Divine Planning

~ 10 ~ divine plan assigned to Abraham to prepare the generation desired by God. (Tafsir Ibn-Kathir) In this way, in that hostile, aloof environment, a new generation began to be formed. What were the characteristics of this race? The two most prominent characteristics were their being in tune with nature and possessing the human quality of manliness. The only thing to influence man in this rugged, hostile, Arabian Desert was nature: vast wilderness, high mountains, starlit sky. These natural phenomena gave man the message of the unity of God. They were perpetual reminders to man of God’s greatness and omniscience. These pure, divine surroundings nurtured a generation which, in the words of Abraham, had the real capacity to become an Islamic community, that is, one which could surrender itself completely to the Will of God. The nature of this community was preserved intact in its original state, hence it was fully capable of accepting the religion of nature. It was then the most suitable environment for nurturing that characteristic which is called alMuruwah (manliness) in Arabic. Life was full of