SURAH (4) IBRAHEEM (AYA 31 to 52)

قُلْ لِعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَالٌ{14:31}

[Q14:31] Qul li'ibaadiyal lazeena aamanoo yuqeemus Salaata wa yunfiqoo mimmaa razaqnaahum sirranw wa 'alaaniyatam min qabli any yaatiya Yawmul laa bai'un feehi wa laa khilaal. 
[Q14:31] Say to My servants who believe that they should keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them secretly and openly before the coming of the day in which there shall be no bartering nor mutual befriending.

[Q14:31] Katakanlah kepada hamba-hambaKu yang beriman hendaklah mereka mendirikan sembahyang dan mendermakan dari apa yang kami kurniakan kepada mereka, samada dengan merahsiakan pemberiannya itu atau dengan terbuka; sebelum datangnya hari yang tidak ada jual beli padanya dan tidak ada sahabat handai (yang dapat memberikan pertolongan). 

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(14:31) O Prophet! tell My servants who have believed, to establish Salat, and expend openly and secretly (on good works) out of what We have given them *41 before that Day comes when there shall be no buying and selling and no friendly help. *42

*41 That is, "The believers should adopt an attitude of gratitude in contrast to the disbelievers (v. 29). The practical form their gratitude should take is that they should establish Salat and expend their wealth in the Way of Allah". 
*42 That is, "On that Day none shall be able to rescue himself either by ransom or by intercession". 

اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَأَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَكُمْ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِيَ فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْأَنْهَارَ {14:32}

[Q14:32] Allaahul lazee khalaqas samaawaati wal arda wa anzala minas samaaa'i maaa'an faakhraja bihee minas samaraati rizqal lakum wa sakhkhara lakumul fulka litajriya fil bahri bi amrihee wa sakhkhara lakumul anhaar. 

[Q14:32] ALLAH (SWT) is He Who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water from the clouds, then brought forth with it fruits as a sustenance for you, and He has made the ships subservient to you, that they might run their course in the sea by His command, and He has made the rivers subservient to you.

[Q14:32] ALLAH (SwT) jualah yang menciptakan langit dan bumi dan menurunkan hujan dari langit lalu mengeluarkan dengan air hujan itu buah-buahan untuk menjadi makanan bagi kamu dan Dia yang memberi kemudahan kepada kamu menggunakan kapal-kapal untuk belayar di laut dengan perintahNya, juga yang memudahkan sungai-sungai untuk kamu (mengambil manfaat darinya).

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(14:32) Allah is He *43 Who has created the heavens and the earth, and He sent down rain water from the sky where with He produced different kinds of fruits to provide you with food. It is He Who subdued the ship for you that it may sail in the seas by His order and likewise He subdued the rivers for you.

*43 That is, "It is the same AIIah Whose bounties they are repaying with ingratitude and disobedience and with Whom they are setting up equals though He has been so bountiful as to".... 

 وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَائِبَيْنِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ {14:33}

[Q14:33] Wa sakhkhara lakumush shamsa walqamara daaa'ibaini wa sakhkhara lakumul laila wannahaar. 
[Q14:33] And He has made subservient to you the sun and the moon pursuing their courses, and He has made subservient to you the night and the day.

[Q14:33] Dan Dia juga yang menjadikan matahari dan bulan sentiasa beredar, untuk kepentingan kemudahan kamu dan yang menjadikan malam dan siang bagi faedah hidup kamu. 

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(14:33) It is He Who subdued the sun and the' moon so that they should steadfastly pursue their courses and He subdued day and night for you. *44

*44 The words of the Text in vv. 32-33 have misled those people who have translated these into "subjected to you". So much so that some of them interpret these verses to mean that the chief aim of the life of man is to bring the earth and heavens under his subjection, whereas their real meaning is "subjected to (laws) for you". As a matter of fact AIIah has subjected all these things to such laws as are beneficial for man. Had not a ship been subjected to certain physical laws, there could have been no navigation at all: had not a river been subjected to certain laws, it could not have been possible to take out canals from them; likewise if the heavenly bodies (the sun and the moon, etc.) and the earth and day and night had not been subjected to certain fixed laws, life could not have been possible, not to speak of civilized life!

وَآتَاكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَإِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا ۗ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ {14:34}

[Q14:34] Wa aataakum min kulli maa sa altumooh; wa in ta'uddoo ni'matal laahi laa tuhsoohaa; innal insaana lazaloo mun kaffaar. 
[Q14:34] And He gives you of all that you ask Him; and if you count ALLAH (SWT)'s favors, you will not be able to number them; most surely man is very unjust, very ungrateful.

