How Can I Follow Abraham’s Path? How Can I Find the Way Abraham Found?

Author: Berk KÖKSAL
Date: September 29, 2026
Place: Mersin

The central aim of this article is to contemplate the verses together with other related verses, and to explore—in a sincere and deep way—what bearing witness to the oneness of GOD means in human life in terms of knowledge, justice, truthfulness, and submission.

To seek Abraham’s path is more than to admire the life of a great man who lived in the past. The Quran does not show Abraham only at the end of his journey. It shows him questioning, observing, weighing what he sees, challenging inherited worship, asking GOD for guidance, separating himself from idols, facing tests, submitting, and giving thanks. The question therefore becomes personal: before repeating Abraham’s conclusions, can I learn to move toward truth in the way the verses show him moving?

If Abraham’s path is not merely a label, then finding it cannot mean adopting a label. A path concerns where a person turns, what he accepts as evidence, before whom he bows, what he fears losing, and whom he finally places at the center of life. The Quranic portrait of Abraham therefore does not only describe the past. It offers an ethic of seeking truth that can still be lived within the human being today.

Summary:

1. Turning Oneself to the One Who Initiated the Heavens and the Earth

6:79

إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

“I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an idol worshiper.”

“Ben kendimi mutlak şekilde gökleri ve yeryüzünü başlatan O’na adadım; ben asla bir puta tapan olmayacağım.”

2. The First Step: Question What You Inherited

6:74 — Recall that Abraham said to his father Ãzer, “How could you worship statues as gods? I see that you and your people have gone far astray.”

3. Certainty Grows Through Observation, but Is Protected by Asking for Guidance

6:75 — We showed Abraham the marvels of the heavens and the earth, and blessed him with certainty:

6:76 — When the night fell, he saw a shining planet. “Maybe this is my Lord,” he said. When it disappeared, he said, “I do not like (gods) that disappear.”

6:77 — When he saw the moon rising, he said, “Maybe this is my Lord!” When it disappeared, he said, “Unless my Lord guides me, I will be with the strayers.”

4. Do Not Make What Sets into the Absolute

6:78 — When he saw the sun rising, he said, “This must be my Lord. This is the biggest.” But when it set, he said, “O my people, I denounce your idolatry.

6:79 — “I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an idol worshiper.”

6:80 — His people argued with him. He said, “Do you argue with me about GOD, after He has guided me? I have no fear of the idols you set up. Nothing can happen to me, unless my Lord wills it. My Lord’s knowledge encompasses all things. Would you not take heed?

6:81 — “Why should I fear your idols? It is you who should be afraid, since you worship instead of GOD idols that are utterly powerless to help you. Which side is more deserving of security, if you know?”

6:82 — Those who believe, and do not pollute their belief with idol worship, have deserved the perfect security, and they are truly guided.

5. What the Ancestors Did Is Not the Measure of Truth

21:51 — Before that, we granted Abraham his guidance and understanding, for we were fully aware of him.*

21:52 — He said to his father and his people, “What are these statues to which you are devoting yourselves?”

21:53 — They said, “We found our parents worshiping them.”

21:54 — He said, “Indeed, you and your parents have gone totally astray.”

21:56 — He said, “Your only Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, who created them. This is the testimony to which I bear witness.

6. Test the Idol by Its Claimed Power

21:66 — He said, “Do you then worship beside GOD what possesses no power to benefit you or harm you?

21:67 — “You have incurred shame by worshiping idols beside GOD. Do you not understand?”

7. Coming to the Lord Wholeheartedly

37:84 — He came to his Lord wholeheartedly.

37:85 — He said to his father and his people, “What are you worshiping?

37:86 — “Is it these fabricated gods, instead of GOD, that you want?

37:87 — “What do you think of the Lord of the universe?”

8. Do Not Confuse What You Make with the One Who Made You

37:95 — He said, “How can you worship what you carve?

37:96 — “When GOD has created you, and everything you make!”

37:99 — He said, “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me.”

9. “Only the One Who Initiated Me Can Guide Me”

43:26 — Abraham said to his father and his people, “I disown what you worship.

43:27 — “Only the One who initiated me can guide me.”

43:28 — This example (of Abraham) was rendered an everlasting lesson for subsequent generations; perhaps they redeem their souls.

