Surah Al Hijr Notes (1-18)

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

Al-Hijr was revealed in Makkah

The Disbelievers will someday wish that They had been Muslims

 (1) Alif-Lam-Ra. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. These are the Verses of the Book, and a plain Quran.

(2) Perhaps (often) will those who disbelieve wish that they were Muslims [those who have submitted themselves to Allah's Will in Islam Islamic Monotheism, this will be on the Day of Resurrection when they will see the disbelievers going to Hell and the Muslims going to Paradise].

(How much would those who disbelieved wish) Here Allah tells us that they will regret having lived in disbelief, and will wish that they had been Muslims in this world.

Sufyan Ath-Thawri reported from Salamah bin Kuhayl, who reported from Abi Az-Za`ra', from `Abdullah, who said: "This is about the Jahannamiyyun (the sinners among the believers who will stay in Hell for some time), when they ﴿the disbelievers﴾ see them being brought out of Hell.''

(How much would those who disbelieved wish that they had been Muslims.) Ibn Jarir reported that Ibn `Abbas and Anas bin Malik explained that this Ayah refers to the Day when Allah will detain the sinful Muslims in Hell along with the idolators. He said: "The idolators will say to them, `What you used to worship on earth has not helped you.' Then by virtue of His mercy, Allah will be angry for their sake, and He will remove them ﴿from it﴾.

(3) Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be preoccupied with (false) hope. They will come to know!

(Leave them to eat and enjoy) this is a stern and definitive threat for them, like His saying,

(Say: "Enjoy your brief life! But certainly, your destination is the Fire!'') ﴿14:30﴾

(let them be preoccupied with false hope.) i.e., distracted from repentance and turning to Allah, for

(They will soon come to know!) that is, their punishment.

Every Township has its allotted Time

(4) And never did We destroy a township but there was a known decree for it.

(5) No nation can anticipate its term, nor delay it.

Allah is informing us that He never destroys a township until He has established evidences for it and its allotted time has ended. When the time for a nation's destruction has come, He never delays it, and He never moves its appointed time forward. This was a message and a warning to the people of Makkah, telling them to give up their Shirk, their stubbornness and disbelief for which they deserved to be destroyed.

The Accusation that the Prophet was a Madman and Demands for Him to bring down Angels

Allah tells us about the disbelief, arrogance and stubbornness of the disbelievers as reflected in their words:

(6) And they say: "O you (Muhammad SAW ) to whom the Dhikr (the Quran) has been sent down! Verily, you are a mad man.

(O you (Muhammad) to whom the Dhikr (the Qur'an) has been revealed!) i.e., the one who claims to receive it.

(Verily, you are a mad man!) i.e., by your invitation to us to follow you and leave the way of our forefathers.

(7) "Why do you not bring angels to us if you are of the truthful ones?"

(Why do you not bring angels to us) i.e., to bear witness to the accuracy of what you have brought to us is true, if you are really telling the truth This is similar to what Pharaoh said: 

(Why then are not golden bracelets bestowed on him, or angels sent along with him)(43:53).

 And Allah said:

(And those who do not expect a meeting with Us (i. e., those who deny the Day of Resurrection and the life of the Hereafter), say: "Why are not the angels sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord'' Indeed they think too highly of themselves, and are scornful with great pride. On the Day that they do see the angels - there will be no good news given on that day to the guilty. And they (angels) will say: "All kinds of glad tidings are forbidden for you.'') (25:21-22)

 For this reason Allah said:

(8) We send not the angels down except with the truth (i.e. for torment, etc.), and in that case, they (the disbelievers) would have no respite!

(We do not send the angels down except with the truth) "﴿i.e.,﴾ with the Message and the punishment.'' Then Allah, may He be exalted, stated that He is the One Who revealed the Dhikr to him, which is the Qur'an, and He is protecting it from being changed or altered.

(9) Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Quran) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).

