Abraham sacrificing his son, Ishmael (Ismael) and archangel Gabrial presenting him with a lamb to be sacrificed, a partial folio from the Zubdat al-Tawarikh (زبدة التواريخ). The Islamic tradition recounts that it was Ishmael who was to be sacrificed by Ibrahim in contrast to the Biblical tradition where Isaac is to be sacrificed. The tradition recounts that Allah asked Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as a test of his faith and at the last moment he (son) was replaced with a lamb miraculous.

circa 1950 BCE

While the primary sources of prophet and patriarch Ibrahim's life come from religious texts such as the Quran, the Bible, and the Torah, archaeological and material culture provides additional context, though no direct evidence, to understand the environment, culture and period in which he is believed to have lived.

Prophet Ibrahim is traditionally believed to have lived during the early second millennium BCE. He is associated with the ancient city of Ur in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), Haran in present-day Turkey, and the region of Canaan, which includes modern-day Israel and Palestine. The period corresponds to the Middle Bronze Age, characterized by significant urban development, trade networks, and the use of writing in cuneiform and hieroglyphics.

While direct archaeological evidence of Prophet Ibrahim himself is elusive, the material culture and archaeological findings from key locations associated with his life paint a picture of the world he inhabited. The rich urban environment of Ur, the bustling trade hub of Haran, and the sacred landscape of Canaan form the backdrop of his narrative, providing a tangible connection to the ancient Near East’s historical and cultural milieu.

circa 1950 BCE

Ur (Tell el-Muqayyar)
Remains of city of Ur the birthplace of Ibrahim, Nassiriyah, Iraq. The great Ziggurat can be seen in background. Ur is likely the city of Ur Kasdim mentioned in the Book of Genesis as the birthplace of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic), traditionally believed to have lived some time in the 2nd millennium BCE. However traditions and scholars also identify Sanliurfa, Urkesh, Urartu or Kutha as the birthplace as well.

circa 1950 BCE

Cave of Ibrahim
The Cave of Abraham (İbrahim Mağarası) in the Mevlid Halil mosque. Prophet Ibrahim is believed to have been born here in this small cave. According to tradition before Ibrahim was born, a portent in the stars tells Nimrod and his astrologers of his impending birth, who would put an end to idolatry. Nimrod therefore orders the killing of all newborn babies. However, Ibrahim's mother escapes into the fields and gives birth secretly.

circa 1982 CE
(1399 Hj.)

Maqam Ibrahim
Muqam Ibrahim, according to Islamic tradition, the imprint on the stone came from Abraham's feet. According to one tradition it appeared when Abraham stood on the stone while building the Kaaba; when the walls became too high. Surah al-Baqarah verse 125 (وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِیمَ مُصَلًّی) mentions Maqam Ibrahim and instructs the believers to take the station of Abraham as a place of salah (prayer). The stone is originally believed to have been placed inside the Kaba, and was moved to it's current location

circa 1950 BCE

Gate of Abraham
Abraham's Gate, the eastern most Canaanite bronze age gate at Tel Dan also Tel al-Qazi (تل القاضي), is made of mud bricks on top of megalithic basalt standing stones. Dubbed as the Abraham's Gate, due to the biblical story that prophet Ibrahim traveled to Dan to rescue his nephew Lot (Islamic prophet Lut) from captivity.

circa 1950 BCE

Pool of the Sacred Fish
Pool of Sacred Fish near the birthplace of prophet Ibrahim at Mevlid-i Halil Mosque. According to Muslim belief, this fish-filled pool is where Nimrod threw prophet Ibrahim into the fire. It is located behind the small Ottoman era Rizvaniye Masjid. The story says that when Ibrahim landed in the fire, Allah turned the flames to water and the burning logs into fish, hence the translation of the Turkish name into “lake of fish”.

circa 1950 BCE

Oak of Abraham
The oak of Abraham (Ibrahim), also Oak of Mamre, is purportedly some 5,000 years old, where prophet Ibrahim is believed to have pitched his tent. In the biblical tradition the patriarch Abraham pitched his tent here and entertained three angles. He as also said to have built an alter here. Although the tree has been dead for years now, a new sprout was seen appearing in 1992 CE.

circa 1950 BCE

Aazer (Terah)
Illustration of of Terah (تَارَح‎) in Latin from "Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum". In some Islamic sects, Abraham's father is believed to have been a disbelieving man. The earliest story involving Abraham in the Quran is his discussion with his ab (أَب), meaning father. The name given for this man in the Qur'an is 'Āzar' (عازر), though Arab genealogists related the name of Abraham's father as 'Tāraḥ' (Arabic: تَارَح‎).

circa 1950 BCE

Haram al-Ibrahimi
"Tomb of Abraham," cenotaph above the cave traditionally considered to be the burial place of Abraham and Sarah in the Haram al-Ibrahimi (Cave of the Patriarchs). Biblical tradition recounts the it was the patriarch Abraham who bought the property when his wife Sarah died, around 4000. Other people believed to be buried here are Isaac (prophet Ishaaq) and Rebekah (Rifaqah), and Jacob (Y'aqub) and Leah.

circa 1950 BCE

Well of Ibrahim (بئر السبع )
A deep well, dubbed as the Well of Abraham, is located on the southwest side of the city, adjacent to the outer gate. This hewn well, 70m deep, reaches a depth 50m lower than the level of the valley of Beersheba stream. This depth gave the well a year round supply of water. It may have been hewn in the time of Iron Age stratum 9 (12th-11th century BCE). The digging of the well is mentioned by the Bible in two cases, first mentioned in Genesis 21 27-32, and second in Genesis 26: 23,33.

circa 1950 BCE

Harran
Ancient Harran, a Mesopotamian city located in present-day Turkey, holds significant importance in the story of Ibrahim as it is one of the key locations mentioned in religious texts where he lived and preached. Harran was a major Mesopotamian city, situated strategically on trade routes linking Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean and Anatolia. The city is mentioned in the Bible as a place where Ibrahim and his family settled after leaving Ur and before moving on to Canaan. This period is traditionally placed in the early second millennium BCE, aligning with the Middle Bronze Age.

At the time of Abraham the primary religion practiced in ancient Harran was polytheism, a significant center for the worship of various Mesopotamian deities. It was known for its moon temple dedicated to the god Sin, reflecting the city's religious importance. Artifacts such as pottery, tools, and inscriptions found in the area offer insights into the cultural and religious practices of the inhabitants. The moon temple's presence underscores Harran's role as a significant religious center, which would have been part of the environment that influenced Ibrahim.