130- THOSE THAT TURN AWAY FROM IBRAHIM’S CREED ARE THOSE WHO DEGRADED THEIR OWN SOUL.  WE HAVE CHOSEN AND FAVOURED HIM IN THIS LIFE AND IN THE HEREAFTER, HE IS AMONG THE RIGHTEOUS.

131- AS HIS LORD SAID TO HIM: “SUBMIT YOURSELF”, HE SAID: “I SUBMIT TO THE LORD OF ALL THE WORLDS”.

132- IBRAHIM DESIRED THE SAME FOR HIS CHILDREN AND JACOB (SAYING): “MY CHILDREN, ALLAH HAS CHOSEN THE RIGHT RELIGION FOR YOU, SO DO NOT DIE BUT AS MUSLIMS”.

 

Ibrahim’s creed and faith is the true religion and faith.  It is the belief in on God with no partners, sons or daughter, and the total submission to His Will and Commands.  To worship other than Allah or to worship partners besides his is degrading one’s soul.  For it is degrading to submit to a creation like you, and not to submit to the Creator.  Allah the Highest said: “AND IBRAHIM WAS NEITHER A JEW NOR A CHRISTIAN, BUT A MUSLIM TRUE IN FAITH, AND WAS NOT OF THOSE WHO WORSHIP OTHERS BESIDES ALLAH * INDEED, THE CLOSEST PEOPLE TO IBRAHIM ARE THOSE WHO FOLLOWED HIM, THIS PROPHET AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE, AND ALLAH IS AN ALLY AND SUPPORTER FOR THE BELIEVERS”.  (S: 3 A: 67)

Ibrahim peace upon him is the father of the prophets, and Allah the Highest chooses his after trying and testing him as mentioned before.  Ibrahim peace upon him showed total obedience and total submission, to the extend that Allah the Highest honored him further by called him “khalil”, which means close friend and companion, saying: “AND ALLAH TOOK IBRAHIM AS A KHALIL”.  (S: 4 A: 125)

Ibrahim peace upon him suffered rejection and persecution like all prophets, even his father rejected him.  He prayed for his father, out of the normal passion, love and gratitude one has for his father, although he knew that Allah the Highest does not forgive the disbelievers “AND IBRAHIM PRAYED FOR HIS FATHER ONLY BECAUSE OF A PROMISE HE MADE TO HIM.  BUT WHEN IT WAS CLEAR TO HIM THAT HE IS AN ENEMY OF ALLAH, HE DISSOCIATED HIMSELF FROM HIM, FOR IBRAHIM WAS VERY TENDER HEARTED AND FORBEARING”. (S: 9 A: 114)

Allah the Highest praised Ibrahim peace upon him many times, the greatest in this Ayah: “IBRAHIM WAS A LEADER AND EXAMPLE OF GOOD CHARACTER, OBEDIENCE, PURE IN FAITH, AND WAS NOT OF THOSE WHO WORSHIP PARTNERS BESIDES ALLAH * THANKFUL FOR ALLAH’S FAVOURS ON HIM, AND ALLAH GUIDED HIM TO THE STRAIGHT PATH”.  (S: 16 A: 120,121)

Ibrahim peace  upon him advised his children and grand child Jacob, not like we usually do, which is what to do to make our live on Earth better, or in business, or education etc.  This is the good lasting advice for the eternal good life.  This is something parents or prospective parents should learn from Ibrahim peace upon him.

127- AND AS IBRAHIM AND ISMAIL RAISE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE HOUSE SAYING: “OUR LORD ACCEPTS FROM US, FOR YOU HEAR AND SEE ALL THINGS”.

128- “OUR LORD AND MAKE MUSLIMS (SUBMITTORS) FOR YOU AND FROM OUR NATION A MUSLIM NATION, AND SHOW US OUR RITES AND FORGIVE US, FOR YOU ARE THE MOST FORGIVING, THE MOST MERCIFUL”.

