Last time I had a General Practice (GP) tutorial with a GP tutor and my colleagues. The tutor started it off by asking each and everyone of us to break the ice by introducing ourselves, answer this one GP question (that I have forgotten now) and tell everyone what were we named after. The colleagues all began to make faces in response to the strange last question we were handed with.
What I noticed was it's quite common for the Irish people to name their children after their ancestors. Some have traditional Irish names which nearly twisted my tongue to pronounce them as I don't speak Irish (language). Among the names that I found difficult at first but not anymore were Caoimhe, Niamh, Maitiu and Tadgh. But I know them now, classmates! One obvious thing was Irish and Malays we shared something in common, sometimes our names don't have meanings, for the latter particularly the modern novel-ish names. However I'd say most Malays would give good Arabic names to their children though, as we believe names are actually prayers that we make for our children whenever we call them with that name.
We sat in a circle and there came my turn.
"My name is Sarah (say-ruh). It's the name of the wife of Prophet Abraham".
That's basically what I said. Fortunately no one then asked what's the story with Prophet Abraham or else we'll never going to get going with the tutorial then. Here I'd like to share some verses from the Holy Quran that mentioned about Prophet Abraham which I thought worth mentioning. They were taken from the Surah Al-An'am [6:74-83]. Have a good read ;).
"And (mention, O Muhammad) when Abraham said to his father Azar, "Do you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest error." [74]
"And thus We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain (in faith)." [75]
"So when the night covered him (with darkness), he saw a star. He said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "I like not those that set (i.e. disappear)." [76]
"And when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray." [77]
"And when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set, he said "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah." [78]
"Indeed I have turned my face (i.e. self) toward He who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not those who associate others (in worship) with Allah." [79]
[In verses 76-79, beginning from the people's own assertions, Abraham presents a picture of his dissatisfaction as the only logical conclusion one could reach, in order to show them the futility of their false objects of worship.]
"And his people argued with him. He said, "Do you argue with me concerning Allah while he has guided me? And I fear not what you associate with Him (and will not be harmed) unless my Lord should will something. My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge; then will you not remember?" [80]
"And how should I fear what you associate while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you any authority? So which of the two parties has more right to security, if you should know?" [81]
"They who believe and do not mix their believe with injustice (specifically, the association of others in divinity with Allah) those will have security, and they are the (rightly) guided. [82]
"And that was Our (conclusive) argument which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise by degrees whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing" [83]
And that's just one of the wonderful stories in the Quran.
