Abraham - "The Lord said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you, I will curse; all the peoples on earth will be blessed through of you.'" (Gen 12:1-3) And with that command Abraham left Haran and went to the land of Canaan. The Bible says that he was born in the land of Ur, one of the oldest and largest city-states in Mesopotamia. The ancient Hebrews (and present-day Jews) claim him as their father through his son, Isaac; and the Arabs claim him as their father through his son, Ishmael. Christians, as well, claim him as a spiritual forefather, as the promise of God's salvation descended through his lineage. Thus Abraham is the pivotal figure of the world's three great monotheistic faiths.