[Then he went to his family and came with a fat (roasted) calf] adh-Dhāriyāt:26
“فراغ الى أهله” – roughly translates to: then he (Prophet Ebrāhīm) went to his family.
Upon a deeper analysis we learn that it actually means he *secretly* went to his family, and in doing so, he gave us a lesson in etiquettes 101. He did not wish for his guests to know that he was preparing a feast for them, so as not to discomfort them or put them in an awkward situation.
(He was oblivious to the fact that they were angels! Still, they were complete strangers who had come from nowhere.)
What made me smile was Prophet Ebrāhīm’s even nobler etiquettes towards his family.
Tell me, what is the norm when a man has expected/unexpected guests over? He demands his wife to get a feast ready. And it better be good.
But Ebrāhīm ʿalayhis salām rushed and got the feast ready and brought it to the guests – all by himself.
[And placed it (the roasted calf) near them; he said, “Will you not eat?”
And he felt from them apprehension. They said, “Fear not,” and gave him glad tidings of a learned boy.
And his wife approached with a cry of alarm and struck her face and said, “I am a barren old woman!”]adh-Dhāriyāt:27-29
These strangers (the angels) had come out of nowhere, and when served with food – they did not eat (angels do not eat). Which naturally made Ebrāhīm ʿalayhis salām apprehensive over who they were and what their intent was. Because a friendly guest with benign intentions will always offer to eat, especially after coming from a long travel. Yet another lesson in etiquettes, when offered food by your hosts, eat – even if a little. This is also a Sunnah.
When they saw (or perhaps felt) Ebrāhīm’s apprehension, they comforted him and broke the news for which they had come.
The above āyāt also shed some light on men and women’s innately different temperaments.
The last āyah describes his wife’s reaction but not his. Why is that? One reason may be that he was an honourable, noble man – Ebrāhīm ʿalayhis salām – and it is unbecoming for someone of his stature to express colourful emotions.
Also, women tend to be more ‘in touch’ with their emotions and thus Sarah (Prophet Ebrāhīm’s wife) is described showing the emotions she showed – though she too was a noble woman. This description is to paint a vivid picture of what this news meant to them. What person, eventually, does not ache for a child to love?
From this, we derive further lessons in etiquettes: Control your emotions, especially if you’re striving to be an honourable, noble man.
Side note: This is also of the etiquettes of ḥamlat al-Qur`ān (the bearers of the Qur`ān); they control their emotions, their emotions do not control them.
Only a handful of verses but infinite lessons to be derived. Does your heart not yearn to taste more of this magnificent Book?
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