10. Do Not Lose the Heart While Speaking the Truth

19:42 — He said to his father, “O my father, why do you worship what can neither hear, nor see, nor help you in any way?

19:43 — “O my father, I have received certain knowledge that you did not receive. Follow me, and I will guide you in a straight path.

19:44 — “O my father, do not worship the devil. The devil has rebelled against the Most Gracious.

19:45 — “O my father, I fear lest you incur retribution from the Most Gracious, then become an ally of the devil.”

19:46 — He said, “Have you forsaken my gods, O Abraham? Unless you stop, I will stone you. Leave me alone.”

19:47 — He said, “Peace be upon you. I will implore my Lord to forgive you; He has been Most Kind to me.

19:48 — “I will abandon you and the gods you worship besides GOD. I will worship only my Lord. By imploring my Lord alone, I cannot go wrong.”

11. The Path Does Not Avoid Tests; It Fulfills What Is Required

2:124 — Recall that Abraham was put to the test by his Lord, through certain commands, and he fulfilled them. (God) said, “I am appointing you an imam for the people.” He said, “And also my descendants?” He said, “My covenant does not include the transgressors.”

12. Put Humility Inside the Deed: “Accept This from Us”

2:127 — As Abraham raised the foundations of the shrine, together with Ismail (they prayed): “Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Omniscient.

2:128 — “Our Lord, make us submitters to You, and from our descendants let there be a community of submitters to You. Teach us the rites of our religion, and redeem us. You are the Redeemer, Most Merciful.

13. “Submit”: Orientation Before Identity

2:130 — Who would forsake the religion of Abraham, except one who fools his own soul? We have chosen him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be with the righteous.

2:131 — When his Lord said to him, “Submit,” he said, “I submit to the Lord of the universe.”

2:132 — Moreover, Abraham exhorted his children to do the same, and so did Jacob: “O my children, GOD has pointed out the religion for you; do not die except as submitters.”

14. How Does the Quran Describe Abraham’s Religion?

3:95 — Say, “GOD has proclaimed the truth: You shall follow Abraham’s religion—monotheism. He never was an idolater.”

4:125 — Who is better guided in his religion than one who submits totally to GOD, leads a righteous life, according to the creed of Abraham: monotheism? GOD has chosen Abraham as a beloved friend.

15. My Prayer, My Worship, My Life, and My Death

6:161 — Say, “My Lord has guided me in a straight path—the perfect religion of Abraham, monotheism. He never was an idol worshiper.”

6:162 — Say, “My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to GOD alone, the Lord of the universe.

6:163 — “He has no partner. This is what I am commanded to believe, and I am the first to submit.”

16. Appreciation: The Quiet Backbone of Guidance

16:120 — Abraham was indeed an exemplary vanguard in his submission to GOD, a monotheist who never worshiped idols.

16:121 — Because he was appreciative of His Lord’s blessings, He chose him and guided him in a straight path.

16:123 — Then we inspired you (Muhammad) to follow the religion of Abraham,* the monotheist; he never was an idol worshiper.

17. Ask to Be Protected from Idolatry and Remain Steady in Worship

14:35 — Recall that Abraham said, “My Lord, make this a peaceful land, and protect me and my children from worshiping idols.

14:40 — “My Lord, make me one who consistently observes the Contact Prayers (Salat), and also my children. Our Lord, please answer my prayers.

14:41 — “My Lord, forgive me and my parents, and the believers, on the day when the reckoning takes place.”

22:78 — You shall strive for the cause of GOD as you should strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in practicing your religion—the religion of your father Abraham. He is the one who named you “Submitters” originally. Thus, the messenger shall serve as a witness among you, and you shall serve as witnesses among the people. Therefore, you shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and hold fast to GOD; He is your Lord, the best Lord and the best Supporter.

18. Following Abraham Does Not Mean Idolizing Abraham

60:4 — A good example has been set for you by Abraham and those with him. They said to their people, “We disown you and the idols that you worship besides GOD. We denounce you, and you will see nothing from us except animosity and hatred until you believe in GOD ALONE.”* However, a mistake was committed by Abraham when he said to his father, “I will pray for your forgiveness,** but I possess no power to protect you from GOD.” “Our Lord, we trust in You, and submit to You; to You is the final destiny.

19. Arabic Roots: The Language of Abraham’s Path

6:79 — “I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an idol worshiper.”

