14. Surah Ibrahim

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ...

14: 35.  Remember Abraham said:

C1912. This Prayer of Abraham, the True in Faith, the progenitor of the Semitic peoples and the Prototype of their Religion, is introduced in this place, to illustrate the points referred to in the preceding section, 14:31-34, viz.,

-        how the new Revelation through the Ka'bah bears out the universal Revelation of Prayer and Charity,

-        Love of Allah and man,

-        Recognition of Allah's handiwork in nature, and

-        Insistence on man's turning away from false worship and ingratitude to Allah.

Notice the four divisions into which it falls:

1.     verses 35-36 are spoken by Abraham as on his own behalf ("O my Lord!");

2.      verses 37-38 are spoken on behalf of his progeny ("O our Lord!") but with special reference to the elder branch, the children of Isma'il;

3.      verses 39-40 are again a personal appeal, but both branches of his family, viz., the sons of Isma'il and Isaac, are expressly mentioned;

4.     verse 41 is a Prayer for himself, his parents, and all Believers, typifying that in the universality of Islam all nations are to be blessed.

Jerusalem, for the Mosaic Law and the Gospel of Jesus, was the centre and symbol for the Jewish race, though of course all Allah's Truth is universal;

Makkah, the centre of the Arab race, was to throw off its tribal character and become universal, in spite of the Makkans themselves.

... رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَـذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا... 

"O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security:

...وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الأَصْنَامَ ﴿٣٥﴾

and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols.

C1913. Cf. 2:125-129.

Abraham (with Isma'il) built the Ka'bah, and Abraham asks a blessing on his handiwork and forgiveness for such lapses into idolatry as both branches of his family might fall into.

رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ...   

14: 36.  "O my Lord! they have indeed led astray many among mankind:

...فَمَن تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي...

he then who follows my (ways) is of me,

...وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٣٦﴾ 

and he that disobeys me -- but thou art indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ...   

14: 37.  "O our Lord!

I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by thy Sacred House;

C1914. The Makkan valley is enclosed by hills on all sides, unlike Madinah, which has level cultivated plains. But just because of its natural isolation, it is fitted to be a centre for Prayer and Praise.

...رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ...

in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular prayer:

so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them,

...وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ ...

and feed them with Fruits:

C1915. Cf. 2:126, and n. 128. (The "Fruits" are there explained).

The righteous, though they have to have sustenance, both in a literal and figurative sense, require also the love and sympathy of their fellow-men.

... لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾

so that they may give thanks.

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِي وَمَا نُعْلِنُ...   

14: 38.  "O our Lord!

truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal:

...وَمَا يَخْفَى عَلَى اللّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ فَي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاء ﴿٣٨﴾

for nothing whatever is hidden from Allah, whether on earth or in heaven.

C1916. In Abraham's prophetic mind was the secret and open enmity or contempt which the Children of Israel were to have for the Children of Isma'il (Arabs). He prays to Allah that they may be united in Islam, as indeed they were, except a small remnant.

الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَقَ...   

14: 39.  "Praise be to Allah, who hath granted unto me in old age Isma'il and Isaac:

...إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاء ﴿٣٩﴾

for truly my Lord is He, the Hearer of Prayer!

C1917. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born (Gen. 21:5); and as Isma'il was 13 years old when Abraham was 99. (Gen. 17:24-25),

Isma'il was also a son of his father's old age, having been born when Abraham was 86 years old. The younger son's progeny developed the Faith of Israel and that of Christ; the elder son's progeny perfected the more universal Faith of Islam, the Faith of Abraham the True,

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي...   

14: 40.  "O my Lord!

make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring,

C1918. Abraham prays for both branches of his family, having a wider vision than some of the later Children of Israel.

...رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاء ﴿٤٠﴾

O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer.

رَبَّنَا ...

14: 41.  "O our Lord!

C1919. Read again n. 1912 above.

Having prayed for his progeny, Abraham now prays for Allah's grace on himself, his parents, and the whole Brotherhood of Faith, irrespective of family or race or time, to be perfected in the ideal of Islam.

... اغْفِرْ لِي ...

cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness --

C1920. For the shades of meaning in the different words for Forgiveness, see n. 110 to 2:109.

... وَلِوَالِدَيَّ ...

me, my parents,

C1921. My parents. Abraham's father was an idolater (43:26; 6:74). Not only that, but he persecuted the Faith of Unity and threatened Abraham with stoning and exile (19:46); and he and his people cast him into the Fire to be burned (21:52, 68).

Yet Abraham's heart was tender, and he prayed for forgiveness for his father because of a promise which he had made (9:114), though he renounced the land of his fathers (Chaldea).

... وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ ﴿٤١﴾

and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!"