[Q14:34] Dan Dia telah memberi kepada kamu sebahagian dari tiap-tiap apa jua yang kamu hajati dan jika kamu menghitung nikmat ALLAH (SwT) nescaya lemahlah kamu menentukan bilangannya. Sesungguhnya manusia (yang ingkar) sangat suka menempatkan sesuatu pada bukan tempatnya lagi sangat tidak menghargai nikmat Tuhannya. 

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(14:34) It is He Who fulfilled all your requirements; *45 so much so that you cannot count His bounties, if you tried to number them. The fact is that man is very unjust and ungrateful.

*45 "He fulfilled all your requirements": He has provided for everything that is required for your life, its development and evolution. 

SECTION 6

Abraham’s Prayer

Abraham prays for himself and his sons to be kept always on the right path of prayer and devotion---He prays for the land  (Makka) in which he house his family, to be secure and attracted by the faithful ones among men---Prayer for one’s self his parents, and all the faithful ones for pardon on the Day of Reckoning.

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ {14:35}

[Q14:35] Wa iz qaala Ibraaheemu Rabbij'al haazal balada aaminanw wajnubnee wa baniyya an na'budal asnaam. 
[Q14:35] And when Ibrahim said: My Lord! Make this city secure, and save me and my sons from worshipping idols:

[Q14:35] Dan (ingatlah) ketika Nabi Ibrahim berdoa dengan berkata: Wahai Tuhanku! Jadikanlah negeri Mekah ini negeri yang aman dan jauhkanlah daku dan anak-anakku dari perbuatan menyembah berhala. 

PROPHET IBRAHIM PRAYED TO ALLAH (SWT) TO MAKE THE CITY OF MAKKA A PLACE OF SECURITY AND NON-VIOLENCE, BY DECLARING ITS PRECINCTS SACRED AND INVIOLABLE. See commentary of al Baqrah 2:124 to 129 and Ali Imran 3:95 to 97. Ibrahim asks ALLAH (SWT) to protect him and his sons (baniyya) from going astray and worshipping the idols. The idolatrous tribes of Quraysh were also the descendants of Ibrahim through Ismail, THEREFORE the word baniyya in his prayer refers to those of his descendants who were like him in purity and excellence, mentioned in the commentary of al Baqarah 2:124.

ß  As verse 3:95 of Ali Imran says Ibrahim was an upright monotheist, yet he says wajnubni (preserve or save or protect me) and includes his descendants like him.

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(14:35) Recall the time, when Abraham prayed, *46 saying, "Lord! make this city *47 a city of peace, and protect me and my descendants from the worship of idols.

*46 In the preceding verses (32-35), an appeal was made to the Quraish to be grateful to that Allah Who has bestowed so many bounties on mankind in general. But in this passage the same appeal is being made on the plea that Allah had bestowed His special bounties on the Quraish in particular. They have been asked to remember that Prophet Abraham had settled their forefathers near the Ka'abah and made their city, Makkah, a "City of Peace" and Allah showered His blessings on the Quraish in answer to the prayer of Prophet Abraham. They have been admonished to remember those "bounties" and mend their ways.
*47 Makkah. 

رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ ۖ فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ {14:36}

[Q14:36] Rabbi innahunna adlalna kaseeram minan naasi faman tabi'anee fa innahoo minnee wa man 'asaanee fa innaka Ghafoorur Raheem. 
[Q14:36] My Lord! Surely they have led many men astray; then whoever follows me, he is surely of me, and whoever disobeys me, Thou surely art Forgiving, Merciful:

[Q14:36] Wahai Tuhanku, berhala-berhala itu telah menyebabkan sesat banyak di antara umat manusia. Oleh itu, sesiapa yang menurutku (dalam Islam yang menjadi peganganku) maka dia adalah dari golonganku dan sesiapa yang menderhaka kepadaku (dengan menyalahi agamaku), maka sesungguhnya engkau Maha Pengampun, lagi Maha Mengasihani (kiranya dia insaf dan bertaubat).

IN THIS VERSE IBRAHIM MAKES CLEAR AS TO WHO HE WANTS TO BE SAVED ALONG WITH HIM NAMELY THAT ONLY THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM WOULD BE AMONG HIS AHLUL BAYT. Please refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:124 to 129.

v  Once a man, in the time of Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq, tried to make fun of the Ahlul Bayt by stating that they were the descendants of the idolaters.

The Imam said:

"Your statement is wrong. Neither Ibrahim nor Ismail nor his sons for whom Ibrahim prayed did ever worship anyone other than ALLAH (SWT). Faman tabiani in Ibrahim's prayer refers to us who have always been saved by ALLAH (SWT) from going astray. We follow his faith and we are from him. He prayed for ALLAH (SWT)'s forgiveness for those who deviated from his path."