129- “OUR LORD AND SEND THEM A MESSENGER FROM AMONST THEM TO RECITE YOUR AYAHS TO THEM, TEACH THEM THE BOOK AND THE WISDOM, AND PURIFY THEM, FOR YOU ARE THE ALMIGHTY, AND THE MOST WISE.

 

After Ibrahim peace upon him had a boy child from his Egyptian wife Hajar, Allah the Highest commanded him to take them to the site where Makah is now and leave them there.  Then the well of Zamzam was found and life started in the area.  Allah the Highest said about this: “O LORD, I LEFT MY OFFSPRING IN A VALLY WITHOUT ANY PLANTS BY YOUR SACRED MOSQUE, OUR LORD SO THAT THEY MAY ESTABLISH REGULAR SALAH, SO LET SOME OF THE PEOPLE’S HEARTS LOVE THEM AND PROVIDE THEM WITH FRUIT AND HARVEST, SO THAT THEY MAY BE THANKFUL”.  (S: 14 A: 37)

The rest of the story of Ibrahim, Hajar and Ismail will be narrated later at the appropriate place.

Years later, Allah the Highest ordered Ibrahim peace upon him to build or rebuild the Kabba there.  He went on the building with the help of his son Ismail. 

Here is an important article of Faith, in that the believer should never be proud of what he or she does for the sake of Allah the Highest.  No one knows if Allah the Highest will accept from us our deeds or not.  Here is Ibrahim and Ismail peace upon them, obeying Allah’s command and building the first house ever built for worship, but they are not sure if this work will be accepted or not and are praying for acceptance.

After praying to Allah the Highest to accept their work, they prayed that they and their descendants should be true Muslims. 

Ibrahim and Ismail peace be upon him asked Allah to show them their rites.  They knew that in worshipping Allah the Highest there will be rites.  It is important to know that we do not have to perform certain rites in order to worship always, but rites are important in worship.  How?

Reciting the Quran, Zekr, Dawaa, remembering Allah the Highest does not have rites or just minimal rites to perform.  However, there are rites in Hajj, Salah, and fasting.  The rites are practices, the procedure, but not the soul of the worship.  Salah will not be correct if the Fateha is not recited, there is Rokoo (bowing) and prostration etc.  However, without its soul or faith, humility and submission to Allah the Highest, it will be empty.  Humility and submission are the soul of the Salah for Allah the Highest said: “INDEED THE BELIEVERS WHO ARE HUMBLE AND SUBMISSIVE (TO ALLAH) IN THEIR SALAH, SHALL SUCCEED” (S: 23 A: 1)

The rites are the forms which are empty without the content.

The prayer continues, and it is to send us a messenger, from amongst us, to receive Allah’s Word, teach us, Allah’s way and wisdom and to purify us from doing all evil.  We know that the state of disbelief and idolatry are impure.  They should not go to Makah, mosques or recite the Quran, for Allah the Highest said: “THE IDOLATORS ARE NOT CLEAN”.        (S: 9 A: 28)

Mohamed prayer and peace upon him was the answer to this Dawaa, he said: “I am the Dawaa of my father Ibrahim and the prophecy of my brother Isa (Jesus)”.  (A: 5; 262)

This prophecy of Jesus peace upon him Allah the Highest spoke about in the Quran saying: “AND AS ISA THE SON OF MARY SAID: ‘O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, I AM ALLAH’S MESSENGER TO YOU, CONFIRMING THE TORAH WHICH WAS SENT BEFORE ME, AND TO GIVE YOU THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT A PROPHET WHO IS TO COME AFTER ME CALLED AHMED’, BUT WHEN THE CLEAR SIGNS CAME TO THEM THEY SAID: ‘THIS IS PLAIN MAGIC’.  (S: 61 A: 6)

 

 

B: Bukhari  M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi  

 

126- AND AS IBRAHIM SAID: “MY LORD, PROVIDE SAFTETY AND SECURITY TO THIS TOWN AND PROVIDE ITS PEOPLE OF ALL FOOD AND HARVEST, THOSE OF THEM WHO BELIEVE IN ALLAH AND THE LAST DAY”. HE(ALLAH) SAID: “AS FOR THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, I WILL LET THEM ENJOY THIS LIFE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEN DRIVE THEM INTO THE TORMENT OF THE FIRE, AN EVIL DESTINATION IT IS”.