The Idolators of Every Nation made a Mockery of their Messengers

Consoling His Messenger for the rejection of the disbelieving Quraysh, Allah says that He has sent Messengers before him to the nations of the past, and no Messenger came to a nation but they rejected him and mocked him. Then He tells him that He lets disbelief enter the hearts of those sinners who are too stubborn and too arrogant to follow His guidance.

(10) Indeed, We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad SAW) amongst the sects (communities) of old.

(11) And never came a Messenger to them but they did mock him.

(12) Thus do We let it (polytheism and disbelief) enter into the hearts of the Mujrimun [criminals, polytheists, pagans, etc. (because of their mockery at the Messengers)].

(Thus We allow it to enter the hearts of the guilty.) Anas and Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that this referred to Shirk.

(13) They would not believe in it (the Quran), and already the example of (Allah's punishment of) the ancients (who disbelieved) has gone forth.

(and already the example of the ancients has gone forth.) meaning the destruction wrought by Allah on those who rejected His Messengers, and how He saved His Prophets and their followers in this world and in the Hereafter, is well known.

The Stubborn Disbelievers will never believe, no matter what Signs and Wonders They see

(14) And even if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they were to continue ascending thereto,

Allah explains the extent of their disbelief and stubborn resistance to the truth by stating that even if a door to heaven were to be opened for them, and they were to be taken up through it, they would still not believe. 

Rather, they would say:

(15) They would surely say: "Our eyes have been (as if) dazzled. Nay, we are a people bewitched."

(Our eyes have been (as if) dazzled.) Mujahid, Ibn Kathir and Ad-Dahhak said, "﴿this means﴾ our vision has been blocked.'' Qatadah narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, "﴿this means﴾ our eyesight has been taken away.'' Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "﴿this means﴾ we were confused and put under a spell.''

(Our eyes have been (as if) dazzled.) Ibn Zayd said: "The one who is dazzled ﴿lit. intoxicated﴾ is the one who cannot reason.''

The Power of Allah and His Signs in the Heavens and on Earth

(16) And indeed, We have put the big stars in the heaven and We beautified it for the beholders.

To those who ponder, and look repeatedly at the dazzling signs and wonders that are to be seen in the creation, Allah mentions His creation of the heavens, with their immense height, and both the fixed and moving heavenly bodies with which He has adorned it. Here, Mujahid and Qatadah said that Buruj ﴿big stars﴾ refers to the heavenly bodies.

Atiyah Al-`Awfi said: "Buruj here refers to sentinel fortresses.'' He made the "shooting stars'' to guard it against the evil devils who try to listen to information conveyed at the highest heights. If any devil breaches it and advances hoping to listen, a clear "shooting star'' comes to him and destroys him. He may already have passed on whatever he heard before the fire hit him, to another devil below him; the latter will then take it to his friends ﴿among humans﴾, as is stated in the Sahih.

(17) And We have guarded it (near heaven) from every outcast Shaitan (devil).

(18) Except him (devil) that gains hearing by stealing, he is pursued by a clear flaming fire.

Explaining this Ayah, Al-Bukhari reported from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said: (When Allah decrees any matter in heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission to His Word, ﴿with a sound like﴾ a chain ﴿beating﴾ on a smooth rock.'') (`Ali and other subnarrators said, "The sound reaches them (devil).'') "When the fright leaves their (angels') hearts, they (angels) are asked (by devils): `What did your Lord say' They respond: "The truth. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.' So those who hope to hear something listen, and they are standing one above the other.'' Sufyan ﴿the narrator﴾ described them with a gesture, spreading the fingers of his right hand and holding it in such a way that the fingers were above one another. "Sometimes the flaming fire hits one of these listeners before he is able to convey what he has heard to the one who is beneath him, and he is burned up, or sometimes the fire does not hit him until he has pit on to the one beneath him, so he brings it to the earth.'' Perhaps Sufyan said: "...until it reaches the earth and he puts it into the mouth of the sorcerer or fortune-teller, so that after telling a hundred lies he gets something right, and the people say, `Did he not tell us that on such and such a day such and such would happen, and we found it to be the truth among the statements which were heard from heaven.

