Historians have related that after Sarah’s decease, Ebrahim—u. w. b., etc.—married a Kana’anitish woman, by whom he begat six sons, and they in their turn became the fathers of a numerous progeny scattered over the whole world. None of the sons of the Friend of the Merciful were adorned with the dignity of prophecy except Esma’il and Esahâq. It is said—and the responsibility rests with the chroniclers—that in conformity with the will of the Eternal, the cattle and sheep of the refuge of amity had augmented to such a degree, that four thousand dogs were required to protect his sheep from wolves. On the termination of the one hundred and fiftieth year of his noble life the traces of old age began to manifest themselves, and his noble moustache became gray, which had happened to no man before him. On this account his lordship became very melancholy, and said: ‘O Lord, increase my dignity.’ It is related that his lordship prayed to the Creator of life and death not to cut the thread of his existence with the scissors of fate until he himself made the request. His petition was heard, and when the time of his decease had approached, and his departure had become necessary, the angel of death entered his noble assembly in the guise of a decrepit old man. Ebrahim placed food before him in the usual way, but, whilst eating, the hand of the angel trembled, and he sometimes threw the morsel which he had taken up behind his ear, sometimes he moved it to his nose, and sometimes to his mouth. Ebrahim then asked, ‘Old man, what art thou doing?’ The angel of death replied, ‘All this is on account of old age;’ and to Ebrahim’s inquiry concerning it he replied, ‘I think I am two years older than thyself.’ Whereon Ebrahim continued: ‘Verily the difference between thy age and mine may be no more than two years, after the expiration whereof my debility and weakness will be like unto thine.’ To this remark the angel of death assented, and Ebrahim, who became much depressed, replied: ‘My God! receive back the deposit of the life wherewith thou hast entrusted me; for it is of no use to me in connection with feebleness and decrepitude,’ and the angel of death having been ordered to take hold of his soul, conveyed it to the eternal world.
Some have related that when the Almighty—w. n. b. e. —had completed all the spiritual and physical blessings which He had conferred upon Ebrahim, and the exuberance of favours and virtues bestowed upon him had reached their termination, the grasper of souls was sent to him and commanded to take his pure spirit with his own consent, or else to return to his place. The angel of death made, according to the mandate he had received, his appearance in the assembly of Ebrahim, and explained his errand. Hereon Ebrahim—u. w. b., etc.—asked for a little respite; engaged in the performance of a few religious and secular duties, attendance to which is considered indispensable by all intelligent persons; and lastly, he appointed Esahâq to be his successor in the country of Syria. When the time of the respite had expired, the destroyer of pleasures girded up his loins of service and executed his office of life-abandoner, or rather life-taker. In some histories it is related that when the angel of death had been ordered to snatch away the soul of Ebrahim, u. w. b., etc., and had visited him for the purpose, his lordship said: ‘O A’zrayil, didst thou ever see one friend command that the life of his friend be taken?’ Hereupon A’zrayil hastened to the celestial regions and reported the words of Ebrahim at the mansion of Omnipotence, from which he received the mandate to return the following reply to Ebrahim: ‘Hast thou ever seen a friend who is loath to meet and to see a friend?’ A’zrayil conveyed the message of his lord to Ebrahim, who now in his turn requested him immediately to carry out the orders he had received. The angel of death accordingly took hold of his pure spirit, and his amber-body was interred in the ‘Field of Haran’ by the side of Sarah; and Haran is in the country of Syria.