Answer
Short Answer:
- According to some accounts, Nimrud was worshipped as a god, but to others, he is simply a man challenging God. It is narrated that Allah (the Exalted) sent an angel to Nimrud, ordering him to believe in Allah, but he refused.
- The angel called him to believe a second time, and he refused again; then a third time, and still he refused. “The kings who ruled the eastern and western parts of the world are four, two believers and two disbelievers.
- As for the two believing kings, they were Sulayman bin Dawud and Dhul-Qarnayn. As for the two disbelieving kings, they were Nimrud and Nebuchadnezzar.” Nothing is mentioned here about kings in the other parts of the world. And Allah knows best.
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1. Why do scholars suggest Nimrud to be the king who argued with Prophet Ibrahim?
Ibn Kathir the great interpreter of the Noble Quran says:
“The king who disputed with Ibrahim was King Nimrud, son of Canaan, son of Kush, son of Sam, son of Noah, as Mujahid stated. It was also said that he was Nimrud, son of Falikh, son of `Abir, son of Shalikh, son of Arfakhshand, son of Sam, son of Noah. Mujahid said, “The kings who ruled the eastern and western parts of the world are four, two believers and two disbelievers. As for the two believing kings, they were Sulayman bin Dawud and Dhul-Qarnayn. As for the two disbelieving kings, they were Nimrod and Nebuchadnezzar.” Allah knows best.”
According to sources available to our scholars of old, the King who disputed with Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was none other than Nimrud.
2. Did Nimrud rule the entire world? Was Nebuchadnezzar another one of the only 2 tyrant kings who ruled the world?
As said above, as mentioned in the ancient records, “The kings who ruled the eastern and western parts of the world are four, two believers and two disbelievers. As for the two believing kings, they were Sulayman bin Dawud and Dhul-Qarnayn. As for the two disbelieving kings, they were Nimrod and Nebuchadnezzar.” Nothing is mentioned here about kings in the other parts of the world. And Allah knows best.
3. Is Nimrud city of Iraq in any way related to King Nimrud?
Nimrud was known as Kalhu in Assyrian times as mentioned in the Bible. Genesis 10:8-12 discusses the “great city” of Calah—same as Kalhu—and how the “mighty hunter” Nimrud established the dynasty of the Assyrians. According to the Washington Post: “The discoveries at Nimrud have been described as among the most significant archaeological finds of ancient Mesopotamia.”
4. Did Nimrud’s people worship him?
According to some accounts, Nimrud was worshipped as a god, but to others, he is simply a man challenging God.
5. Did Nimrud actually kill one and pardon one of the 2 prisoners to prove this point to Prophet Ibrahim?
Between Prophet Ibrahim (peace be with him) and Nimrud there took place a debate that is related in the Quran:
“Have you not looked at the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord (Allah), because Allah had given him a kingdom? When Abraham said (to him), “My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death.” He said, “I give life and cause death.” Abraham said, “Indeed, Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; so cause it to rise from the west.” So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (Quran 2:258).
To prove his point, Nimrud had killed one prisoner and freed another one.
6. What was the story of Nimrud’s death?
It is narrated that Allah (the Exalted) sent an angel to Nimrud, ordering him to believe in Allah, but he refused. The angel called him to believe a second time, and he refused again; then a third time, and still he refused.
The angel said, “Gather your armies and I will gather mine.” Nimrud gathered his army together at the time of sunrise, and Allah sent to him mosquitoes, so many in number, that the people of the army could not even see the sun. Then Allah gave power to the mosquitoes over them: they ate their flesh and blood, leaving them as decomposed bones. One of those mosquitoes entered into the nostrils of the king (Nimrud). Allah punished him by it, and he was in so much pain that he would continually hit his head against objects (hoping to make the mosquito exit or simply because of sheer madness that resulted from the pain) until he finally died.[i]
[i] http://www.islamicstories.com/story/93
And Allah knows best.
I hope this helps.
Salam and please keep in touch.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
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