Ibrahim peace upon him prayed for Makah, asking Allah the Highest for two things:

1- To make it safe and secure.

2- To provide for its people plenty so that they do not go without.

Allah the Highest answered the Prayer and Dawaa of his prophet and messenger Ibrahim peace upon him and we can see this now and throughout it’s history Makah enjoyed a privileged status in Arabia, in security and wealth. In this respect, Allah the Highest provides the believers and the disbelievers, the good and the bad. This is Allah’s policy on Earth and for every one. Provisions are for all, however, the Paradise is for the believers only, while the Fire is for the disbelievers. Allah the Highest said: “HE WHO DESIRES THE HARVEST OF THE HEREAFTER, WE WILL INCREASE HIS HARVEST, AND HE WHO DESIRES THE HARVEST OF THIS LIFE, WE SHALL GIVE HIM SOME OF IT, BUT WILL HAVE NO SHARE IN THE HEREAFTER”.

(S: 42 A: 20)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Allah gives from the goods of this lower life, those He loves and those He does not love, but gives the Faith and Religion to those He loves only. Those Allah has given Faith and Religion are those He loves”.

(A: 1; 387)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him asked Allah the Highest for Medina the same as what Ibrahim peace upon him asked for Makah, he said: “Ibrahim made Makah sacred and prayed for it, and I made Medina sacred just as Ibrahim made Makah sacred, and I prayed for it and for its fruit and harvest to be abundant”.

(B: Jehad; 71, 74 & M: Hajj; 445-449 & D: Manasek; 96 & T: Manaqeb; 67)

B: Bukhari M: Muslim Mal: Malek A: Ahmed D: Abu Dawood

Da: Daremy Ma: Ibn Magah N: Nesae T: Termezi

125- AND AS WE MADE THE HOUSE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO ASSEMBLE AND A PLACE OF PEACE AND SAFETY.  AND TAKE THE PLACE WHERE IBRAHIM USED TO STAND AS A PLACE FOR PRAYING.  AND WE ENTRUSTED IBRAHIM AND ISMAEL TO CLEANSE AND PURIFY MY HOUSE FOR THOSE WHO COMPASS IT, THOSE WHO RETREAT IN IT, THOSE WHO BOW AND THOSE WHO PROSTRATE.

 

The Kabba is the first house of worshipping Allah the Highest ever built.  It was destroyed by time and floods, but Ibrahim and Ismail rebuilt it.  Then Allah the Highest ordered them to cleanse and purify the house ready for the worshippers to worship. 

Allah the Highest commanded Ibrahim to call upon people to go to the Kabba for Hajj (Pilgrimage).  “AND CALL UPON PEOPLE TO COME FOR HAJJ, THEY WILL COME TO YOU ON FOOT AND ON EVERY LEAN ANIMAL (from long travelling) THEY SHALL COME FROM EVERY DISTANT PLACE”.  (S: 22 A: 27)

Allah the Highest made the Kabba a place for peace and safety, for human beings and for animals and all creatures.  Only harmful or poisonous animals or insects, or snakes could be killed there.  This is part of honoring the Kabba, for Allah the Highest said: “THE FIRST HOUSE OF WORSHIP THAT WAS EVER APPOINTED TO MANKIND IS THE ONE IN MEKKAH, IT IS BLESSED, AND IT IS GUIDANCE TO MANKIND * THERE ARE CLEAR SIGNS THEREIN, THE PLACE WHERE IBRAHIM STOOD, WHOEVER ENTERS IT IS SAFE,  AND ALLAH MAKES IT A DUTY UPON PEOPLE TO GO ON HAJJ TO THE HOUSE, FOR THOSE WHO CAN MANAGE THE WAY, AS FOR THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, ALLAH IS NOT IN NEED OF ANY ONE”.  (S: 3 A: 96-97)

