For parents · The Prophets
The story of Prophet Ibrahim for kids: the star, the fire and the four birds
The short answer
Prophet Ibrahim, alayhis salaam, was a Prophet who called his people to worship Allah alone. He showed them that a star, the moon and the sun cannot be Lord, because they all set. Allah saved him from a fire, showed him four birds brought back to life, and took him as a close friend.
Prophet Ibrahim, alayhis salaam (Abraham in English), is one of the greatest Prophets: the father of Prophets, and the one Allah calls His close friend. His stories are full of things children can picture: a starry sky, a fire that turned cool and four birds flying home. Here are three of them retold from the Qur’an for you to read aloud, with the lessons, questions to ask afterwards and where each is in the Qur’an.
Who was Prophet Ibrahim?
Ibrahim, alayhis salaam, was a Prophet who worshipped Allah alone and called others to do the same. Allah calls him devoutly obedient, always inclining to the truth (16:120), and says He took Ibrahim as a close friend, khalil (4:125). His sons Ismail and Ishaq were Prophets (19:49; 19:54), and Allah placed prophethood among his descendants (29:27), down to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, a descendant of Ismail (Sahih Muslim 2276).
The stories of Prophet Ibrahim, to read aloud
The numbers in brackets are the surah and ayah, for you rather than for reading aloud. When you say his name, add “alayhis salaam”: peace be upon him.
The star, the moon and the sun
Prophet Ibrahim, alayhis salaam, lived among people who did not worship Allah. Some of them bowed down to idols, and some looked up at the stars, the moon and the sun as if they were gods. Ibrahim wanted to help them see the truth. So, one night, he showed them, step by step.
He looked up at a twinkling star. “This is my lord?” he said. But after a while, the star set and was gone. “I do not love things that disappear,” said Ibrahim (6:76).
Then he saw the moon rising, bright and round. “This is my lord?” But the moon set too. “If my Lord does not guide me,” said Ibrahim, “I will be one of the people who are lost” (6:77).
Then the sun came up, the biggest and brightest of all. “This is my lord? This is bigger!” But in the evening, the sun set as well. And Ibrahim said: “O my people, I have nothing to do with what you worship besides Allah. I turn my face to the One who created the heavens and the earth” (6:78-79).
The star, the moon and the sun are beautiful, but they come and go. Allah made them, and Allah never goes away.
Scholars explain that Ibrahim was not unsure of his Lord: he was reasoning with his people in a way they could follow. Allah calls it “Our argument, which We gave Ibrahim against his people” (6:83).
The fire that became cool
Ibrahim spoke gently to his father, “O my father” (19:42), and to his people, but they would not listen. One day, while they were away, he broke their idols, all except the biggest one (21:58), to show that the idols could not even help themselves. The people became very angry. “Burn him!” they said, and they threw Ibrahim into a great fire (21:68).
But Allah said: “O fire, be coolness and safety for Ibrahim” (21:69). And the fire did not harm him at all.
The four birds
One day Ibrahim said: “My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead.” Allah asked: “Do you not believe?” “Yes, I do,” said Ibrahim, “but I ask so that my heart may be at peace” (2:260).
Allah told him: “Take four birds, and bring them close to you. Then cut them into pieces, and put a part of them on each hill. Then call them, and they will come to you in a hurry” (2:260).
Ibrahim did just as Allah told him. He stood and called the birds, and by Allah’s command each bird became whole and alive again, and all four came flying back to him. Ibrahim’s heart was at peace. Allah has power over all things.
Ibrahim’s family
When Ibrahim was old, Allah gave him two sons, Ismail and Ishaq, and he thanked Allah for them (14:39). With Ismail, he built the Kaaba in Makkah, praying, “Our Lord, accept this from us” (2:127). That story is in the story of Ibrahim and Ismail.
What do the stories of Ibrahim teach children?
- Only Allah deserves worship. Everything we can see, even the sun, comes and goes. Allah made it all.
- Use your mind. Ibrahim looked at the sky and thought about it. Looking at Allah’s creation helps us know Allah.
- It is good to ask questions. Ibrahim asked Allah to show him something, so that his heart would be at peace. Children can bring their questions about Allah to a parent or teacher.
- Stand up for the truth, gently. Ibrahim spoke kindly, even to his father, and stayed firm when the people turned against him.