37:99 — He said, “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me.”

Other Claims

6:75 — We showed Abraham the marvels of the heavens and the earth, and blessed him with certainty:

6:76 — When the night fell, he saw a shining planet. “Maybe this is my Lord,” he said. When it disappeared, he said, “I do not like (gods) that disappear.”

6:77 — When he saw the moon rising, he said, “Maybe this is my Lord!” When it disappeared, he said, “Unless my Lord guides me, I will be with the strayers.”

6:78 — When he saw the sun rising, he said, “This must be my Lord. This is the biggest.” But when it set, he said, “O my people, I denounce your idolatry.

6:79 — “I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an idol worshiper.”

Conclusion

37:99 — He said, “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me.”

43:27 — “Only the One who initiated me can guide me.”

1. Turning Oneself to the One Who Initiated the Heavens and the Earth

Verse

Arabic — 6:79

إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

English — 6:79

“I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an idol worshiper.”

Turkish — 6:79

“Ben kendimi mutlak şekilde gökleri ve yeryüzünü başlatan O’na adadım; ben asla bir puta tapan olmayacağım.”

Source: kuranteyit.com

Reflection on the Verse

Abraham’s destination begins not with a title, but with an orientation. In 6:79 he says that he has devoted himself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth. What strikes me is that monotheism is not left as a sentence such as “there is one GOD.” The verse makes me ask where I actually turn myself. Where do my fear, hope, decisions, trust, and need for approval finally point?

To follow Abraham cannot mean merely repeating his words. I have to examine my own direction. A person may say “GOD” with the tongue while treating other powers as ultimate in practice. He may never bow before a statue, yet allow money, status, a community, a religious authority, personal desire, or his own intelligence to become the final court of appeal. Abraham’s path begins when divided loyalties are brought under one center. The face turns toward the One who initiated everything else.

2. The First Step: Question What You Inherited

Verse

6:74 — Recall that Abraham said to his father Ãzer, “How could you worship statues as gods? I see that you and your people have gone far astray.”

Reflection on the Verse

The first thing I notice in Abraham’s story is that he does not accept the religious order around him merely because it is old, familiar, and connected to family. In 6:74 his question to his father does not function as contempt for family; it exposes the need for a reason behind worship. The question “How could you…?” tears away the immunity that habit can acquire.

If I want to find the path Abraham found, I do not need to reject everything I inherited simply because it was inherited. But I also cannot treat inheritance itself as proof. A tradition may contain truth, yet age and repetition do not make a claim divine. Abraham teaches me intellectual courage: even something learned from the people closest to me must be examined before I attribute it to GOD. The point is not to feel superior to one’s ancestors. It is to refuse to replace evidence with ancestry.

3. Certainty Grows Through Observation, but Is Protected by Asking for Guidance

Verse

6:75 — We showed Abraham the marvels of the heavens and the earth, and blessed him with certainty:

6:76 — When the night fell, he saw a shining planet. “Maybe this is my Lord,” he said. When it disappeared, he said, “I do not like (gods) that disappear.”

6:77 — When he saw the moon rising, he said, “Maybe this is my Lord!” When it disappeared, he said, “Unless my Lord guides me, I will be with the strayers.”

Reflection on the Verse

Verse 6:75 says that Abraham was shown the marvels of the heavens and the earth and was blessed with certainty. The scenes of the planet and the moon follow. His seeing is not passive. He weighs what he sees in relation to worship. Something does not become Lord merely because it shines. Something does not become absolute merely because it appears great. Wonder is not the same thing as divinity.

The sentence in 6:77 deepens the whole search for me: “Unless my Lord guides me…” Abraham thinks, observes, and reasons, yet he does not credit guidance to his own intellect. That protects the seeker from turning reason itself into a new idol. Human beings can investigate, compare, test, and think deeply, but the ability to reason should not become a claim of self-sufficiency. In Abraham’s path, thought and prayer are not enemies. Serious thinking makes the limits of one’s own knowledge more visible, not less.

4. Do Not Make What Sets into the Absolute

Verse

6:78 — When he saw the sun rising, he said, “This must be my Lord. This is the biggest.” But when it set, he said, “O my people, I denounce your idolatry.

6:79 — “I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an idol worshiper.”