THE ANCESTORS OF THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) ASCENDING UPTO IBRAHIM WERE FREE FROM THE DIRT OF POLYTHEISM. ALL OF THEM FOLLOWED THE CREED OF IBRAHIM. THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) CLAIMED THAT ALLAH (SWT) KEPT HIS ANCESTORS UPTO ADAM FREE FROM POLYTHEISM. The continuity of spiritual inheritance was severed whenever any one of them deviated from the path of true faith, LIKE THE SON OF NUH ABOUT WHOM ALLAH (SWT) HAS SAID THAT HE WAS NOT THE SON (INHERITOR) OF NUH.

The qualification of this prayer is made further clear in this Surah via Verse 40:

1.        Which contains the prayer for Ibrahim and his issues to be made as those who establish prayer. THUS this prayer would logically and naturally be applied only to those who own the quality of establishing prayer only to ALLAH (SWT) AND DO NOT worship anyone else besides Him. See verse 2:124.

2.        When Ibrahim prayed for the ‘Imamate’ and it was granted to him to be in his issues also, the Lord accepted prayers BUT with the reservation THAT IT WILL NOT REACH THE INIQUITOUS IN HIS SEED. The greatest iniquity being polytheism [verse 31:13] the covenant of the ‘Imamate’ will not reach those who were ever in their life polluted by polytheism.

All the issues of Ibrahim through Isma-il through whom passed the Divine Light of the purity and the excellence of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), were only those who were ever guarded and never went astray from the path of Ibrahim, it ran into two [2] channels,

[a] one in the descent of Abdullah and through Abdullah was brought forth by the Lord the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), the Last Apostles

[b] the other in the issues of Abu Talib through Abu Talib was sent into the world the First Holy Imam Ali, the first vicegerent of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), the Last Apostle of ALLAH (SWT).

The identity of these two, being of one and the same Divine Light, is borne out by the declaration of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) who said: “I and Ali are of one and the same Light”

Ø  THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) WAS THE PROPHET PROMISED TO MANKIND THROUGH MOSES (MUSA) --- Duet. 18:18, and the Prophet for whom the world waited and asked John the Baptist if he was the one – in reply to which John said ‘No’---(John 1:21), the Holy Ghost, the Comforter and the Spirit of Truth prophesied by Jesus (Isa) in (John 14:14, 14:26 and 16:13).

WITH THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) CAME THE APOSTLESHIP OF ALLAH (SWT) TO A CONCLUSION AND WITH ALI STARTED THE SERIAL OF THE ‘IMAMATE’ OR THE DIVINE GUIDANCE TOWARDS

[i] The correct interpretation of the Final Word of ALLAH (SWT) AND

[ii] The proper practice of ALLAH (SWT)’s own prescribed faith for mankind, viz, Islam --- [verse 3:18].

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(14:36) Lord! These have turned away *48 many people from the Right Way (and they might turn away my descendants as well. Therefore, only those of them) who follow my way, belong to me, but (I leave to Thee) those who follow a different way from mine, for Thou art very Forgiving and Merciful. *49

*48 This is a figurative way of saying that idols have been the means of turning many people away from Allah's Way into the ways of deviation. 
*49 This forbearance shown towards those who followed a different way from the Right Way is an instance of Prophet Abraham's leniency to mankind. He left their case to the Forgiveness and Mercy of Allah for he could not bear to see them under Divine scourge. Another instance of this has been cited in Surah Hud. When the angels were on their way to destroy the wicked people of Lot, Prophet Abraham began to plead for them:".... Abraham began to dispute with Us concerning the people of Lot for he was tender-hearted and merciful...."(XI: 74-75) Likewise Prophet Jesus was so tender-hearted that even when Allah will show to him that his followers had deviated from the Right Way, he will plead their case: "Now if you punish them, they are your own servants, and if you forgive them, you are All- Mighty and All-Wise" (v: 118). 

رَبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِنْدَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُمْ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ {14:37}

[Q14:37] Rabbanaaa inneee askantu min zurriyyatee biwaadin ghairi zee zar'in 'inda Baitikal Muharrami Rabbanaa liyuqeemus Salaata faj'al af'idatam minan naasi tahweee ilaihim warzuqhum minas samaraati la'allahum yashkuroon. 
[Q14:37] O our Lord! Surely I have settled a part of my offspring in a valley unproductive of fruit near Thy Sacred House, our Lord! That they may keep up prayer; therefore make the hearts of some people yearn towards them and provide them with fruits; haply they may be grateful:

[Q14:37] Wahai Tuhan kami! Sesungguhnya aku telah menempatkan sebahagian dari zuriat keturunanku di sebuah lembah (Tanah Suci Mekah) yang tidak ada tanaman padanya, di sisi rumahMu yang diharamkan mencerobohinya. Wahai Tuhan kami, (mereka ditempatkan di situ) supaya mereka mendirikan sembahyang (dan memakmurkannya dengan ibadat). Oleh itu, jadikanlah hati sebahagian dari manusia tertarik gemar kepada mereka, (supaya datang beramai-ramai ke situ) dan kurniakanlah rezeki kepada mereka dari berbagai jenis buah-buahan dan hasil tanaman, semoga mereka bersyukur.

Please refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:124 to 129.

Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir said:

"We the Ahlul Bayt are meant by "them" whom Ibrahim mentioned in his prayer when he said: 'Make You (O ALLAH (SWT) therefore the hearts of some of the people to yearn towards them."

The people mentioned in his prayer are those who remain faithfully attached to the Ahlul Bayt, known as their Shi-ahs (devout followers)."

î   Ibrahim had no issues from his wife Sarah. Sarah presented her handmaid ‘Hajara’ (Hagar) to Ibrahim AND WHEN Hajara delivered a son i.e., Isma-il, Sarah got envious of her and began to treat her harshly.

î   ALLAH (SWT) commanded Ibrahim to take Hajara and the baby-son Isma-il away from Sarah. Ibrahim accordingly brought Hajara and Isma-il to the place now called Makka which was then a barren land without any vegetation or water.

î   A cloth was put over a low tree and under its shade was left Hajara with her baby Isma-il. When Ibrahim wanted to return, Hajara asked as to why he leaves her and her baby in the wilderness which does not contain even water to drink. Ibrahim replied that it was in compliance with the command of the Lord. While returning Ibrahim prayed to ALLAH (SWT) for his family and his issue which he was leaving in the valley without any vegetation.

î   When Ibrahim had left, Isma-il the baby get restless of thirst and as no water could be found anywhere around, Hajara began to wander around in search for water, running from one place to another. She ran seven times particularly between the two hillocks nearby called Safa and Marwa. Whenever she got upon the one mound there appeared to her something like water near the other mound, and when she went there and once again turned towards the former mound, there seems to her to be something like water. At last after running for seven times the agony of maternal anxiety for her baby son dying of thirst in the hot sun, she abandoned the innocent totally to ALLAH (SWT)’s will. Suddenly she found fresh water gushing out from under the feet of the baby and flowing into a small stream. (Refer Gen. 21:15-20). She collected some mud around the spring and collected the water and gave the baby a drink. The water began flowing with greater force.

î   People around the area finding fresh water available there sought permission of Hajara to settle at the place. When Ibrahim next visited Hajara, she obtained the permission and a settlement arose there. When Ibrahim next visited Hajara, Isma-il had grown into a youth and Ibrahim was commanded by ALLAH (SWT) to renew the First House which was exclusively erected on earth for remembering ALLAH (SWT)--- verse 3:95 “Most surely the First House made for mankind is at Bakka (Makka), a Blessing and Guidance for the worlds.”

About the building of the House, i.e., the Holy Ka’ba, by Ibrahim and Isma-il see verse 2:127 “And when Ibrahim and Isma-il were raising the foundation of the House, (Ibrahim prayed): Our Lord! Accept from us (this duty). Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer, the Knower.”

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(14:37) Lord! I have settled some of my descendants in a barren valley near Thy Sacred House. Lord! I have done this in the hope that they would establish Salat there. So turn the hearts of the people towards them, and provide fruits for their food *50: it is expected that they will become grateful.

*50 Allah granted this prayer of Prophet Abraham. That was why people from the whole of ' Arabia used to come there for Haj and `Umrah at the time of the revelation of this Surah, and now people gather there from all over the world.
Besides this, there is plenty of food and fruit in all-seasons of the year, though the valley is absolutely barren and no vegetation grows in it even for animals.

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِي وَمَا نُعْلِنُ ۗ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ {14:38}

[Q14:38] Rabbanaaa innaka ta'lamu maa nukhfee wa maa nu'lin; wa maa yakhfaa 'alal laahi min shai'in fil ardi wa laa fis samaaa’.
[Q14:38] O our Lord! Surely Thou knowest what we hide and what we make public, and nothing in the earth nor anything in heaven is hidden from ALLAH (SWT):

[Q14:38] Wahai Tuhan kami! Sesungguhnya Engkau mengetahui akan apa yang kami sembunyikan dan apa yang kami zahirkan dan tiada sesuatupun di langit dan di bumi, yang tersembunyi kepada ALLAH (SwT)! 

