And when his Lord tested Abraham with certain words and he ful- filled them The trial al-balāÌ is the verification of friendship walāÌ and the most sincere in friendship are tested the most. The Real سبحانه tested His friend khalīl عليه السلام by what He imposed on him and prescribed for him and [Abraham] upheld the necessary conditions and fulfilled the requirements decreed. So He سبحانه praised him saying “And Abraham who fulfilled waffā” [53:37] [which is] from tawfiyathat is he did not fall short in any way whatsoever. It is said that [God] imposed the burdens of prophecy on [Abraham] and sought from him the properties of friendship khulla. The most intense trial for him was upholding the conditions of friendship and being singled out to avoid everyone and everything. He performed what was necessary to fulfill this [obligation] withdrawing from everything other than [God] secretly and publicly. Because of that [Abraham] paid no attention to Gabriel عليه السلام when he appeared to [Abraham] as he was being thrown into the depths of destruction. [Gabriel] said “Do you need anythingḍ” [Abraham] said “From youḍ No.” Gabriel عليه السلام appeared to him in this state as part of the perfection of his trial. What [attachments] were left in him that would leave a place for any created being whoever that might beḍ This is a subtle allusion to the difference between the state of our Prophet ﷺ and the state of Abraham عليه السلام because Gabriel appeared to the friend and showed himself to him and [Abraham] said “From youḍ No.” But Gabriel was not capable of companionship with the Prophet ﷺ and thus expressed his weakness saying “If I were to come closer [to you by even] so much as a fingertip I would be consumed by fire.” What a difference between the state in which Gabriel عليه السلام has the power to show himself to the Friend عليه السلام and the state in which he acknowledges his weak- ness before the Beloved ﷺ. He said “I make you a leader imām for the people.” Said he “And of my seedḍ” He said “My covenant shall not reach the evildoers.” The leader imām is the one to be emulated. This was confirmed with regard to [Abraham] in that [God] told all men up to the Day of the Resurrection to emulate him.