Surah Ibrahim Notes (48-52)

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

 (48) On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens, and they (all creatures) will appear before Allah, the One, the Irresistible.

(On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens,) meaning, His promise shall come to pass on the Day when the earth will be changed to an earth other than this earth that we know and recognize.

 It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Sahl bin Sa`d said that the Messenger of Allah said, (On the Day of Resurrection, the people will be gathered on a white (barren), flat earth just like the wheat bread, it has no recognizable features for anyone.) 

Imam Ahmad recorded that `A'ishah said, "I was the first among all people who asked the Messenger of Allah about this Ayah, On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens,) saying, `O Allah's Messenger! Where will the people be then' He said, (On the Sirat.)'' Muslim, but not Al-Bukhari, collected this Hadith.

 Imam Muslim bin Al-Hajjaj recorded in his Sahih that Thawban the servant of the Messenger of Allah said, "I was standing next to the Messenger of Allah when a Jewish rabbi came to him and said, `Peace be to you, O Muhammad.' I pushed him with such a force that almost caused him to fall down and he asked me why I did that. I said, `Why did you not say, `O Messenger of Allah' The Jew said, `We call him by the name which his family gave him.' The Messenger of Allah said, (Muhammad is indeed the name which my family gave me.) The Jew said, `I came to ask you about something.' The Messenger of Allah replied, (Would it benefit you if I replied to your question) He said, `I will hear it with my ear.' The Messenger of Allah poked the ground with a staff he had and said, (Ask.) The Jew said, `Where will the people be when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will the heavens' The Messenger of Allah said, (In the darkness before the Bridge (Jasr).) He asked, `Who will be the first to pass it' He said, (The poor emigrants (Muhajirin).) He asked, `What will their (refreshment) be when they enter Paradise' He said, (The caul of fish liver.) He asked, `What will they have after that' He said, (A bull of Paradise which grazed through its pathways will be slaughtered for them.) He asked, `From what will they drink' He said, (From a fountain whose name is Salsabil. ) He said, `You have said the truth. I have come to ask you something about which none of the inhabitants of the earth knows, with the exception of a Prophet or one or two other men.' He said, (Would you benefit by me informing you about it) He replied, `I would listen. I have come to ask you about the child.' He said, (The fluid of the man is white, and the woman's is yellow. When they meet, if the discharge of the man is greater than that of the woman, then it becomes a male, by Allah's permission. When the womans discharge is greater than the man's, it becomes a female by Allah's permission.) The Jew said, `You have told the truth and are indeed a Prophet.' Then he left. So Allah's Messenger said; (He asked me such things that I had no knowledge of it until Allah gave it to me.) 

Allah said next, 

(and they will appear before Allah), describing when the creatures will be resurrected before Allah from their graves,

(the One, the Irresisti- ble.) Who has full power and control over all things and to Whom the necks and minds are subservient.

The Condition of the criminals on the Day of Resurrection

(49) And you will see the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism, polytheists, disobedient to Allah, etc.) that Day bound together in fetters; [Muqarranun in fetters; mean:- with their hands and feet tied to their necks with chains.]

(Muqarranin) bound together, each with his or her like, just as Allah said,

(Assemble those who did wrong, together with their companions.) ﴿37:22﴾

(And when the souls are joined with their bodies.)﴿81:7﴾,

(50) Their garments will be of pitch, and fire will cover their faces.

(Their garments will be of Qatiran (pitch),) that is used to coat camels. Qatadah commented that Qatiran (tar) is one of the fastest objects to catch fire. Ibn `Abbas used to say that the Qatiran, mentioned in the Ayah, is dissolved lead. It is possible that this Ayah reads as: (سَرَابِيلُهُمْ مِنْ قَطِرٍآنٍ) refering to heated lead that has reached tremendous heat,

(The Fire will burn their faces, and therein they will grin, with displaced lips.)﴿23:104﴾ 

(Four characteristics from the time of Jahiliyyah will remain in my Ummah, since they will not abandon them: boasting about their family lineage, discrediting family ties, seeking rain through the stars, and wailing for their dead. Verily, if she who wails, dies before she repents from her behavior, she will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection while wearing a dress of Qatiran and a cloak of mange.) Muslim collected this Hadith. 