6:80 — His people argued with him. He said, “Do you argue with me about GOD, after He has guided me? I have no fear of the idols you set up. Nothing can happen to me, unless my Lord wills it. My Lord’s knowledge encompasses all things. Would you not take heed?

6:81 — “Why should I fear your idols? It is you who should be afraid, since you worship instead of GOD idols that are utterly powerless to help you. Which side is more deserving of security, if you know?”

6:82 — Those who believe, and do not pollute their belief with idol worship, have deserved the perfect security, and they are truly guided.

Reflection on the Verse

The sun appears greater, but it too sets. A powerful criterion emerges in this sequence: what changes, disappears, rises and falls, or remains subject to a larger order cannot reasonably be treated as absolute authority. Verses 6:78-79 sharpen the distinction between the created and the Creator.

When I carry this measure into my own life, idolatry can no longer remain a subject limited to carved statues. Powerful people age. Institutions collapse. Money loses value. Public approval changes overnight. My body, knowledge, opportunities, and influence are temporary as well. Abraham’s refusal to love disappearing gods does not mean refusing to use created things; it means refusing to place absolute dependence upon them. Verse 6:82 then links unpolluted belief with security and guidance. Monotheism becomes not only a metaphysical statement, but a reordering of fear and trust.

5. What the Ancestors Did Is Not the Measure of Truth

Verse

21:51 — Before that, we granted Abraham his guidance and understanding, for we were fully aware of him.*

21:52 — He said to his father and his people, “What are these statues to which you are devoting yourselves?”

21:53 — They said, “We found our parents worshiping them.”

21:54 — He said, “Indeed, you and your parents have gone totally astray.”

21:56 — He said, “Your only Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, who created them. This is the testimony to which I bear witness.

Reflection on the Verse

In 21:53 the answer is familiar: “We found our parents worshiping them.” Abraham does not accept inherited practice as proof. Verse 21:51 says that he had been granted guidance and understanding. The following scene shows what understanding is for: not confusing the habits of one’s community with the command of GOD.

In 21:56 Abraham identifies the only Lord as the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and he calls this his testimony. So his path is not mere rebellion against tradition. He replaces inherited authority with a stronger witness. Being different for the sake of being different is not truth. Abraham’s separation rests on creation and testimony. For me the practical question becomes: before asking “Who said this?”, can I ask “Did GOD truly say this, and what evidence do I have for attributing it to Him?”

6. Test the Idol by Its Claimed Power

Verse

21:66 — He said, “Do you then worship beside GOD what possesses no power to benefit you or harm you?

21:67 — “You have incurred shame by worshiping idols beside GOD. Do you not understand?”

Reflection on the Verse

Abraham’s reasoning does not remain abstract. In 21:66 he asks whether what is worshiped beside GOD possesses any power to benefit or harm. The question exposes the authority that has been assigned to the object of devotion. The decisive issue is not first the shape of the idol, but the role I give it.

Today this becomes a searching question: what do I secretly believe can save me? The approval of a person? Membership in a group? The word of a leader? Wealth? My own intelligence? Each can have a limited function in life, but if I assign to any of them the final power of salvation, forgiveness, judgment, or security, I cross a boundary. Abraham’s path teaches me not to give created things more sacred authority than they possess. That discipline protects both reason and monotheism.

7. Coming to the Lord Wholeheartedly

Verse

37:84 — He came to his Lord wholeheartedly.

37:85 — He said to his father and his people, “What are you worshiping?

37:86 — “Is it these fabricated gods, instead of GOD, that you want?

37:87 — “What do you think of the Lord of the universe?”

Reflection on the Verse

Verse 37:84 says that Abraham came to his Lord wholeheartedly. That prevents his path from becoming merely a set of correct ideas. A person can defend monotheism intellectually while remaining emotionally governed by other masters. In Abraham, thought and inward direction are not separated.

To come wholeheartedly does not mean claiming perfection. It means refusing to bargain away the center. I can say that I believe in GOD while making human approval my absolute measure. I can speak of submission while allowing desire to become my final authority. I can affirm revelation until revelation touches something I do not want to surrender. Abraham’s example calls for inner integrity. When the center becomes one, outward choices begin to become more coherent.

8. Do Not Confuse What You Make with the One Who Made You

Verse

37:95 — He said, “How can you worship what you carve?

37:96 — “When GOD has created you, and everything you make!”