Indeed, the day Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him entered Makah with the Muslim army, he told Abu Sofian to tell the people of Makah, that: “Whoever stays in his own house will be safe, whoever stays in the sacred mosque will be safe and whoever go to Abu Sofian house will be safe”.  (Ibn Is, haq)

Because of the most honorable status of the Kabba, Makah the town which houses the Kabba have a very special and honorable status.  It is a sacred town and what applies to the Kabba and the sacred mosque, applies to the Kabba.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “But Makah was made sacred by Allah, not by man.  It is not permitted to a man who believes in Allah and His messenger to shed blood in it or cut its trees.  If someone thought of permitting it as Allah’s messenger fought in it, tell him that Allah permitted his messenger and did not permit you.  But I was permitted this for an hour in a day, and it turned back today as sacred as it was yesterday.  Let those present inform those who are absent”.  (B: Hajj, 132 & M: Hajj; 446 & T: Hajj; 1 & N: Hajj; 111)

Allah the Highest protected Makah over the years from aggression and from invaders, answering the Dawaa of Ibrahim peace be upon him “MY LORD, LET THIS TOWN BE SECURE AND PROVIDE IT’S PEOPLE OF ALL FRUIT, THOSE OF THEM WHO BELIEVE IN ALLAH AND THE LAST DAY”.  (S: 2 A: 123)

This protection was known to the Arabs for thousands of years before Mohamed prayer and peace upon him.  The incident of the army of Abraha who marched on Makah with an army containing elephants to destroy the Kabba, but Allah the Highest destroyed the whole army, sending them birds throwing the army with destructive stones.  This happened the year Mohamed peace upon him was born.  At the time the chief of Makah was Mohamed’s grandfather Abd El-Motaleb.  Allah the Highest recorded this event in this Sorah “DID YOU NOT SEE WHAT YOUR LORD DID TO THE COMPANY OF THE ELEPHANT * DID HE NOT LET THEIR PLOTTING GO ASTRY * AND SENT UPON THEM BIRDS IN FLOKES * THROWING THEM WITH STONES OF BAKED CLAY * TURNING THEM INTO THE LIKE OF BROKING DRY PLANTS”.  (S: 105 A: 1-5)

The sacred mosque should not be a place for the criminals and evil doers to hide from the reach of the law.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The Haram does not protect a sinful person, a person running away because of a crime or running away because of a blood crime”.  (B: Seed; 8 & M: Hajj; 446 & T: Hajj; 1)

 

Praying at the site where Ibrahim stood:

This is the site where Ibrahim stood building the Kabba.  Of course Ibrahim did not stand in one place, this is not possible, but there must be something special we do not know about this place.

It is reported that before this Ayah was sent down, Omar Ibn El Khatab asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him if the Muslims should use this site for praying.

 

Cleansing and Purifying the Sacred Mosque:

Allah the Highest commanded Ibrahim and Ismail to cleanse and purify that place ready for people to go for worship, in any form.  It could be Tawaf, praying or Zekr.  The place should be cleansed or dirt and Idolatry, as the House of Prayer.  This responsibility should be carried out by all who are in charge of this Mosque.

Cleansing from Idols and Idolatry practices is as important, or may be more important than physical cleaning.  These Idols and the practices are what lead people go gradually astray after Ibrahim and Ismail, peace upon them until by the time of Mohamed prayer and peace upon him there was 365 idols in the Kabba.

