Ibrahim (Abraham)

40. “My Lord! Make me a performer of the prayer, and of my offspring (too): Our Lord! and accept my petition”

41. “Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and the believers on the Day when the reckoning shall come to pass.”

Through the verses which we have discussed so far in this Surah, Abraham (as) has seven wishes from Allah (s.w.t.).

They consist of: the security of Mecca, remaining distant from worshipping idols, winning the heart of the faithful with regard to his children and his school of thought, benefiting of his offspring from the fruits and the dividends, the success in keeping up his prayers, acceptance of his call and his prayers, and finally, forgiveness of himself, his parents and all the faithful.

The Arabic term /w alid/ refers to one’s real father, but the term /’ab/ has a wider sense and refers also to other than father, such as uncle and one’s father-in- law as well. As the parents of Abraham (as) were believers, therefore, Hadrat-i-’Ibrahim (as) prays for them in this verse.

The verse says:

“My Lord! Make me a performer of the prayer, and of my offspring (too): Our Lord! and accept my petition”

Nonetheless, in other verses where the Arabic word /’ab/ is employed the objective in mind is ‘Ibrahim’s uncle. Hadrat-i-’Ibrahim deplored and abhorred him for his paganism.

Messages to Note

1- The repetition of the Qur’anic word /rabb/ at the beginning of the prayers of Abraham (as) is the sign of the impact of the acceptance of prayers, or it may also be regarded as one of the rituals belonging to it.

2- Establishing prayer is the center of Abraham’s calls.

3- Keeping up prayers is a counterpart for leadership. Abraham employed the phrase /wa min ŏuriyyati/ (and of my offspring) on two occasions: One is when there was the issue involved as of the prayers of his generation, and the other one concerned with the leadership of his generation.

Here he (as) says:

“Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and the believers on the Day when the reckoning shall come to pass.”