Azar (Quranic figure)
Azar ibn Nahur ibn Saruh ibn Ra'u ibn Falakh 'ibn Hud' was a Mesopotamian idol-sculptor and the legal guardian of Abraham according to the Quran. Many Sunni and Shia scholars argue over whether Azar was the father or paternal uncle of Abraham. He was a descendant of Noah, through Shem.
Etymology
The name "Azar" is believed to be related to the Arabic root word A-Z-R ''', meaning "strength."In the Quran
Azar was an idolater and well-known idol-sculptor in Ur of the Chaldees, Mesopotamia. Azar would send his son, Ibrahim, to sell the idols that he sculpted in the marketplace, despite Ibrahim's opposition to idolatry. During one of the many festivals that would take place in the city, the people would gather in their temple and place offerings of food before their idols. Ur's most prominent temple is the Great Ziggurat, which can be seen today. Ibrahim would ask them and Azar, "What are these statues to which you are so devoted?" The people would reply, "We found our forefathers worshipping them." Ibrahim responded "Indeed, you and your forefathers have been clearly astray." The people would reply, "Have you come to us with the truth, or is this a joke?" Ibrahim declared, "In fact, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them . And to that I bear witness." Azar and the people would reject this call to monotheism from Ibrahim and would continue worshipping idols.After surviving being burnt alive in a huge fire, Ibrahim would approach Azar again and call him to Islam, saying, "O my dear father! Why do you worship what can neither hear nor see, nor benefit you at all? O my dear father! I have certainly received some knowledge which you have not received, so follow me and I will guide you to the Straight Path! O my dear father! Do not worship Satan. Surely Satan is ever rebellious against the Most Compassionate. O my dear father! I truly fear that you will be touched by a torment from the Most Compassionate, and become Satan’s companion ." To Ibrahim's surprise, Azar would respond by not just rejecting the message, but also threatening to stone Ibrahim to death and disowning him, saying, "How dare you reject my idols, O Ibrahim! If you do not desist, I will certainly stone you . So be gone from me forever!" Ibrahim responded, "Peace be upon you! I will pray to my Lord for your forgiveness. He has truly been Most Gracious to me. As I distance myself from you and from whatever you invoke besides Allah, I will call upon my Lord, trusting that I will never be disappointed in invoking my Lord." Ibrahim proceeded to leave the entire region to migrate to Ash-Sham, never to see his father, Azar, again. Despite this, Ibrahim continued to seek forgiveness for Azar even after migrating to Ash-Sham and even after the birth of his sons, Isma'il and Ishaq, only stopping when he realized that Azar died an idolater.