37:99 — He said, “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me.”

Reflection on the Verse

Verses 37:95-96 expose the contradiction of worshiping what human beings themselves carve. Yet the principle extends beyond statues. People can also make concepts, institutions, titles, customs, and religious systems, then place them beyond examination. When what we have constructed begins to exercise unquestionable authority over us, the danger of worshiping our own production reappears in another form.

Verse 37:99 is one of the central sentences of the whole article: “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me.” Abraham does not claim to own the path. He moves toward his Lord. This matters deeply. Seeking truth is not a diploma earned once and stored away. To follow Abraham is to preserve the direction that can still say, in every new circumstance, “I am going to my Lord.” Guidance is not a badge from the past; it remains a present need.

9. “Only the One Who Initiated Me Can Guide Me”

Verse

43:26 — Abraham said to his father and his people, “I disown what you worship.

43:27 — “Only the One who initiated me can guide me.”

43:28 — This example (of Abraham) was rendered an everlasting lesson for subsequent generations; perhaps they redeem their souls.

Reflection on the Verse

Verse 43:27 summarizes Abraham’s path with remarkable simplicity: “Only the One who initiated me can guide me.” Creation and guidance are joined. If GOD is the One who initiated me, I should not surrender ultimate authority over my direction to man-made idols.

This also clarifies religious authority. I can learn from people. I can respect expertise. I can benefit from teachers. But “the owner of guidance” is not identical with “a human being who conveys knowledge.” Abraham’s statement does not close the door to learning from people; it closes the door to placing people where GOD belongs. Verse 43:28 says that this example was made an everlasting lesson for later generations. The lasting lesson is not the worship of Abraham, but the repetition of his God-centered orientation.

10. Do Not Lose the Heart While Speaking the Truth

Verse

19:42 — He said to his father, “O my father, why do you worship what can neither hear, nor see, nor help you in any way?

19:43 — “O my father, I have received certain knowledge that you did not receive. Follow me, and I will guide you in a straight path.

19:44 — “O my father, do not worship the devil. The devil has rebelled against the Most Gracious.

19:45 — “O my father, I fear lest you incur retribution from the Most Gracious, then become an ally of the devil.”

19:46 — He said, “Have you forsaken my gods, O Abraham? Unless you stop, I will stone you. Leave me alone.”

19:47 — He said, “Peace be upon you. I will implore my Lord to forgive you; He has been Most Kind to me.

19:48 — “I will abandon you and the gods you worship besides GOD. I will worship only my Lord. By imploring my Lord alone, I cannot go wrong.”

Reflection on the Verse

Abraham openly challenges his father’s worship, yet he repeatedly addresses him as “O my father.” That detail matters. Truthfulness is not the same thing as harshness. Abraham does not hide what he believes, but he also does not build his case out of humiliation. Refusing compromise in monotheism and degrading another human being are not the same action.

When his father threatens him, Abraham answers with peace and eventually separates himself from their worship. Sometimes following Abraham means knowing when an argument has reached its end. One may state the truth, then set a boundary without turning hatred into a new idol of the heart. The departure itself remains God-centered: “I will worship only my Lord.”

11. The Path Does Not Avoid Tests; It Fulfills What Is Required

Verse

2:124 — Recall that Abraham was put to the test by his Lord, through certain commands, and he fulfilled them. (God) said, “I am appointing you an imam for the people.” He said, “And also my descendants?” He said, “My covenant does not include the transgressors.”

Reflection on the Verse

Abraham’s path is not only an intellectual discovery. It becomes visible in testing. Verse 2:124 says that his Lord tested him through certain commands and that he fulfilled them. Monotheism moves from conclusion to conduct.

If I ask how to find Abraham’s path while only searching for new information, I may be missing half of the question. Knowledge that never becomes obedience may not lead to deeper submission. Abraham’s example suggests that guidance is tested in action: being just when justice costs something, giving when giving hurts, remaining patient when patience is difficult, and leaving an idol when that idol has become emotionally profitable. The path becomes real when it carries a price.

12. Put Humility Inside the Deed: “Accept This from Us”

Verse

2:127 — As Abraham raised the foundations of the shrine, together with Ismail (they prayed): “Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Omniscient.

2:128 — “Our Lord, make us submitters to You, and from our descendants let there be a community of submitters to You. Teach us the rites of our religion, and redeem us. You are the Redeemer, Most Merciful.

