Was Āzar the Uncle of Prophet Ibrāhīm (ʿAlayhi al-Salām)? Qur’anic Perspective
Source: Fatāwā Amnpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amnpūrī
❀ Question
Is Āzar the name of the uncle of Prophet Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhi al-salām)?
❀ Answer
The Qur’ān has explicitly mentioned Āzar as the father of Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhi al-salām):
﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ آزَرَ﴾ (الأنعام: 74)
“When Ibrāhīm said to his father Āzar …”
The word ab in Arabic literally means father. Though, at times, it can be used metaphorically for an uncle, abandoning the primary meaning in favor of a figurative one is incorrect unless there is clear evidence. In this case, there is no such indication to suggest that Āzar was his uncle.
Throughout the Qur’ān, wherever the dialogues of Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhi al-salām) are mentioned, the term abīhi (his father) is used. He addresses both his father and his people, but never his uncle.
The Shīʿah Argument Refuted
The Shīʿah claim is based on their self-made principle that the forefathers of Prophets cannot be disbelievers. As they have no evidence for this principle, they attempt to interpret Āzar as an uncle rather than the father.
Imām Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalusī (رحمه الله, 745 AH) stated:
قيل: إن آزر عم إبراهيم وليس اسم أبيه وهو قول الشيعة يزعمون أن آباء الأنبياء لا يكونون كفارا وظواهر القرآن ترد عليهم
“It is said that Āzar was the uncle of Ibrāhīm and not his father. This is the saying of the Shīʿah, who claim that the fathers of the Prophets cannot be disbelievers. But the apparent meaning of the Qur’ān refutes them.”
(Al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ, 4/561)
Qur’ānic and Ḥadīth Evidence
The Qur’ān makes it clear that Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhi al-salām) prayed for his father:
﴿وَاغْفِرْ لِأَبِي إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ﴾ (الشعراء: 86)
“Forgive my father, for he was among the astray.”
And Allah says:
﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ آزَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا آلِهَةً إِنِّي أَرَاكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ﴾ (الأنعام: 74)
“When Ibrāhīm said to his father Āzar: Do you take idols as gods? Indeed, I see you and your people in manifest error.”
The Qur’ān also clarifies the matter of his supplication:
﴿وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ﴾ (التوبة: 114)
“The request for forgiveness by Ibrāhīm for his father was only due to a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear that he was an enemy to Allah, he dissociated himself from him.”
Ḥadīth Proof
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
يلقى إبراهيم أباه آزر يوم القيامة، وعلى وجه آزر قترة وغبرة، فيقول له إبراهيم: ألم أقل لك لا تعصني، … فيقول الله تعالى: إني حرمت الجنة على الكافرين … فيؤخذ بقوائمه فيلقى فى النار
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3350)
Translation (summary): On the Day of Judgment, Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhi al-salām) will meet his father Āzar, whose face will be darkened with dust and disgrace. After a brief conversation, Allah will declare Paradise forbidden for disbelievers, and Āzar will be cast into Hell.
❀ Conclusion
✔ The Qur’ān and authentic Aḥādīth confirm that Āzar was indeed the father of Prophet Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhi al-salām).
✔ He was a disbeliever and will be among the people of Hell.
✔ The Shīʿah claim that Āzar was his uncle is a baseless interpretation, contradicting the apparent wording of the Qur’ān.