- Allah protects His friends. Not even a fire could harm Ibrahim, because Allah told it not to.
What can I ask my child after the story?
- What did Ibrahim see in the sky? Why could the star not be Lord?
- Who made the star, the moon and the sun?
- What did Allah tell the fire to be?
- What did Ibrahim ask Allah to show him? Why did he ask?
- Is there a question about Allah you would like to ask me?
What age are the stories of Ibrahim for?
From about four, the star, the moon and the sun make a lovely bedtime story: look out of the window together and talk about who made the night sky. From six, add the fire, keeping the focus on Allah’s protection. The four birds suit children from about seven, who can follow the idea of Allah giving life. From about nine, read the verses together in a translation you trust.
Where are the stories of Ibrahim in the Qur’an?
- Al-An’am 6:74-83: The star, the moon and the sun
- Maryam 19:41-50: Speaking gently to his father
- Al-Anbiya 21:51-70: The idols and the fire made cool
- Al-Baqarah 2:260: The four birds
- Al-Baqarah 2:125-129: Building the Kaaba with Ismail
Which ilmbee books tell the story of Ibrahim?
The Twinkling Star and Ibrahim (Book 45) tells the story of the star, the moon and the sun, and Prophet Ibrahim and the Four Birds (Book 64) tells the story of the four birds, both for children aged 4 to 11. Ismail and the Ram (Book 39) tells the story of Ibrahim and his son. Every book in Series 01 is narrated: with Read to me, each word lights up as it is read; with Watch, the pages turn by themselves. The first three books of the series are free to read now.
The books in this guide
From ilmbee Series 01, 100 illustrated books read in order. The first 3 are free to read.
Frequently asked questions
What is the story of Ibrahim and the star?
Ibrahim showed his people that a star, the moon and the sun could not be Lord, because each one set and disappeared; only Allah, who created them, is Lord (6:76-79). Allah calls this the argument He gave Ibrahim against his people (6:83).
What is the story of Ibrahim and the four birds?
Ibrahim asked Allah to show him how He gives life to the dead, so that his heart would be at peace. Allah told him to take four birds, place parts of them on different hills and call them, and they came to him in haste (2:260).
Why is Prophet Ibrahim called Khalilullah?
Because Allah says He took Ibrahim as a close friend, khalil (4:125). Khalilullah means “the close friend of Allah”.
What did Allah say to the fire?
“O fire, be coolness and safety for Ibrahim” (21:69), and the fire did not harm him.
Who were the sons of Prophet Ibrahim?
Ismail and Ishaq, alayhimas salaam, and Allah made both of them Prophets (14:39; 19:49; 19:54).
Sources
Qur'an references are given as surah:ayah, with the meaning in plain English. Hadith are from the collections named.
- Qur’an 6:74-83 (Al-An’am): Ibrahim and his people; the star, the moon and the sun (6:76-78); “I have turned my face to the One who created the heavens and the earth” (6:79); this was Our argument which We gave Ibrahim against his people (6:83).
- Qur’an 19:41-50 (Maryam): Ibrahim speaks to his father gently, “O my father”; Allah gives him Ishaq and Yaqub.
- Qur’an 21:51-70 (Al-Anbiya): Ibrahim breaks the idols except the biggest (21:58); they throw him into the fire; “O fire, be coolness and safety for Ibrahim” (21:68-69).
- Qur’an 2:260 (Al-Baqarah): “My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead”; “so that my heart may be at peace”; the four birds.
- Qur’an 4:125 (An-Nisa): Allah took Ibrahim as a close friend.
- Qur’an 16:120 (An-Nahl): Ibrahim was devoutly obedient to Allah, inclining to the truth.
- Qur’an 14:39 (Ibrahim): praise be to Allah who gave me in old age Ismail and Ishaq.
- Qur’an 19:49 (Maryam) and 19:54 (Maryam): Ishaq and Yaqub made Prophets; Ismail a messenger and a Prophet.
- Qur’an 2:125-129 (Al-Baqarah): the House a place of safety; Ibrahim and Ismail raise its foundations: “Our Lord, accept this from us” (2:127).
- Qur’an 29:27 (Al-Ankabut): We placed prophethood and scripture among his descendants.
- Sahih Muslim 2276: Allah chose Kinanah from the descendants of Ismail, and from them the Prophet ﷺ.