Reflection on the Verse

As Abraham and Ismail raise the foundations of the shrine, they do not announce their spiritual achievement. They ask, “Our Lord, accept this from us.” That prayer protects religious work from becoming fuel for ego. A person can do something in the name of GOD and then use the deed to exalt himself. Abraham places the need for acceptance at the center of the act.

Even more strikingly, in 2:128 they ask GOD to make them submitters to Him. Abraham is not carrying submission as a completed title. He still asks for it. That turns his path into a continuing orientation rather than a finished identity. To follow him may therefore mean refusing the spiritual complacency of saying, “I have submitted, therefore I am safe.” The prayer remains: make us submitters to You.

13. “Submit”: Orientation Before Identity

Verse

2:130 — Who would forsake the religion of Abraham, except one who fools his own soul? We have chosen him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be with the righteous.

2:131 — When his Lord said to him, “Submit,” he said, “I submit to the Lord of the universe.”

2:132 — Moreover, Abraham exhorted his children to do the same, and so did Jacob: “O my children, GOD has pointed out the religion for you; do not die except as submitters.”

Reflection on the Verse

The command in 2:131 is simple: “Submit.” Abraham answers, “I submit to the Lord of the universe.” There is no long catalogue of religious titles. The path is first defined as submission to GOD. Verse 2:130 connects turning away from Abraham’s religion with fooling one’s own soul.

Verse 2:132 shows Abraham urging his children toward the same submission. Yet this does not make lineage a guarantee. If even his children must be exhorted not to die except as submitters, then ancestry cannot replace personal responsibility. If I want to follow Abraham, the decisive question is not whether I belong to the right historical label, but whether I am actually submitting to the Lord of the universe. The Quranic Abraham challenges spiritual pride based on blood, culture, or inherited identity.

14. How Does the Quran Describe Abraham’s Religion?

Verse

3:95 — Say, “GOD has proclaimed the truth: You shall follow Abraham’s religion—monotheism. He never was an idolater.”

4:125 — Who is better guided in his religion than one who submits totally to GOD, leads a righteous life, according to the creed of Abraham: monotheism? GOD has chosen Abraham as a beloved friend.

Reflection on the Verse

Verse 3:95 directly connects Abraham’s religion with monotheism. Verse 4:125 makes the description more concrete: submitting totally to GOD and leading a righteous life. Abraham’s religion therefore appears not merely as a historical affiliation, but as a life in which monotheism, submission, and righteousness belong together.

That gives me a demanding measure. If I say “one GOD” while creating other masters in daily life, monotheism becomes hollow. If I claim submission while continuing injustice, righteous living is absent. If I do good deeds but use them to establish myself as an independent moral authority before GOD, submission is wounded. Abraham’s path refuses to separate creed, worship, and ethics. They look toward the same center.

15. My Prayer, My Worship, My Life, and My Death

Verse

6:161 — Say, “My Lord has guided me in a straight path—the perfect religion of Abraham, monotheism. He never was an idol worshiper.”

6:162 — Say, “My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to GOD alone, the Lord of the universe.

6:163 — “He has no partner. This is what I am commanded to believe, and I am the first to submit.”

Reflection on the Verse

Verse 6:161 connects the straight path with the religion of Abraham. The next verses show its scope: Contact Prayers, worship practices, life, and death are all devoted absolutely to GOD alone. Religion is not confined to isolated sacred moments.

If I want to find Abraham’s path today, I have to ask whether the same center governs the rest of life: earning, speaking, deciding, becoming angry, loving, fearing, and exercising power. Verse 6:163 seals this with “He has no partner.” The refusal of partners applies not only in prostration, but also in the government of life. Abraham’s path narrows the gap between ritual and ordinary conduct.

16. Appreciation: The Quiet Backbone of Guidance

Verse

16:120 — Abraham was indeed an exemplary vanguard in his submission to GOD, a monotheist who never worshiped idols.

16:121 — Because he was appreciative of His Lord’s blessings, He chose him and guided him in a straight path.

16:123 — Then we inspired you (Muhammad) to follow the religion of Abraham,* the monotheist; he never was an idol worshiper.

