Abraham

== Religious traditions ==
{{Judaism|1=figures}}
Abraham is given a high position of respect in three major world faiths, [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]] and [[Islam]]. In Judaism, he is the founding father of the covenant, the special relationship between the Jewish people and God&nbsp;– leading to the belief that the [[Jews as the chosen people|Jews are the chosen people of God]]. In Christianity, [[Paul the Apostle]] taught that Abraham's faith in God – preceding the [[Mosaic law]] – made him the prototype of all believers, Jewish or [[gentile]]; and in Islam he is seen as a link in the [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|chain of prophets]] that begins with [[Adam]] and culminates in [[Muhammad]].{{sfn|Levenson|2012|p=8}}

===Judaism===
In Jewish tradition, Abraham is called ''Avraham Avinu'' (אברהם אבינו), "our father Abraham," signifying that he is both the biological progenitor of the Jews and the father of Judaism, the first Jew.{{sfn|Levenson|2012|p=3}} His story is read in the weekly [[Torah]] reading portions, predominantly in the [[parashot]]: [[Lech-Lecha (parsha)|Lech-Lecha]] (לֶךְ-לְךָ), [[Vayeira (parsha)|Vayeira]] (וַיֵּרָא), [[Chayei Sarah (parsha)|Chayei Sarah]] (חַיֵּי שָׂרָה), and [[Toledot (parsha)|Toledot]] (תּוֹלְדֹת).

[[Hanan bar Rava]] taught in [[Abba Arikha]]'s name that Abraham's mother was named ʾĂmatlaʾy bat Karnebo.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bava Batra 91a|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.91a|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref>{{Efn|MSS variants: ''bat Barnebo, bat bar-Nebo, bar-bar-Nebo, bat Karnebi, bat Kar Nebo''. Karnebo (''outpost of [[Nabu]]'') is attested as a [[Sumer]]ian theophoric place-name in [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] inscriptions, including the [[Andre Michaux|Michaux stone]]. It referred to at least two separate cities in antiquity.<ref>Yamada, Shigeo. [https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/orient/40/0/40_56/_pdf "Karus on the Frontiers of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, Orient 40 (2005)]"</ref> Rabbinic tradition connects Karnebo to the [[Biblical Hebrew]] Kar (כר ''lamb''), translating it ''[[Tumah and taharah|pure]] lambs''.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Rashbam_on_Bava_Batra.91a.14.2?lang=bi "Rashbam on Bava Batra 91a:14:2"]. http://www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2021-03-08.</ref>}} [[Hiyya bar Abba]] taught that [[Abraham and the Idol Shop|Abraham worked in Teraḥ's idol shop]] in his youth.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bereishit Rabbah 38|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Bereishit_Rabbah.38|access-date=2021-03-11|website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref>

In ''[[Legends of the Jews]]'', God created heaven and earth for the sake of the merits of Abraham.{{sfn|Ginzberg|1909|loc=Vol I: The Wicked Generations}} After the [[Genesis flood narrative|biblical flood]], Abraham was the only one among the pious who solemnly swore never to forsake God,{{sfn|Ginzberg|1909|loc=Vol. I: In the Fiery Furnace}} studied in the house of [[Noah]] and [[Shem]] to learn about the "Ways of God,"{{sfn|Jasher|1840|p=22|loc =Ch9, vv 5–6}} continued the line of [[Kohanim|High Priest]] from Noah and Shem, and assigning the office to [[Levi]] and [[Tribe of Levi|his seed]] forever. Before leaving his father's land, Abraham was miraculously saved from the fiery furnace of [[Nimrod]] following his brave action of breaking the idols of the [[Chaldea]]ns into pieces.{{sfn|Ginzberg|1909}} During his sojourning in Canaan, Abraham was accustomed to extend hospitality to travelers and strangers and taught how to praise God also knowledge of God to those who had received his kindness.{{sfn|Ginzberg|1909|loc=Vol. I: The Covenant with Abimelech}}

Along with [[Isaac]] and [[Jacob]], he is the one whose name would appear united with God, as [[God in Judaism]] was called ''Elohei Abraham, Elohei Yitzchaq ve Elohei Ya'aqob'' ("God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob") and never the God of anyone else.{{sfn|Ginzberg|1909|loc=Vol. I: Joy and Sorrow in the House of Jacob}} He was also mentioned as the father of thirty nations.{{sfn|Ginzberg|1909|loc=Vol. I: The Birth of Esau and Jacob}}

Abraham is generally credited as the author of the ''[[Sefer Yetzirah]]'', one of the earliest extant books on [[Jewish mysticism]].<ref>''Sefer Yetzirah Hashalem'' (with Rabbi Saadia Gaon's Commentary), [[Yosef Qafih]] (editor), Jerusalem 1972, p. 46 (Hebrew / Judeo-Arabic)</ref>

