Azar

Azar is named in the Quran as the father of Ibrahim. An idolater and maker of idols, he refused his son's call to worship God alone. Ibrahim prayed for him for a long time, but eventually distanced himself from him when he understood his obstinacy.

Azar worshipped idols and invited his people to do the same. His son Ibrahim, guided by God towards monotheism, addressed him with gentle reproach: 'Do you take mere idols as gods? I see that you and your people are clearly astray.'

Ibrahim never stopped calling his father with tenderness and respect, even promising to implore God's forgiveness for him. But Azar persisted in his rejection and threatened Ibrahim.

The Quran reports that Ibrahim continued praying for his father until he understood that he was a declared enemy of God; he then disavowed him (9:114). This is one of Ibrahim's most harrowing trials: loving a father and having to, out of faithfulness to God, refuse to follow him.

Azar shows that blood ties alone do not save, and that guidance belongs to God alone. But he also teaches the nobility of Ibrahim: one can firmly disapprove of a loved one's idolatry while speaking to them with gentleness and hoping long for their salvation.

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ آزَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا آلِهَةً ۖ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

Abraham dit un jour à son père Âzar : « Elèves-tu de simples idoles au rang de divinités ? Toi et ton peuple êtes manifestement égarés ! »

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