SOME OF IBRAHIM'S DESCENDANTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN COMPELLED UNDER UNAVOIDABLE CIRCUMSTANCES TO CONCEAL THEIR TRUE FAITH, BUT ALLAH (SWT) KNOWS THE TRUTH.

v  It is reported that Ibrahim himself concealed his true faith to avoid unnecessary complications as SIMILARLY Abu Talib did to save the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) from the clutches of his enemies.

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(14:38) Lord! Thou hast full knowledge of all that we hide and disclose." *51

*51 That is, "Lord: Thou hearest what I utter with my tongue and also hast full knowledge of my thoughts and feelings." 

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ {14:39}

[Q14:39] Alhamdu lillaahil lazee wahaba lee 'alal kibari Ismaa'eela wa Ishaaq; inna Rabbee lasamee'ud du'aaa. 
[Q14:39] Praise be to ALLAH (SWT), Who has given me in old age Ismail and Ishaq; most surely my Lord is the Hearer of prayer:

[Q14:39] Segala puji tertentu bagi ALLAH (SwT) Yang telah mengurniakan kepadaku semasa aku tua: Ismail dan Ishak. Sesungguhnya Tuhanku Maha Mendengar dan Memperkenan doa permohonan. 

PRAYER OF GRATEFULNESS OF IBRAHIM TO ALLAH (SWT). 

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(14:39) And *52 the fact is that nothing in the earth and heavens is hidden from Allah. "All praise be to Allah Who has given me sons like Ismail and Isaac in my old age. Indeed, my Lord hears all prayers.

*52 This parenthetical clause has been inserted to confirm the statement of Prophet Abraham. 

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ {14:40}

[Q14:40] Rabbij 'alnee muqeemas Salaati wa min zurriyyatee Rabbanaa wa taqabbal du' aaa’. 

[Q14:40] My Lord! Make me keep up prayer and from my offspring (too), O our Lord, and accept my prayer:
[Q14:40] Wahai Tuhanku! Jadikanlah daku orang yang mendirikan sembahyang dan demikianlah juga zuriat keturunanku. Wahai Tuhan kami, perkenankanlah doa permohonanku.

THERE SHALL ALWAYS BE AN INHERITOR OF IBRAHIM'S CREED AMONG HIS DESCENDANTS TO DEFEND AND PROMOTE THE RELIGION OF ALLAH (SWT). See commentary of al Baqarah 2:124.

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(14:40) Lord! help make me establish Salat and from among my descendants (raise those who should do this work). Lord! grant my prayer.

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ {14:41}

[Q14:41] Rabbanagh fir lee wa liwaalidaiya wa lilmu'mineena Yawma yaqoomul hisaab. 
[Q14:41] O our Lord! Grant me protection and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass!

[Q14:41] Wahai Tuhan kami! Berilah ampun bagiku dan bagi kedua ibu bapaku serta bagi orang-orang yang beriman, pada masa berlakunya hitungan amal dan pembalasan

Ibrahim asks ALLAH (SWT) to favour his parents with divine grace and forgiveness and keep them safe from sinfulness, THEREFORE THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT HIS PARENTS WERE TRUE BELIEVERS.

Ë  See commentary of An-am 6:75 to 84 to know that Azar was not his father BUT an uncle whom Ibrahim tried to bring into the fold of true faith BUT failed, and finally disassociated himself from him (Bara-at 9:114).

THE PRAYER WAS OF THE REAL PARENTS OF IBRAHIM WHO WERE THE BELIEVERS IN THE TRUE ALLAH (SWT). Tarakh was the father of Ibrahim.

Some commentators say that Ibrahim meant his two sons Isma-il and Isaac---the word was only ‘Waladiah’, i.e., two sons, which has become ‘Waaladiah’, i.e., the parents.

v  SINCE THE QUR’AN IN OUR HANDS has been vouched by the Ahlul Bait as the original version compiled as a Complete Book during the very lifetime of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), read out to him and certified by him, such interpretations against the originality of the Word of ALLAH (SWT) have to be discredited.

THIS SHOWS that the parents of Ibrahim were believers, for the prayer is connected with the renovating of the edifice of Ka’ba which was long after the death of Azar AND after the birth of Isma-il and Isaac.

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(14:41) Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day when reckoning will take place." *53

*53 Prophet Abraham included his mushrik father in his prayer because he had made promise that the would pray to his Lord for his forgiveness (XIX: 48). But afterwards when he realized that he should not pray for his forgiveness because he was an enemy of Allah, he absolved himself of that promise. (IX: 114). 