According to [[Pirkei Avot]], Abraham underwent ten tests at God's command.<ref>Pirkei Avot 5:3 – עֲשָׂרָה נִסְיוֹנוֹת נִתְנַסָּה אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם וְעָמַד בְּכֻלָּם, לְהוֹדִיעַ כַּמָּה חִבָּתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם</ref> The [[Binding of Isaac]] is specified in the Bible as a test;<ref>{{bibleverse|Genesis|22:1|GNT}}</ref> the other nine are not specified, but later rabbinical sources give various enumerations.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

===Christianity===
{{Infobox saint
|name = Abraham
|feast_day = 9 October – [[Roman Catholicism]] and [[Lutheranism]]<ref name="LCMS">{{cite web |title=Commemorations |url=https://www.lcms.org/worship/church-year/commemorations |publisher=[[Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod]] |access-date=31 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
|venerated_in = {{hlist <!--chronological:-->|[[Judaism]] |[[Christianity]] |[[Islam]] |[[Druze faith]]<ref name="Hitti 1928 37" /><ref name="Dana 2008 17" /> |[[Baháʼí Faith]]}}
|image = Aert de Gelder 009.jpg
|imagesize = 240px
|caption = ''Abraham and the Angels'', by [[Aert de Gelder]], {{circa|1680–85}} ([[Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen]], Rotterdam)
|titles = First Patriarch
}}
In [[Christianity]], Abraham is revered as the [[Prophets of Christianity|prophet]] to whom God chose to reveal himself and with whom God initiated a [[Covenant (biblical)|covenant]] (cf. ''[[Covenant Theology]]'').{{sfn|Wright|2010|p=72}}{{sfn|Waters|Reid|Muether|2020|p=}} [[Paul the Apostle]] declared that all who believe in Jesus ([[Christians]]) are "included in the seed of Abraham and are inheritors of the promise made to Abraham."{{sfn|Wright|2010|p=72}} In [[Letter to the Romans|Romans]] 4, Abraham is praised for his "unwavering faith" in God, which is tied into the concept of partakers of the covenant of grace being those "who demonstrate faith in the saving power of Christ".<ref>Firestone, Reuven. [http://cmje.usc.edu/articles/abraham.php "Abraham."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909233637/http://cmje.usc.edu/articles/abraham.php |date=9 September 2017 }} ''Encyclopedia of World History''.</ref>{{sfn|Waters|Reid|Muether|2020|p=}}

Throughout history, church leaders, following Paul, have emphasized Abraham as the spiritual father of all Christians.{{sfn|Jeffrey|1992|p=10}} [[Augustine of Hippo]] declared that Christians are "children (or "seed") of Abraham by faith", [[Ambrose]] stated that "by means of their faith Christians possess the promises made to Abraham", and [[Martin Luther]] recalled Abraham as "a paradigm of the man of faith."{{efn|{{harvnb|Jeffrey|1992|p=10}} states "St. Augustine, following Paul, regards all Christians as children (or "seed") of Abraham by faith, although "born of strangers" (e.g. In Joan. Ev. 108). St. Ambrose likewise says that by means of their faith Christians possess the promises made to Abraham. Abraham's initial departure from his homeland is understood by St. Caesarius of Arles as a type of Christian leaving the world of carnal habits to follow Christ. Later commentators as diverse as Luther and Kierkegaard recall Abraham as a paradigm of the man of faith. }}

The [[Roman Catholic Church]], the largest Christian denomination, calls Abraham "our father in Faith" in the [[Eucharistic prayer]] of the [[Roman Canon]], recited during the [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]]. He is also commemorated in the [[calendar of saints|calendars of saints]] of several denominations: on 20 August by the [[Maronite Church]], 28 August in the [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic Church]] and the [[Assyrian Church of the East]] (with the full [[daily office|office]] for the latter), and on 9 October by the Roman Catholic Church and the [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]].<ref name="LCMS"/> In the introduction to his 15th-century translation of the [[Golden Legend]]'s account of Abraham, [[William Caxton]] noted that this patriarch's life was read in church on [[Sunday before Lent|Quinquagesima Sunday]].<ref name="Caxton">{{cite web|last=Caxton|first=William|title=Abraham|url=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/goldenlegend/GoldenLegend-Volume1.asp#Abraham|website=The Golden Legend|publisher=Internet Medieval Source Book|access-date=3 April 2014}}</ref>
He is the [[patron saint]] of those in the hospitality industry.{{sfn|Holweck|1924|p=}}{{page needed|date=May 2017}} The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] commemorates him as the "Righteous Forefather Abraham", with two [[feast day]]s in its [[Eastern Orthodox Church liturgical calendar|liturgical calendar]]. The first time is on 9 October (for those churches which follow the traditional [[Julian Calendar]], 9 October falls on 22 October of the modern [[Gregorian Calendar]]), where he is commemorated together with his nephew "Righteous Lot". The other is on the "Sunday of the Forefathers" (two Sundays before Christmas), when he is commemorated together with other [[Genealogy of Jesus|ancestors of Jesus]]. Abraham is also mentioned in the [[Divine Liturgy]] of [[Basil the Great]], just before the Anaphora, and Abraham and Sarah are invoked in the prayers said by the priest over a newly married couple.

