Abraham

So what is Abraham’s legacy?

At the very least, Abraham must be considered as the Father of the Western Monotheistic religions. There is little denying the impact he made on religion, not only as the first to receive God’s message, but also in giving the faith system to his sons. According to Muslim and Jewish tradition, Abraham’s son Ishmael became the ancestor of the Arabs; while Isaac became the ancestor of the Jewish people. Certainly, Abraham did change the shape of history with his belief in one, all-powerful God. Looking at the significance of religion today, it is clear that Abraham’s message shaped the modern world.

Abraham to Muslims

The Koran portrays Abraham as the first man to make full surrender to Allah. Each of the five repetitions of daily prayer ends with a reference to him. The holy book recounts Abraham's building of the Ka'aba, the black cube that is Mecca's central shrine. Several of the rituals performed in that city by pilgrims making the hajj recall episodes from his history.