such-and-such land where there are people who worship Allah. Worship Allah with them and do not return to your land, for it is an evil place.' The man set off, but died halfway through his journey. The angels of mercy and the angels of punishment disputed over his soul. Allah commanded that they measure the distance between the two lands. Whichever was closer would determine his fate. They found he was closer by a hand span to the land he was traveling toward. The angels of mercy took his soul.

Prophet Yunus (Jonah) was sent to the people of Nineveh to guide them to the truth. When they rejected his message, he became frustrated and left them without Allah's permission, boarding a ship. A storm arose, and the crew decided to cast lots to determine who should be thrown overboard to lighten the ship. The lot fell on Yunus three times. He was thrown into the sea, where Allah caused a large whale to swallow him. Inside the belly of the whale, in complete darkness, Yunus realized his mistake of leaving his people in anger without Allah's command. He called out to Allah with deep remorse: 'There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.' Allah heard his sincere repentance and commanded the whale to cast him onto the shore. Allah then caused a plant to grow over him for shade and restored his health. Allah sent him back to his people, and this time, they believed in him. The entire city of Nineveh - over 100,000 people - accepted the message and were saved from destruction.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in Makkah in the Year of the Elephant (570 CE). His father Abdullah had passed away before his birth, making him an orphan from the start. His mother Aminah reported experiencing a radiant light emanating from her during pregnancy. On the night of his birth, many miraculous signs were reported: the fire of the Zoroastrians that had burned for a thousand years was extinguished, the palace of the Persian emperor Khosrow shook, and fourteen of its balconies collapsed. His mother saw a light emerge from her that illuminated the palaces of Syria. He was born circumcised with his umbilical cord already cut. According to Arab custom, he was sent to live with a wet nurse, Halima As-Sa'diyah, in the desert. Halima's family experienced unprecedented blessings during the time Muhammad was with them - their livestock gave abundant milk, their land became fertile, and prosperity surrounded them.

At the age of 40, Muhammad (peace be upon him) would regularly retreat to Cave Hira on Mount Nur for contemplation and worship. One night during Ramadan, the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared to him in his true form and commanded, 'Read!' Muhammad replied, 'I cannot read.' The angel embraced him tightly until he could bear no more, then released him and again commanded, 'Read!' This happened three times. Finally, the angel recited: 'Read in the name of your Lord who created - Created man from a clinging substance. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous - Who taught by the pen - Taught man that which he knew not.' Terrified and trembling, Muhammad rushed home to his wife Khadijah, saying, 'Cover me! Cover me!' After he told her what happened, Khadijah consoled him and took him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a Christian scholar, who confirmed that Muhammad had been chosen as the Prophet of his time and that the angel who came to him was the same who came to Moses.

During one of the most difficult periods of the Prophet's life, after the deaths of his wife Khadijah and uncle Abu Talib (the Year of Sorrow), Allah honored him with a miraculous night journey. The Angel Jibril came with the Buraq, a heavenly creature, and took the Prophet from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. There, he led all the previous prophets in prayer. Then he ascended through the seven heavens, meeting prophets including Adam, Yahya, Isa, Yusuf, Idris, Harun, Musa, and finally Ibrahim. He was taken to the highest point where he received the command for the five daily prayers directly from Allah. Originally fifty prayers were prescribed, but through Prophet Musa's advice, Muhammad repeatedly returned to ask for reduction until it was established at five prayers with the reward of fifty. He was shown Paradise and Hell and witnessed many of the signs of Allah's majesty. He returned to Makkah the same night, and when he told the Quraysh about this journey, many mocked him. Abu Bakr's unwavering belief in this account earned him the title 'As-Siddiq' (The Truthful).

In the 8th year after Hijrah (630 CE), the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) marched to Makkah with ten thousand Muslims. The conquest was approaching, and the Quraysh, who had persecuted Muslims for years, were terrified. The Prophet entered Makkah with utmost humility, his head bowed so low on his camel that his beard almost touched the saddle, reciting verses from Surah Al-Fath. He went directly to the Kaaba and destroyed the 360 idols surrounding it, reciting, 'Truth has come and falsehood has departed. Indeed falsehood is ever bound to depart.' The Quraysh leaders gathered, expecting severe punishment for their years of persecution, torture, and murder of Muslims. Instead, the Prophet asked them, 'What do you think I will do with you?' They replied, 'You are a noble brother, son of a noble brother.' The Prophet then declared words that would echo through history: 'This day no reproach shall be on you. Allah will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful. Go, for you are free!' This general amnesty stunned everyone. Even his bitterest enemies like Abu Sufyan, Hind (who had eaten the liver of his uncle Hamzah), and many others were forgiven.

In the 10th year after Hijrah, during his final pilgrimage, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his Farewell Sermon at Mount Arafat to more than 100,000 Muslims. He began by praising Allah and then addressed fundamental human rights and Islamic principles that would guide Muslims forever. He declared: 'All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; a white person has no superiority over a black person, nor does a black person have any superiority over a white person, except by piety and good action.' He emphasized the sanctity of life, property, and honor, saying they are as sacred as this day, in this month, in this city. He stressed the rights of women, urging men to treat their wives with kindness. He emphasized the importance of maintaining family ties and warned against usury and revenge killings. He reminded them that they would meet their Lord who would question them about their deeds. After each major point, he would ask, 'Have I conveyed the message?' and the massive crowd would respond, 'Yes!' He would then say, 'O Allah, bear witness!' He concluded by saying, 'I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my Sunnah, and if you follow these you will never go astray.' It was during this sermon that the verse was revealed: 'This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion' (5:3).

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was known for his exceptional kindness and love for children. Once, while leading the prayer as Imam, his grandsons Hasan and Husain climbed on his back during prostration (sujud). Instead of removing them, he remained in prostration longer than usual until they climbed down on their own. When asked about it, he smiled and said he didn't want to rush them. On another occasion, while delivering a sermon, he saw his grandsons walking and stumbling in their long garments. He immediately stopped his sermon, came down from the pulpit, picked them up, and brought them up with him. He explained, 'Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth when they said that your wealth and children are a trial, for I saw these two walking and stumbling and I could not bear to continue until I picked them up.' He would shorten his prayers when he heard a baby crying so the mother could attend to her child. A young boy whose pet bird died came to him in distress, and the Prophet consoled him with kind words and humor, asking, 'O young one, what happened to the little bird?' He would greet children by name, play with them, and treat them with genuine respect and affection.

A Bedouin man once came to the Prophet's mosque and urinated in a corner, not knowing the sanctity of the place. The companions immediately rose up in anger to stop him and punish him. However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) calmly told them, 'Leave him alone and do not interrupt him.' After the man finished, the Prophet called him over gently and explained, 'These mosques are not appropriate places for urine and filth, but rather they are for the remembrance of Allah, prayer, and reading the Quran.' He then asked for a bucket of water to be poured over the spot to clean it. The Bedouin was so moved by the Prophet's gentle treatment that he later said, 'May Allah have mercy on me and Muhammad, and may He not have mercy on anyone else!' The Prophet smiled at this and said, 'You have restricted something vast,' meaning that Allah's mercy is vast and encompasses all of creation. On another occasion, a Bedouin pulled the Prophet roughly by his cloak, leaving a red mark on his neck, and demanded harshly, 'Give me from Allah's wealth that you have!' Instead of reacting with anger, the Prophet smiled and ordered that the man be given a gift.