Some Christian theologians equate the [[#Three visitors|"three visitors"]] with the Holy [[Trinity]], seeing in their apparition a [[theophany]] experienced by Abraham<ref name=Bucur>{{cite journal |last= Bucur |first= Bogdan G. |title= The Early Christian Reception of Genesis 18: From Theophany to Trinitarian Symbolism |year= 2015 |pages= 245–272 |journal=[[Journal of Early Christian Studies]] |volume= 23 |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] |location=[[Baltimore]], MD |number= 2 |doi= 10.1353/earl.2015.0020 |s2cid= 12888388 |url= https://www.duq.edu/assets/Documents/theology/_pdf/faculty-publications/Bucur%20publications/JECS%202015%20Genesis%2018.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.duq.edu/assets/Documents/theology/_pdf/faculty-publications/Bucur%20publications/JECS%202015%20Genesis%2018.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |access-date= 1 June 2022}}</ref> (see also the articles on the [[Constantine the Great|Constantinian]] [[basilica]] at [[Mamre#Late Roman festival and Byzantine basilica|Mamre]] and the church at the so-called "[[Oak of Mamre]]").

Arie C. Leider considers Abraham's altars in Canaan in {{Bibleverse|Genesis|12:7-8}} to be a "declaration of YHWH's sovereignty and ownership of the land", even before Joshua distributed the land to the Israelite tribes. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Leder |first=Arie C. |date=2019 |title="There he built an altar to the Lord" (Gen 12:8): City and Altar Building in Genesis |url=http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1010-99192019000100004#:~:text=The%20altar%20constructions%20(Gen%2012,to%20salvation%20from%20the%20flood. |journal=Old Testament Essays |volume=32 |issue=1 |doi=10.17159/2312-3621/2019/v32n1a5 |via=SciELO|doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Islam===
{{main|Abraham in Islam}}
[[File:Folios of a prophetic and heroic genealogy including an illustration of Abraham, from a manuscript of a Turkish translation of the 13th century cosmological text.jpg|thumb|Folios of a prophetic and heroic genealogy including an illustration of Abraham, from a manuscript of a Turkish translation of the 13th century cosmological text]]

Islam regards Ibrahim (Abraham) as a link in the chain of prophets that begins with Adam and culminates in [[Muhammad]] via Ismail (Ishmael).{{sfn|Levenson|2012|p=8}}
''Ibrāhīm'' is mentioned in 35 [[chapters of the Quran]], more often than any other biblical personage apart from [[Moses in Islam|Moses]].{{sfn|Peters|2003|p=9}} He is called both a ''hanif'' ([[monotheist]]) and ''muslim'' (one who submits),{{sfn|Levenson|2012|p=200}} and Muslims regard him as a [[prophet]] and [[patriarch]], the archetype of the perfect [[Muslim]], and the revered reformer of the [[Kaaba]] in [[Mecca]].{{sfn|Lings|2004|p=}} Islamic traditions consider Ibrāhīm the first Pioneer of Islam (which is also called ''millat Ibrahim'', the "religion of Abraham"), and that his purpose and mission throughout his life was to proclaim the [[Tawhid|Oneness of God]]. In Islam, Abraham holds an exalted position among the major prophets and he is referred to as "Ibrahim Khalilullah", meaning "Abraham the Friend of [[God in Islam|God]]".

Besides [[Islamic view of Isaac|Ishaq]] and [[Yaqub]], Ibrahim is among the most honorable and the most excellent men in sight of God.<ref>[[Quran 38:45–47]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.quranacademy.org/quran/38:45-47|title=Surah 38 Sad (The letter Saad). Read and listen Quran · Quran Academy|website=en.quranacademy.org}}</ref>{{sfn|Maulana|2006|p=104}} Ibrahim was also mentioned in Quran as "Father of Muslims" and the role model for the community.<ref>[[Q22:78]] & [[Q60:4–6]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.quranacademy.org/quran/22:78|title=Surah 22 Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage). Read and listen Quran · Quran Academy|website=en.quranacademy.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.quranacademy.org/quran/60:4-6|title=Surah 60 Al-Mumtahanah (She that is to be examined). Read and listen Quran · Quran Academy|website=en.quranacademy.org}}</ref>