Reflection on the Verse

Verse 16:120 describes Abraham as an exemplary vanguard in submission to GOD and as a monotheist. Verse 16:121 adds something essential: he was appreciative of his Lord’s blessings. Then come being chosen and guided in a straight path. Appreciation is not a decorative emotion in this portrait.

Gratitude weakens the ego because it prevents me from writing the source of every blessing under my own name. If I have knowledge, I remember its responsibility instead of boasting. If I have resources, I see them as a blessing rather than proof of superiority. If a door opens, I resist the impulse to say, “I achieved this by myself.” Following Abraham is not only rejecting false gods; it is recognizing the true Source. Ingratitude feeds self-worship, while gratitude separates the gift from the Giver.

17. Ask to Be Protected from Idolatry and Remain Steady in Worship

Verse

14:35 — Recall that Abraham said, “My Lord, make this a peaceful land, and protect me and my children from worshiping idols.

14:40 — “My Lord, make me one who consistently observes the Contact Prayers (Salat), and also my children. Our Lord, please answer my prayers.

14:41 — “My Lord, forgive me and my parents, and the believers, on the day when the reckoning takes place.”

22:78 — You shall strive for the cause of GOD as you should strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in practicing your religion—the religion of your father Abraham. He is the one who named you “Submitters” originally. Thus, the messenger shall serve as a witness among you, and you shall serve as witnesses among the people. Therefore, you shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and hold fast to GOD; He is your Lord, the best Lord and the best Supporter.

Reflection on the Verse

Abraham had already rejected idolatry, yet in 14:35 he still asks GOD to protect him and his children from worshiping idols. That stops me from treating monotheism as a possession secured once and for all. A correct decision in the past does not make the human being immune to future corruption.

In 14:40 Abraham asks to be one who consistently observes the Contact Prayers. Verse 22:78, in the context of the religion of Abraham, calls for observing the Contact Prayers, giving Zakat, and holding fast to GOD. Following Abraham therefore includes more than breaking idols intellectually. It means building practices that repeatedly return the self to GOD. Strong ideas alone do not preserve direction; disciplined worship and giving help keep the direction alive.

18. Following Abraham Does Not Mean Idolizing Abraham

Verse

60:4 — A good example has been set for you by Abraham and those with him. They said to their people, “We disown you and the idols that you worship besides GOD. We denounce you, and you will see nothing from us except animosity and hatred until you believe in GOD ALONE.”* However, a mistake was committed by Abraham when he said to his father, “I will pray for your forgiveness,** but I possess no power to protect you from GOD.” “Our Lord, we trust in You, and submit to You; to You is the final destiny.

Reflection on the Verse

Verse 60:4 presents Abraham and those with him as a good example, yet in the same verse it identifies a mistake Abraham made concerning his father. The balance is important. The Quran can present Abraham as an example without turning him into an untouchable, superhuman object of devotion. The verse itself protects the difference between following an example and idolizing the person.

The prayer at the end returns the direction to GOD: “Our Lord, we trust in You, and submit to You; to You is the final destiny.” Abraham’s path does not terminate in Abraham. It leads through his example toward the One to whom he submitted. If love for Abraham causes the Creator he pointed to become secondary, the very monotheism Abraham embodied has been reversed. True following points beyond the follower to GOD alone.

19. Arabic Roots: The Language of Abraham’s Path

Verse

6:79 — “I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an idol worshiper.”

37:99 — He said, “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me.”

Reflection on the Verse

Several Arabic roots sharpen the movement within Abraham’s path. وَجَّهْتُ / wajjahtu belongs to the root و-ج-ه (w-j-h), associated with face, direction, and turning. In 6:79 the act is not merely accepting a proposition; Abraham turns himself.

فَطَرَ / faṭara, from ف-ط-ر (f-ṭ-r), carries the sense of initiating or bringing forth. Abraham turns to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth. In 43:27 the same logic appears personally: only the One who initiated him can guide him. Creation and guidance are held under one authority. حَنِيفًا / ḥanīfan, connected with ح-ن-ف (ḥ-n-f), appears in the Quranic description of Abraham’s monotheistic orientation away from idolatry.

مُشْرِكِين / mushrikīn comes from ش-ر-ك (sh-r-k), the field of sharing or assigning partnership. Abraham’s declaration that he will not be an idol worshiper refuses to assign partners in the place that belongs to GOD. هَدَى / hadā and related forms come from ه-د-ي (h-d-y), the field of guidance. Throughout Abraham’s story, guidance is not presented as a self-owned achievement, but as something sought from GOD.