SECTION 7

The Respite and the End

People are only given repite for a fixed time---The most iserable lot of the disbelievers on the Day of Reckoning.

وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ غَافِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّالِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الْأَبْصَارُ {14:42}

[Q14:42] Wa laa tahsabannal laaha ghaafilan 'ammaa ya'maluz zaalimoon; innamaa yu'akh khiruhum li Yawmin tashkhasu feehil absaar, - 
[Q14:42] And do not think ALLAH (SWT) to be heedless of what the unjust do; He only respites them to a day on which the eyes shall be fixedly open,

[Q14:42] Dan janganlah engkau (wahai Muhammad) menyangka ALLAH (SwT) lalai akan apa yang dilakukan oleh orang-orang yang zalim; sesungguhnya Dia hanya melambatkan balasan mereka hingga ke suatu hari yang padanya terbeliak kaku pemandangan mereka, (kerana gerun gementar melihat keadaan yang berlaku). 

"Think not" is addressed to the people through the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

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(14:42) Do not think that Allah is unaware of what these unjust people are doing; He is only deferring their case to the Day when all eyes shall stare with consternation.

مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِي رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ ۖ وَأَفْئِدَتُهُمْ هَوَاءٌ {14:43}

[Q14:43] Muhti'eena muqni'ee ru'oosihim laa yartaddu ilaihim tarfuhum wa af'idatuhum hawaaa.

[Q14:43] Hastening forward, their heads upraised, their eyes not reverting to them and their hearts vacant.
[Q14:43] (Dalam pada itu) mereka terburu-buru (menyahut panggilan ke padang Mahsyar) sambil mendongakkan kepala mereka dengan mata tidak berkelip dan hati mereka tidak bersemangat (kerana bingung dan cemas).  

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(14:43) They shall be running in terror with heads uplifted and eyes fixed upwards *54 and hearts becoming void.

*54 This graphic picture depicts the horrible plight of the wrongdoers on the Day of Reckoning. When they will realize the situation, they will be so taken aback that they will have their looks fixed straight in front of them without seeing anything. 

وَأَنْذِرِ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ الْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رَبَّنَا أَخِّرْنَا إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ الرُّسُلَ ۗ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوا أَقْسَمْتُمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ زَوَالٍ {14:44}

[Q14:44] Wa anzirin naasa Yawma yaateehimul 'azaabu fa yaqoolul lazeena zalamoo Rabbanaaa akhkhirnaaa ilaaa ajalin qareebin nujib da'wataka wa nattabi'ir Rusul; awalam takoonooo aqsamtum min qablu maa lakum min zawaal. 
[Q14:44] And warn people of the day when the chastisement shall come to them, then those who were unjust will say: O our Lord! Respite us to a near term, (so) we shall respond to Thy call and follow the messengers. What! Did you not swear before (that) there will be no passing away for you!

[Q14:44] Dan berilah amaran (wahai Muhammad) kepada manusia yang ingkar itu jangan mereka lupakan hari kiamat yang padanya mereka akan didatangi azab, kerana pada saat itu, orang-orang yang berlaku zalim akan merayu dengan berkata: Wahai Tuhan kami, (kembalikanlah kami ke dunia dan) berilah tempoh kepada kami hingga ke suatu masa yang dekat, supaya kami menyahut seruanMu (untuk mengesakanMu dan mentaati perintahMu) dan supaya kami menurut agama yang disampaikan oleh Rasul-rasul itu dan (rayuan mereka akan ditolak dengan dikatakan kepada mereka): Tidakkah kamu telah diberikan tempoh untuk berbuat demikian dan bukankah kamu telah bersumpah (semasa kamu dalam dunia) dahulu, bahawa keadaan kamu tidak akan mengalami sebarang perubahan? 

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(14:44) O Muhammad, fore-warn them of the Day when Our scourge will overtake them: then these wrong-doers will say, "Our Lord! Give us a little more respite: we will respond to Thy Message and follow the Messengers." (But it will be said to them decisively,) "Are you not the same people who swore before this that you will never meet with a decline, 

وَسَكَنْتُمْ فِي مَسَاكِنِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ كَيْفَ فَعَلْنَا بِهِمْ وَضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ الْأَمْثَالَ {14:45}

[Q14:45] Wa sakantum fee masaakinil lazeena zalamooo anfusahum wa tabaiyana lakum kaifa fa'alnaa bihim wa darabnaa lakumul amsaal. 
[Q14:45] And you dwell in the abodes of those who were unjust to themselves, and it is clear to you how We dealt with them and We have made (them) examples to you.