===Druze===
The [[Druze]] regard Abraham as the third spokesman (''natiq'') after [[Adam]] and [[Noah]], who helped transmit the foundational teachings of monotheism (''tawhid'') intended for the larger audience.{{sfn|Swayd|2009|p=3}} He is also among the seven prophets who appeared in different periods of history according to the Druze faith.<ref name="Hitti 1928 37">{{cite book|title=The Origins of the Druze People and Religion: With Extracts from Their Sacred Writings| first= Philip K.|last= Hitti|year= 1928| isbn= 978-1465546623| page =37 |publisher=Library of Alexandria}}</ref><ref name="Dana 2008 17">{{cite book|title=The Druze in the Middle East: Their Faith, Leadership, Identity and Status| first= Nissim |last= Dana|year= 2008| isbn= 9781903900369| page =17 |publisher=Michigan University press}}</ref>

===Mandaeism===
In [[Mandaeism]], Abraham ({{lang-myz|ࡀࡁࡓࡀࡄࡉࡌ|translit=Abrahim}}) is mentioned in [[s:Translation:Ginza Rabba/Right Ginza/Book 18|Book 18]] of the ''[[Right Ginza]]'' as the patriarch of the Jewish people. [[Mandaeans]] consider Abraham to have been originally a Mandaean priest, however they differ with Abraham and Jews regarding circumcision which they consider to be bodily mutilation and therefore forbidden.<ref name="GR Gelbert">{{cite book |url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/ginza-rba/ |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=978-0958034630}}</ref><ref name="GR Lidzbarski">{{cite book|last=Lidzbarski|first=Mark|date=1925|title=Ginza: Der Schatz oder Das große Buch der Mandäer|location=Göttingen|publisher=Vandenhoek & Ruprecht|url=https://archive.org/details/MN41563ucmf_2}}</ref><ref name = DrowerHaranGawaita>{{cite book|last=Drower|first=Ethel Stefana|title=The Haran Gawaita and the Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa|publisher=Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana|year=1953}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite book|last=Drower|first=Ethel Stefana|title=The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran|publisher=Oxford At The Clarendon Press|year=1937}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Andrew Phillip|title=John the Baptist and the Last Gnostics: the Secret History of the Mandaeans|publisher=Watkins|year=2016}}</ref>{{rp|18,185}}

=== Baháʼí Faith ===
[[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼís]] consiered Abraham as a [[Manifestation of God (Baháʼí Faith)|Manifestation of God]], and as the originator of [[monotheistic]] religion.{{Sfn|Smith|2000|p=22, 231}} [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá]] states that Abraham was born in [[Mesopotamia]],{{Sfn|ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|2014|p=10}} and [[Baháʼu'lláh|Bahá’u’lláh]] states that the language which Abraham spoke, when "he crossed the [[Jordan]]", is [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] (''‘Ibrání''), so "the language of the crossing."{{Sfn|Baháʼu'lláh|1976|p=54}} To ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, the Abraham was born to a family that was ignorant of the oneness of God.{{Sfn|ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|2014|p=4}} Abraham opposed his own people and government, and even his own kin, he rejected all their gods, and, alone and single-handed, he withstood a powerful nation.{{Sfn|ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|2014|p=4}} These people believed not in one God [[Polytheism|but in many gods]], to whom they ascribed miracles, and hence they all rose up against Abraham. No one supported him except his nephew [[Lot (biblical person)|Lot]] and "one or two other individuals of no consequence".{{Sfn|ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|2014|p=4}} At last the intensity of his enemies' opposition obliged him, utterly wronged, to forsake his native land. Abraham then came to "these regions", that is, to the [[Holy Land]].{{Sfn|ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|2014|p=4}} To Bahá’u’lláh, the "Voice of [[God in the Baháʼí Faith|God]]" commanded Abraham to offer up [[Ishmael]] as a sacrifice, so that his steadfastness in the faith of God and his detachment from all else but him may be demonstrated unto men. The purpose of God, moreover, was to sacrifice him as a ransom for the sins and iniquities of all the peoples of the earth.{{Sfn|Baháʼu'lláh|1976|p=23}} 

In the Baháʼí texts, like the Islamic texts, Abraham is often referred to as "the Friend of God".{{Sfn|Smith|2000|p=22}} ‘Abdu’l-Bahá described Abraham as the founder of monotheism.{{sfn|ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|1978|p=22}}

ʻAbdu'l-Bahá also suggested the "holy manifestations who have been the sources or founders of the various religious systems" were united and agreed in purpose and teaching, and the Abraham, [[Moses]], [[Zoroaster]], [[the Buddha]], [[Jesus]], [[Muhammad]], the [[Báb]] and Bahá’u’lláh are one in "spirit and reality".{{Sfn|ʻAbdu'l-Bahá|1912|p=118}}