Abraham holds a special place in the Islamic scholarly tradition as the prototypical Islamic prophet whose example Muhammad and the Muslims are instructed to follow. Described in the Qur’ān as both a hɑnīf (“inclining [towards a correct way]”) and a hanīf muslim (“inclining correctly [as a] Muslim” or “inclining correctly in submission”), Abraham acquired the reputation of having been the first prophet to embrace the “original and true (monotheistic) religion” and the original version of Islam. Indeed, his importance in Judaism, Christianity and Islam has inspired a rich body of scholarship on Abraham and his place in the Qur’ān. Nonetheless, Abraham's reputation as a model for Islamic ritual and piety has not hitherto been fully considered.

The Qur’ān uses the word milla (translated variably as “religion’’ “community’’ and “law”) in describing Abraham's life and on six occasions instructs the Muslim community to “follow the milla of Abraham” (ittabi millat Ibrāhīm) A The six Qur’ānic verses that use this expression, and which will be referenced here, read as follows: Q. 2:130: “And who loathes the milla of Abraham except he who makes a fool of himself? Indeed, We chose him in the present world, and in the world to come he shall be among the righteous.” Q. 2:135: “And they say, ‘Be Jews or Christians and you shall be guided.’ Say, rather the milla of Abraham the hanɪf he was not of the polytheists.” Q. 3:95: “Say, 'God has spoken the truth, so follow the milla of Abraham, the hanīf he was not of the polytheists.”