Namrud (Nimrod)

Namrud (Nimrod) was the tyrannical king of Babylon who reigned during the time of Prophet Ibrahim AS and is one of the four kings said in Islamic tradition to have ruled the entire world (the others being Sulayman and Dhul-Qarnayn among the believers, and Bukhtanassar among the disbelievers). He is mentioned in the Quran in Surah al-Baqarah (2:258) in the context of his argument with Ibrahim AS, where he claimed for himself the power of giving life and death. Ibrahim refuted him with the argument of the sun: 'Allah brings the sun from the east — bring it from the west.' Namrud was struck dumb with no response. Classical Islamic sources describe him as ruling for centuries and being intoxicated by power and divine claims. When Ibrahim AS destroyed the idols of his people and challenged their worship, Namrud ordered him to be thrown into a massive fire. The fire was so enormous that birds could not fly near it, and catapults were used to launch Ibrahim into it from a distance. By the command of Allah, the fire was made cool and safe for Ibrahim: 'O fire, be coolness and safety upon Ibrahim' (Surah al-Anbiya 21:69). Namrud witnessed this miracle and yet persisted in his rejection of the truth. According to traditional Islamic accounts, he eventually died by a tiny creature — a mosquito — entering his nose or ear, by which Allah showed that even the greatest tyrant can be destroyed by the smallest of creations.