(51) That Allah may requite each person according to what he has earned. Truly, Allah is Swift at reckoning.

(That Allah may requite each person according to what he has earned.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection.

(Truly, Allah is swift at reckoning.) when He wills to reckon a servants of His, for He knows everything and nothing ever escapes His observation. Verily, His power over all of His creation is the same as His power over one creature,

(swift at reckoning), means "keeping count.''

Allah states that this Qur'an is a Message for mankind,

(52) This (Quran) is a Message for mankind (and a clear proof against them), in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is the only One Ilah (God - Allah) - (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and that men of understanding may take heed.

(in order that they may be warned thereby), or to receive and draw lessons from it,

(and that they may know that He is the only One God) using its proofs and evidences that testify that there is no true deity except Allah,

(and that men of understanding may take heed.) meaning those who have good minds. This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Ibrahim, and all praise is due to Allah.

Surah Ibrahim Notes (42-47)

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

Allah gives Respite to the Disbelievers and is never unaware of what They do

 (42) Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.) do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.

Allah says, `O Muhammad, do not think that Allah is unaware of what the unjust disbelievers do. Do not think because Allah gave them respite and delayed their punishment that He is unaware or ignoring punishing them for what they do. Rather, Allah keeps full account of this for them and keeps it on record against them,

(but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.) from the horror of the Day of Resurrection.' Allah next mentions how they will all be raised up from their graves and hurriedly gathered for the Day of Gathering,

 (43) (They will be) hastening forward with necks outstretched, their heads raised up (towards the sky), their gaze returning not towards them and their hearts empty (from thinking because of extreme fear).

(hastening forward), in a hurry.

(On that Day mankind will follow strictly Allah's caller, no crookedness will they show him.) ﴿20:108﴾

(with necks outstretched) meaning, raising their heads up, according to Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and several others. 

(their gaze returning not towards them) meaning, their eyes are staring in confusion, trying not to blink because of the horror and tremendous insights they are experiencing, and fear of what is going to strike them, we seek refuge with Allah from this end. 

(and their hearts empty.) meaning, their hearts are empty due to extreme fear and fright. Qatadah and several others said that the places of their hearts are empty then, because the hearts will ascend to the throats due to extreme fear. 

There will be no Respite after the Coming of the Torment

(44) And warn (O Muhammad SAW) mankind of the Day when the torment will come unto them; then the wrong-doers will say: "Our Lord! Respite us for a little while, we will answer Your Call and follow the Messengers!" (It will be said): "Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave (the world for the Hereafter).

Allah mentions what those who committed injustice against themselves will say when they witness the torment, (Our Lord! Respite us for a little while, we will answer Your call and follow the Messengers!) 

(Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave.) Allah says, `Had you not vowed before, that your previous state will not change, that there will be no Resurrection or Reckoning Therefore, taste this torment because of what you vowed before.' Mujahid commented that,

(that you would not leave.) refers to leaving this worldly life to the Hereafter.

(45) "And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves, and it was clear to you how We had dealt with them. And We put forth (many) parables for you."