Therefore, not even idol worshippers are allowed in Makah.  Allah the Highest said: “YOU WHO BELIEVE, THE IDOLATORS ARE NOT CLEAN, SO THEY ARE NOT TO APPROACH THE SACRED MOSQUE AFTER THIS YEAR, AND IF YOU FEAR POVERTY, ALLAH SHALL PROVIDE FOR YOU FROM HIS BOUNTY, IF HE WILLS, FOR ALLAH KNOWS ALL THINGS AND IS ALL WISE”.  (S: 9 A: 28)

Purification should be complete, dirt, idols, idolatry practices, and idle worshippers.  This is the responsibility of those looking after the Sacred Mosque in Makah.

 

B: Bukhari  M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi  

 

 

124- AND AS IBRAHIM WAS TRIED BY HIS LORD WITH CERTAIN COMMANDS WHICH HE FULFILLED, HE (ALLAH) SAID: “I SHALL APPOINT YOU IMAM (LEADER) FOR MANKIND”.  HE SAID: “AND OF MY OFFSPRING TOO?”  HE (ALLAH) SAID: “MY PROMISE IS NOT FOR THE WRONG-DOERS”.

 

Ibrahim peace be upon him is the father of the prophets, for from his line came all the prophets and messengers after him.  This is a very exalted position. 

Allah the Highest tested him with some commands, which he fulfilled.  There are a number of reports as to what these commands were, but they are not substantiated or authenticated, therefore will not be mentioned.  It was a great and very difficult command however, which was to slaughter his only son then, Ismail.  He obeyed that command, but Allah the Highest did not let him slaughter his son and sent him a ram instead to slaughter instead.  We do the same in Eid commemorating this event.  Allah the Highest said about this: “WE GAVE HIM GOOD NEWS ABOUT HAVING A FORBEARING BOY * WHEN HE WAS ABLE TO WALK ALONG WITH HIM HE(IBRAHIM) SAID: ‘SON, I SEE IN MY VISION THAT I SLAUGHTER YOU, SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO?’.  HE SAID: ‘MY FATHER DO AS YOU ARE COMMANDED, ALLAH WILLING, YOU WILL FIND ME PATIENT’ * WHEN THEY SERRENERED TO THE COMMAND AND HE TURNED HIS (ISMAEL’S) FACE AWAY * WE CALLED HIM: ‘IBRAHIM * YOU OBEYED THE COMMAND IN YOUR VISION, WE REWARD THE SINCERE BELIEVERS * THIS IS THE GREATEST TEST AND TRIAL’* AND WE RANSOMED HIM WITH A GREAT ANIMAL TO SLAUGHTER INSTEAD”.  (S: 37 A: 101-107)

This was a very hard test of a Man’s Faith, to be ordered to slaughter his only child with his own hands, the child he prayed for and had when old.  Ibrahim peace upon him obeyed without questioning.

It is a great privilege and responsibility to be the leader of mankind and the father of the prophets, peace upon them. 

Like any father, he wished the best for his offspring, and that is to be in the line of prophet hood and righteousness.  Allah the Highest answered him to that saying: “AND WE MADE THE PROPHET HOOD AND THE BOOK IN HIS OFFSPRING”.  (S: 29 A: 27)

Allah the Highest however exempted the wrong doers and sinners from this which is natural.

In fact, Allah the Highest favoured some families above all others: “ALLAH FAVOURED ADAM, NOAH, THE FAMILY OF IBRAHIM AND THE FAMILY OF IMRAN TO ALL MANKIND”.  (S:3 A:33)

Why?  This is not for us to ask.

Ibrahim peace upon him had two sons; Ismael from his second wife Hajar, then Isaac from Sarah.  From Isaac came Jacob (who was also called Israel) then all the lined of the prophets to Jesus peace upon them all. 

Hajar was taken with her son Ismail to live where it is Mekka now, where they settled and lived.  The only prophet or messenger from Ismail’s line is Mohamed prayer and peace upon him.

They are those who carried the heavy burden and responsibility of delivering Allah’s message to the disbelievers, Idolaters, the unwilling, the jesting and Mocking.  They had to endure a great deal, and most of them the last and final prophet and messenger, Mohamed prayer and peace upon him.