C1922. At the final Reckoning, all that may seem inequality or injustice in this world will be redressed. But the merits of the best of us will need Allah's Grace to establish us in that lasting Felicity which is promised to the righteous. And Abraham, as the father of Prophecy, prayed for all,-for the Universal Faith perfected in Islam.

Other versions:

14: 35 [Ibrahim, Mecca 72]

Asad And when Abraham spoke: “O my sustainer! Make this land secure, and preserve me and my children from ever worshipping idols………

[ Asad note 50: The term “idols” [ ASNAM, sing. SANAM ]……for shirk – that is , an attribution of divine powers or qualities to anyone or anything beside God – may consist also, as Razi points out, in a worshipful devotion to all manner of “causative agencies and outward means to an end”-…… “whereas genuine faith in the oneness and uniqueness of God [at-tawhid al-mahd] consists in divesting oneself of all inner attachment to causative agencies and in being convinced that there exists no real directing power apart from God”.]

Yusuf Ali Remember Abraham said: "O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security: and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols.

Pickthall And when Abraham said: My Lord! Make safe this territory, and preserve me and my sons from serving idols.

Transliteration Wa iz qa_la ibra_himu rabbi-j'al ha_zal balada a_minaw wa-jnubni wa baniyya an na'budal asna_m(a).

14: 36 [Ibrahim, Mecca 72]

Yusuf Ali "O my Lord! they have indeed led astray many among mankind: he then who follows my (ways) is of me and he that disobeys me but thou art indeed Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Pickthall My Lord! Lo! they have led many of mankind astray. But whoso followeth me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeyeth me, still Thou art Forgiving, Merciful.

Yuksel "My Lord, they have misguided many from amongst the people. So, whoever follows me, then he is of me, and whoever disobeys me, then You are Forgiving, Compassionate."

Transliteration Rabbi innahunna adlalna kasiram minan na_s(i), faman tabi'ani fa innahu_ minni, wa man 'asa_ni fa innaka gafu_rur rahim(un).

14: 37

14: 37

Asad “O our sustainer! Behold, I have settled some of my offspring in a valley in which there is no arable land, close to Thy sanctified Temple, so that, Our Sustainer, they might devote themselves to prayer: cause Thou, therefore, people’s hearts to incline towards them, and grant them fruitful sustenance, so that they might have cause to be grateful.

Yusuf Ali "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation by thy Sacred House; in order O our Lord that they may establish regular prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them and feed them with Fruits: so that they may give thanks.

Pickthall Our Lord! Lo! I have settled some of my posterity in an uncultivable valley near unto Thy holy House, our Lord! that they may establish proper worship; so incline some hearts of men that they may yearn toward them, and provide Thou them with fruits in order that they may be thankful.

Transliteration Rabbana_ inni askantu min zurriyyati bi wa_din gairi zi zar'in 'inda baitikal muharram(i), rabbana_ liyuqimus sala_ta fa-j'al af'idatam minan na_si tahwi ilaihim wa-rzuqhum minas samara_ti la'allahum yasykuru_n(a).

[Ali’s note: 1914 The Makkan valley is enclosed by hills on all sides, unlike Madinah, which has level cultivated plains. But just because of its natural isolation, it is fitted to be a centre for Prayer and Praise. (14.37)

1915 Cf. ii. 126, and n. 128. (The "Fruits" are there explained). The righteous, though they have to have sustenance, both in a literal and figurative sense, require also the love and sympathy of their fellow-men. (14.37) ]

14: 38

Yusuf Ali "O our Lord! truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal: for nothing whatever is hidden from Allah whether on earth or in heaven.

Pickthall Our Lord! Lo! Thou knowest that which we hide and that which we proclaim. Nothing in the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah.

Transliteration Rabbana_ innaka ta'lamu ma_ nukhfi wa ma_ nu'lin(u), wa ma_ yakhfa_ 'alalla_hi min syai'in fil ardi wa la_ fis sama_'(i).

14: 39

Yusuf Ali "Praise be to Allah who hath granted unto me in old age Ismail and Isaac: for truly my Lord is He the Hearer of Prayer!

Pickthall Praise be to Allah Who hath given me, in my old age, Ishmael and Isaac! Lo! my Lord is indeed the Hearer of Prayer.

Transliteration Al hamdu lilla_hil lazi wahaba li 'alal kibari isma_'ila wa isha_q(a), inna rabbi lasami'ud du'a_'(i).

14: 40

Yusuf Ali "O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer.

Pickthall My Lord! Make me to establish proper worship, and some of my posterity (also); our Lord! and accept the prayer.

Transliteration Rabbi-j'alni muqimas sala_ti wa min zurriyyati, rabbana_ wa taqabbal du'a_'(i).

14: 41

Yusuf Ali "O our Lord! cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness me my parents and (all) Believers on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!"

Pickthall Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and believers on the day when the account is cast.

Transliteration Rabbana-gfir li wa liwa_lidayya wa lil mu'minina yauma yaqu_mul hisa_b(u).