(And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves, and it was clear to you how We had dealt with them. And We put forth (many) parables for you.) Allah says, `you have witnessed or heard of the news of what happened to the earlier disbelieving nations, but you did not draw a lesson from their end, nor did what We punished them with provide an example for you,'

(46) Indeed, they planned their plot, and their plot was with Allah, though their plot was a great (one, still) it would never be able to remove the mountains (real mountains or the Islamic law) from their places (as it is of no importance)

(though their plot was not such as to remove the mountains from their places.) "He who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord, took two eaglets and raised them until they became adult eagels. Then he tied each eagel's leg to a wooden box with ropes and left them go hungry. He and another man sat inside the wooden box and raised a staff with a piece of meat on its tip. So, the two eagles started flying. The king asked his companion to tell him what he was seeing, and he described the scenes to him, until he said that he saw the earth as a fly. So, the king brought the staff closer to the eagels and they started landing slowly. This is why Allah said, (وَإِنْ كَادَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ الْجِبَالُ) `though their plot was hardly one to remove the mountains from their places.''' Mujahid also mentioned that this story was about Nebuchadnezzar, and that when the king's sight was far away from earth and its people, he was called, `O tyrant one! Where are you headed to' He became afraid and brought the staff closer to the eagels, which flew faster with such haste that the mountains almost shook from the noise they made.

(though their plot was not such as to remove the mountains from their places.) indicates that their plot was not such as to remove the mountains from their places. Similar was said by Al-Hasan Al-Basri. Ibn Jarir reasoned that, "Associating others with Allah and disbelieving in Him, which they brought upon themselves, did not bother the mountains nor other creatures. Rather, the harm of their actions came to haunt them.''

 I (Ibn Kathir) said, this meaning is similar to Allah's statement, (And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height.)﴿17:37﴾ 

`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said that, (though their plot was not such as to remove the mountains from their places.) refers to their Shirk,

Allah never breaks a Promise

(47) So think not that Allah will fail to keep His Promise to His Messengers. Certainly, Allah is All-Mighty, - All-Able of Retribution.

(So think not that Allah will fail to keep His promise to His Messengers.) His promise to grant them victory in this life and on the Day when the Witnesses shall come forth. Allah affirms that He is All-Able and that nothing He wills escapes His power and none can resist Him. Allah affirms that He is Able to exact retribution from those who disbelieve in Him and deny Him,

Summary Of Surah Ibrahim

1 - 4 5 – 6 7 – 9 10-12 13-17 18 - 21 22 - 27 28-34 35-41 42-52

·       This Book is revealed to bring mankind out of darkness into light. ·       All Rasools spoke the language of their own people. ·       The Prophet Musa was sent to lead his people out of darkness into light. ·       If all the dwellers of earth become non-believers, it makes no difference to Allah. ·       Response of previous nations to the Rasools. ·       Dialogue between Rasools and their nations. Let the believers put their trust in Allah. ·       Allah punishes the wrong doers and blesses those who dread His eminence (greatness). ·       Allah has based the creation of Heavens and earth on Truth. ·       Shaitan has no power over human beings – he only invites and people to follow. ·       Greetings in Paradise will be ‘Peace’. ·       Example of a Good word (firm roots, branches towards sky and always giving fruits) and a Bad word (like uprooted tree). ·       Those who show ingratitude towards Allah’s favours shall be cast into Hell. ·       Allah has given you countless favours. ·       The prayer of Prophet Ibrahim for the city of Mecca and its residents. ·       The Prayer of Prophet Ibrahim which is made a part of Muslims five daily prayers. ·       Never think that Allah is unaware of the unjust, or that He will ever break His promise made to His Rasools. ·       Allah is the one and only God.

Surah Ibrahim Notes (35-41)

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

Ibrahim's Supplication to Allah when He brought Isma`il to Makkah

(35) And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said: "O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.

Allah mentions here, while bringing forth more evidences against Arab polytheists, that the Sacred House in Makkah was established on the worship of Allah alone, without partners. He also states that Ibrahim, who establsihed the city, has disowned those who worship others besides Allah, and that he begged Allah to make Makkah peaceful and secure,

(O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) of peace and security,) and Allah accepted his supplication. 

