Part 8: The Story of Ibrahim (AS)

Some time ago, we started talking about the story of Ibrahim (AS). Today, we’ll mention some of the du’as that Ibrahim (AS) made. They are mentioned in the Quran, and the purpose of including these du’as in the Quran is, first of all, so that we can understand what mattered to Ibrahim (AS). What was important to him? What was he trying to achieve? What was the mission of his life?

Secondly, we can make these du’as for ourselves as well.

When he came to Makkah and was told that he had to leave his family behind, he made many du’as for that place because his family and progeny were going to grow up there. So, he said:

“Rabbij‘al haadha baladan aaminan, wajnubnee wa baniyya an-na‘budal asnaam.”
“O Allah, make this land, this city of Makkah, peaceful. Make it safe and secure. And keep me and my progeny—in other words, my offspring, my children, and their children—away from idol worship.”

Ibrahim (AS) was making du’a for himself as well as for his children, even though he was the one who, in his time, brought tawheed to the world. But he knew that this was only from the tawfiq of Allah (SWT), and if Allah wills, He can take tawfiq away from anyone. The message for us is that we should always be concerned about our imaan, about preserving our imaan.

No matter how pious we are today, no matter how good we think we are—we might tell ourselves that we are in a good environment, that we belong to good families, that we don’t do anything wrong—whatever we have is from the tawfiq of Allah (SWT). If Allah wants, He can take that tawfiq away, so we should keep asking Him to protect us.

Ibrahim (AS) then said:

“Rabbi innahunna adlalna katheeram-minan-naas.”
“O Allah, these idols have led so many people astray.”

“Fa man tabi‘anee fa innahu minnee.”
“Whoever follows me, then he is from me.”

“Wa man ‘asaanee fa innaka ghafoorur-raheem.”
“And whoever disobeys me, then You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”

He made du’a: “O Allah, don’t hold me accountable for those of my children, my offspring, who go astray. Those who follow my path and stay on this path of deen, this path of imaan, yes, they are from me, and they have taken from me. But whoever doesn’t listen to me after I have tried to explain to them who You are and what You want—O Allah, You are the One in charge of their affairs. If You want, You can forgive them, and if You want, You can hold them accountable. But don’t hold me accountable for those of my offspring who disobey You.”

Then he said:

“Rabbanaa innee askantu min dhurriyati biwaadin ghayra dhee zar‘.”
“O our Lord, I have left my family, some of my descendants, in a valley without vegetation.”

Makkah was nothing but black mountains, surrounded by more mountains and desert. No vegetation, no trees, no gardens.

He then said:

“Rabbanaa liyuqeemus-salaat.”
“O Allah, I know why You brought me here. You have brought me and my family here so that we establish Your House, the House of Worship—the House towards which all of mankind will pray until the Day of Judgment.”

“Faj‘al af’idatan minan-naasi tahwee ilaihim.”
“O Allah, don’t leave them here by themselves, secluded, all alone. Bring people—bring the people of the world to this land.”

“Warzuqhum-minath-thamaraat.”
“And provide them with fruits.”

At that time, there were no plants or gardens in Makkah. But he made du’a: “O Allah, if You will, You can bring vegetation, plants, fruits, and food from wherever You want, and You can still provide for these people.”

“La‘allahum yashkuroon.”
“So that they may be grateful to You, O Allah.”

And he made another du’a:

“Rabbij‘alnee muqeemas-salaati wa min dhurriyati, rabbanaa wa taqabbal du‘aa.”
“O Allah, make me one of those people who establish salah, and make my descendants also among those who establish salah. O our Lord, accept this plea, this du’a, this appeal of mine.”

Ibrahim (AS) is asking Allah (SWT) to make him from those who establish salah. He wants to live a life in which he never lets go of salah, and he also wants his children to be among those who establish salah.

So, one of the things that mattered the most to Ibrahim (AS) after imaan was salah. He said, “I left my family here so they establish salah, Your House of Worship.”

But just building the structure was not enough. It wasn’t enough for him to say, “I constructed the Ka’bah,” and it wasn’t enough for his children to say, “My father constructed the Ka’bah.” Rather, he made du’a:

“O Allah, make them people who establish salah in their own lives, and make those who come after them also establish salah in their own lives.”

These are some of the du’as of Ibrahim (AS). They show us what mattered to him, and they tell us what is important in the sight of Allah (SWT).

He was on a grand mission—a mission to change the world and bring people closer to Allah (SWT). These du’as give us insight into what was going through his mind as he was striving to achieve these goals.

May Allah (SWT) enable us to walk in his footsteps. As I mentioned before, he is our father, and he is the one who has given us the name Muslims.

So, we also need to live a life that fits the template—the pattern—of his life, rather than going off in different directions. We need to keep ourselves focused on Allah (SWT), on establishing His worship and obedience in our own lives, and on bringing this message to others.

May Allah (SWT) grant us tawfiq.