The language of submission in 2:131 belongs to س-ل-م (s-l-m), a root field also connected with peace and wholeness. Appreciation in 16:121 relates to ش-ك-ر (sh-k-r). The Arabic of 37:84 contains قَلْب / qalb, heart, and سَلِيم / salīm, again from the s-l-m field. Taken together, the vocabulary of Abraham’s path points toward turning, being initiated by GOD, refusing partners, seeking guidance, submitting, giving thanks, and coming with an undivided heart.

Other Claims

Verse

6:75 — We showed Abraham the marvels of the heavens and the earth, and blessed him with certainty:

6:76 — When the night fell, he saw a shining planet. “Maybe this is my Lord,” he said. When it disappeared, he said, “I do not like (gods) that disappear.”

6:77 — When he saw the moon rising, he said, “Maybe this is my Lord!” When it disappeared, he said, “Unless my Lord guides me, I will be with the strayers.”

6:78 — When he saw the sun rising, he said, “This must be my Lord. This is the biggest.” But when it set, he said, “O my people, I denounce your idolatry.

6:79 — “I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an idol worshiper.”

Reflection on the Verse

Abraham’s statements about the planet, moon, and sun have been interpreted in different ways. Some readings see them as stages in Abraham’s personal search for truth; others understand them as a pedagogical argument directed toward his people. The verses alone do not make every detail of those interpretive frameworks certain. The main reflection in this article therefore remains with what the text clearly shows: Abraham does not preserve created and disappearing things as lords, he asks GOD for guidance, and he finally devotes himself to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth.

Similarly, the breaking of the idols in 21:57-67 has sometimes been discussed mainly as a historical incident and sometimes as a dramatic exposure of the logic of idolatry. The verses explicitly describe Abraham breaking the statues and confronting his people with their powerlessness. Details beyond the text should not be allowed to govern the central reflection.

There are also many historical and sectarian explanations of what constitutes “the religion of Abraham.” This article does not use those external classifications as its foundation. The Quran itself emphasizes monotheism (3:95), total submission to GOD and righteous living (4:125), rejection of idols (16:120), appreciation (16:121), and the devotion of prayer, worship, life, and death to GOD alone (6:161-163). Those Quranic descriptions remain the controlling frame.

Conclusion

Verse

37:99 — He said, “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me.”

43:27 — “Only the One who initiated me can guide me.”

Reflection on the Verse

“How can I find the path Abraham found?” does not receive a single mechanical formula in the Quran. Yet when the verses are read together, a powerful direction appears. Question what you inherited; do not replace evidence with ancestry. See the limits of created things. Do not confuse what is impressive with what is absolute. Ask GOD for guidance rather than turning your own intelligence into a final authority. Do not assign ultimate power to what cannot truly benefit or harm you. Bring the heart under one center. Speak truth even to those closest to you without losing justice and peace. When tested, live what you know. When you worship, ask that the deed be accepted rather than using it to glorify yourself. Treat submission not as an identity card, but as a response renewed throughout life.

For me, Abraham’s path opens most intensely between two statements: “I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth” (6:79), and “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me” (37:99). The first defines direction; the second describes movement. Even when the direction is right, the walking continues. And the traveler does not claim to own guidance.

Following Abraham can therefore be deeper than memorizing the conclusions he reached. It can mean questioning idols as he did, asking GOD for guidance as he did, turning only to the Creator as he did, fulfilling what truth requires under testing, giving thanks for blessings, and bringing prayer, worship, life, and death under one center. It also means refusing to turn Abraham himself into an idol. The greatest trail Abraham leaves is a trail that does not stop at Abraham; it goes to his Lord.

Perhaps finding Abraham’s path is not first the discovery of some lost road outside me. It is the correction of the direction signs within me. Whose approval do I treat as final? Whose word becomes the last word? What do I fear losing most? Whom do I remember when a blessing arrives? When truth collides with habit, which one do I choose? Abraham’s path does not let these questions remain abstract. It brings me back to the same center: Only the One who initiated me can guide me.

Note

2:32 — They said, “Be You glorified, we have no knowledge, except that which You have taught us. You are the Omniscient, Most Wise.”

GOD knows best.

Source: kuranteyit.com