Prophet Ibrahim and King Namrud

{Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord [merely] because Allah had given him kingship? When Abraham said, “My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death,” he said, “I give life and cause death.” Abraham said, “Indeed, Allah brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west.” So the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. }Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 258:

Ibrahim had established a definite reason against idolaters. Nothing was left to prove for him except to reason against the rulers who proclaimed themselves gods.

The Quran discusses a certain conversation between an unrighteous ruler and Ibrahim. Although in the narration of the Quran, the name of the king/ruler has not been revealed, many historical sources suggest that it was Nimrod or Namrud.

Nimrod became extremely arrogant due to his wealth and power, to the point that he made the claim that he possessed the power of creation and claimed divinity for himself. Namrud proclaimed himself as a living god and was worshipped as such by his subjects.

Namrud, King of Babylon, felt that his throne was in danger and that he was losing power because upon witnessing Ibrahim coming out of the fire unharmed, the majority of his people started believing in Allah and Ibrahim being a true prophet of Allah. Namrud wanted to debate with Ibrahim and show his people that he, the king, is indeed the god and that Ibrahim was a liar. He feared that the status of godhead he had proclaimed for himself was not challenged by an ordinary human being. In order to safeguard his interests, he summoned Ibrahim to the palace and held a dialogue with him which Allah has narrated in Al-Quran:

Have you not thought about him who disputed with Abraham about his Lord (Allah) because Allah had given him the kingdom? When Abraham said to him: “My Lord (Allah) is He Who gives life and causes death.” He said: “I give life and cause death.” Abraham said: “Verily, Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it you to rise from the west.” So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. Allah guides not the people who are Zalimeen (wrongdoers etc). (Surah Al-Baqarah: 2:258)

The king said to Ibrahim: “I hear that you invite men to worship the new God and to abandon the old god.” Ibrahim said: “There is no god except Allah, the One.” The king, who is proud and arrogant, said: “What does your god do I cannot do?” Ibrahim said gently: “My Lord is the one who can bring life and death.” The king arrogantly replied: “I give life and cause death.” The Prophet Ibrahim did not ask how the king gave life and death as he knew that the king was lying. Ibrahim said: “Verily, Allah is able to bring the sun from the east, can you bring it from the west?”

King did not know what to say and what to do. After Namrud was silenced by Ibrahim, he (Ibrahim) left the royal palace. Then the truth of the Prophet Ibrahim spread throughout the land. Humans start talking about his miracle and his salvation from the fire and his arguments with king that made the king speechless.