Ibrahim (peace be upon him) reasoned against the worship of idols and heavenly bodies, turning his face sincerely to the One who created the heavens and the earth (6:76-79). He pleaded with his father to abandon idols that could neither hear nor see nor benefit him (19:42-45).
He confronted his people and broke their idols, leaving the largest one, so that when they questioned him he turned their attention to the helplessness of the idols themselves (21:57-67). Enraged, they built a fire and cast him into it, but Allah commanded, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Ibrahim," and he emerged unharmed (21:68-70).
Allah honoured Ibrahim as His khalil (intimate friend) (4:125). He was tested with the command, seen in a dream, to sacrifice his son; both father and son submitted, and as Ibrahim laid him down, Allah called out that he had fulfilled the vision and ransomed the son with a great sacrifice (37:102-107). He prayed for righteous offspring, and was given glad tidings (37:100-101).
With his son Isma'il, Ibrahim raised the foundations of the Ka'bah, praying, "Our Lord, accept this from us; indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing" (2:127). He asked Allah to make it a place of security and to raise among their descendants a messenger reciting Allah's verses (2:126, 2:129).
Ibrahim was neither Jew nor Christian, but a hanif, a devoted monotheist, submitting wholly to Allah (3:67). He is a model and leader for humankind (16:120-123).