Allah said in other Ayat, (Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-'Alamin. In it are manifest signs, the Maqam of Ibrahim; whosoever enters it, he attains security.)﴿3:96﴾ 

(O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) a of peace and security, ) saying, "this city'', after he established it, and this is why he said afterwards,

(All praise is due to Allah, Who has given me in old age Isma`il and Ishaq.) ﴿14:39﴾ It is well-known that Isma`il was thirteen years older than Ishaq. When Ibrahim took Isma`il and his mother to Makkah, while Isma`il was still young enough to nurse, he supplicated to Allah 

(O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) a place of peace and security.) ﴿2:126﴾ 

(and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.) It is proper for whoever supplicates to Allah to also ask for the benefit of his parents and offspring, as well as himself. Ibrahim next mentioned that many among mankind were led astray because of idols, and he disowned those who worship them and referred their matter to Allah; if Allah wills, He will punish them, and if He wills, He will forgive them. `

Abdullah bin `Amr narrated that the Messenger of Allah recited Ibrahim's supplication,  (O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind.), and the supplication of `Isa, (If You punish them, they are Your servants.) ﴿5:118﴾ 

then raised his hands and said, (O Allah, Save my Ummah! O, Allah, Save my Ummah! O, Allah, Save my Ummah!) and cried. Allah said to the angel Jibril, "O Jibril, go to Muhammad, and Your Lord has more knowledge, and ask him what makes him cry.'' Jibril came to the Prophet and asked him, and he repeated to him what he said (in his supplication). Allah said, "Go to Muhammad and tell him this; `We will make you pleased with your Ummah, O Muhammad, and will not treat them in a way you dislike.'''

(36) "O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoso follows me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeys me, - still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

(37) "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka'bah at Makkah); in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.

This Ayah indicates that this was different supplication than the first one that Ibrahim said when he left Hajar and her son Isma`il in Makkah, before the Sacred House was built. This prayer, it appears, was said after the House was built, begging Allah and seeking His favor, and He is the Exalted and Most Honored.

(the Sacred...),'' meaning, `You have made this House Sacred so that people establish the prayer next to it,'

(So fill some hearts among men with love towards them,) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Sa'id bin Jubayr said, "Had Ibrahim said, `The hearts of mankind', Persians, Romans, the Jews, the Christians and all other people would have gathered around it.'' 

However, Ibrahim said, (among men), thus making it exclusive to Muslims only. He said next,

(and (O Allah) provide them with fruits) in order that they may be helped in obeying You, and because this is a barren valley; bring to them fruits that they might eat. 

Allah accepted Ibrahim's supplication, (Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves.) ﴿28:57﴾ 

This only indicates Allah's compassion, kindness, mercy and blessing, in that there are no fruit producing trees in the Sacred City, Makkah, yet all kinds of fruits are being brought to it from all around; this is how Allah accepted the supplication of the Khalil - Allah's intimate friend, Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him.

(38) "O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah.

(O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal.) meaning, `You know the intention behind my supplication for the people of this town, seeking Your pleasure in sincerity to You. You know all things, apparent and hidden, and nothing escapes Your knowledge on the earth or in heaven.''' He next praised and thanked his Lord the Exalted and Most Honored for granting him offspring after he became old,

 (39) "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has given me in old age Isma'il (Ishmael) and Ishaque (Isaac). Verily! My Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.

(All praise is due to Allah, Who has given me in old age Isma'il (Ishmael) and Ishaq (Isaac). Verily, my Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.) `He accepts the supplication of those who invoke Him, and has accepted my invocation when I asked Him to grant me offspring. ' 

Ibrahim said next,

 (40) "O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation.

(O my Lord! Make me one who performs Salah,), preserving its obligations and limits,

(and (also) from my offspring,), make them among those who establish the prayer, as well,

(our Lord! And accept my invocation.), all of my invocation which I invoked You with herein,

(41) "Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established."

(Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents,) Ibrahim said this before he declared himself innocent from his father, after he became sure that he was an enemy of Allah,

(and the believers), all of them,

(on the Day when the reckoning will be established.) on the Day when You will reckon Your servants and recompense or reward them for their deeds - good for good and evil for evil.