[Q14:45] Padahal kamu telah mendiami tempat-tempat tinggal orang-orang yang berlaku zalim kepada diri mereka sendiri, serta telah ternyata kepada kamu dengan bukti-buKti yang jelas bagaimana Kami telah mengubah keadaan mereka (dengan menimpakan mereka berbagai bencana) dan Kami pula telah nyatakan kepada kamu berbagai contoh perbandingan (di dalam Al-Quran dan melalui sabda Rasul). 

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(14:45) whereas you had lived in the habitations of those who had wronged their souls and seen how We had dealt with them; and We held them up to you as examples?

وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ الْجِبَالُ {14:46}

[Q14:46] Wa qad makaroo makrahum wa 'indal laahi makruhum wa in kaana makruhum litazoola minhul jibaal. 
[Q14:46] And they have indeed planned their plan, but their plan is with ALLAH (SWT), though their plan was such that the mountains should pass away thereby.

[Q14:46] Dan sesungguhnya mereka telah menjalankan rancangan jahat mereka (untuk menentang Islam), sedang di sisi ALLAH (SwT) ada balasan bagi rancangan jahat mereka, walau rancangan jahat mereka itu, dapat melenyapkan gunung-ganang sekalipun. 

The plots plotted by the disbelievers were so adroit that they could make the mountains move, YET ISLAM AND ITS ETERNAL LAWS REMAIN UNCHANGED AND INCORRUPTIBLE BECAUSE ALLAH (SWT) HAS UNDERTAKEN TO PROTECT THEM THROUGH THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) AND HIS AHLUL BAYT -"l leave behind, amongst you, two weighty authorities, the book of ALLAH (SWT) and my Ahlul Bayt. Should you be attached to these two, never, never shall you go astray, after me, for verily these two will never be separated from each other; and, joined together, they shall meet me at the spring of Kawthar;" said the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) (see hadith thaqalayn).

HOWEVER MUCH THE ENEMIES OF ALLAH (SWT), THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) AND HIS AHLUL BAYT MAY TRY THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PUT OUT THE LIGHT OF ALLAH (SWT) (Saff 61:8).

The comparison to the passing away of the mountains indicates power with which the disbelievers employed their plans. Islam and the ‘Shariat’, i.e., the Laws of Islam, are compared to mountains. It is prophecy about permanence or the firm establishment of the faith, Islam, and its laws remaining ever unchanged as the mountains, the complete unshakable triumph and establishment of Islam and the teachings of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), for they are divinely secured in the Holy Ahlul Bait to remain with them forever in their original form and the correct meaning.

Ä  IT IS THE UNDERTAKING OF ALLAH (SWT) HIMSELF-(verse 15:9)

Ä  THE WORLD WOULD TRY ITS BEST BUT WOULD NEVER SUCCEED IN WIPING OUT THE LIGHT OF ALLAH (SWT)- (Verse 61:8)

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(14:46) They had tried all their cunning devices to outwit Us but Allah had the remedy to counteract their devices, even though these were so powerful as to move mountains." *55

*55 That is, "You have seen that the former people who violated the Divine Law, and who opposed the Message, devised very effective and cunning schemes to avert the consequences of their iniquity, but AIIah defeated them with His single counter-device. You did not give up your crafty schemes against the Message of Truth in the vain hope that your "strong" measures would succeed where the schemes of your predecessors had failed. 

فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِ رُسُلَهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ {14:47}

[Q14:47] Falaa tahsabannal laaha mukhlifa wa'dihee Rusulah; innal laaha 'azeezun zuntiqaam. 
[Q14:47] Therefore do not think ALLAH (SWT) (to be one) failing in His promise to His messengers; surely ALLAH (SWT) is Mighty, the Lord of Retribution.

[Q14:47] Oleh itu, janganlah engkau menyangka ALLAH (SwT) memungkiri janjiNya kepada Rasul-rasulNya; sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) Maha Kuasa, lagi Sedia Membalas (orang-orang yang menderhaka kepadaNya). 

There had always been a messenger of ALLAH (SWT) among the people, and there shall always be a chosen Imam AMONG THE PEOPLE, TO KEEP THEM ON THE RIGHT PATH.

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(14:47) So. O Prophet, never imagine that Allah will ever go against the promises made to His Messengers. *56 Allah is All Powerful and capable of revenge.

*56 Though this has been addressed to the Holy Prophet, it is really meant for his opponents. They are being warned that they should not delude themselves because of the delay in their punishment. they should note it well that AIlah fulfilled the promises He made to the former Messengers and defeated them opponents. Likewise He will surely fulfil the promises He had made to Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him). 

يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ الْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ الْأَرْضِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ ۖ وَبَرَزُوا لِلَّهِ الْوَاحِدِ الْقَهَّارِ {14:48}

[Q14:48] Yawma tubaddalul ardu ghairal ardi wassamaawaatu wa barazoo lillaahil Waahidil Qahhaar;

[Q14:48] On the day when the earth shall be changed into a different earth, and the heavens (as well), and they shall come forth before ALLAH (SWT), the One, the Supreme;

[Q14:48] (Ingatlah) masa hari bumi ini diganti dengan yang lain, demikian juga langit; dan manusia semuanya keluar berhimpun mengadap ALLAH (SwT), Yang Maha Esa, lagi Maha Kuasa. 

ACCORDING TO THE HOLY IMAMS OF THE AHLUL BAYT ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT AN ENTIRELY NEW AND DIFFERENT EARTH WILL REPLACE THE PRESENT ONCE.

A thorough study of the verses of the Qur’an, read with several authentic traditions, supports the idea that in the evolutionary course the heavens and the earth will reach a stage known as the Day of Resurrection when the laws of time and space shall cease to apply. All the terrestrial and the celestial distances will disappear. There will be no past, present and future. All will be before the Lord together to be judged.

IBRAHIM'S PRAYER FORMS THE CORE OF THIS SURAH.

1.        Revelation (the Qur’an) LEADS MAN FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT –

# the light of true knowledge about ALLAH (SWT) and His omnipotent authority and sovereignty which He shares with no one. # The whole universe (all that has been created by Him) willingly or unwillingly submit to His will and command. # He sent His messengers to teach each nation in its own language and for its own special circumstances. # There was a conflict of evil with good in the times of every prophet BUT evil was destroyed and good was preserved by the grace of ALLAH (SWT) which man must always remember and give thanks to his Lord.

2.        THANKFULNESS INCREASES HIS BLESSINGS and ingratitude takes them away.

Miracles take place only when ALLAH (SWT) wills. They cannot be shown to people as a sport or pastime particularly to such type of people whose ignorance and arrogance keep them from learning a lesson from the miracles shown by many prophets of ALLAH (SWT).

3.        THE DISBELIEVERS SHALL BE PUNISHED AND HELL will be their final abode where they will abide for ever.

The believers always rely upon ALLAH (SWT) and adhere to the divinely chosen guides appointed by Him to guide mankind. They shall live in paradise for ever. The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), his Ahlul Bayt and the religion of ALLAH (SWT) they preached and practised have been compared to a goodly tree which bears fruits in all seasons. The disbelievers and the hypocrites are compared to an evil tree which shall be uprooted and destroyed for ever.

In Ibrahim's prayer there is a mention of the people who pray for ALLAH (SWT)'s grace so that He keeps them attached with the godly family of Ibrahim. This family of Ibrahim is in fact the family of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad)-the Ahlul Bayt.  NO EVIL FORCE OF THE WORLD CAN PREVENT THE MARCH OF ISLAM. 

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(14:48) Warn them of the Day when the Earth and the Heavens shall be totally transformed, *57 and all of them shall stand exposed before Allah, the One, the Almighty.

*57 It is obvious from this verse and some hints in the Qur'an that on the occasion of Resurrection, the Earth and the Heavens will not be totally destroyed but at the blowing of the "First Trumpet", the existing physical system shall be disarranged. After this, between the blowing of the "First" and the "Last Trumpet" (Allah alone knows how long this interval will last), the present form and aspect of the earth and the heavens shall be transformed and a new physical system with new physical laws will come into existence. That will be the world of the Hereafter. When the "Last Trumpet" will be blown, all human beings from Adam to those born before the "First Trumpet", shall be brought to life and appear before Allah. The Qur'an calls this (Hashr) which literally means "to muster and gather together". It appears from the wording of the Qur'an and some clear statements in the Traditions that this will take place on this Earth. The "Seat of Judgment" and the "Scales" will be established on the Earth and the decisions will be passed here. This is also clear from the Qur'an and the Traditions that the life in the Hereafter will not merely be a spiritual life but the very physical and spiritual life which we are living now on this earth; and every individual shall receive his reward or punishment exactly in that "personality" in which he or she is living in the life of this world. 

وَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِي الْأَصْفَادِ {14:49}

[Q14:49] Wa taral mujrimeena Yawma 'izim muqarraneena filasfaad; 
[Q14:49] And you will see the guilty on that day linked together in chains.

[Q14:49] Dan engkau akan melihat orang-orang yang berdosa pada ketika itu diberkas dengan belenggu. 

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(14:49) On that Day you will see the criminals with their hands and feet in fetters.

سَرَابِيلُهُمْ مِنْ قَطِرَانٍ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ {14:50}

[Q14:50] Saraabeeluhum min qatiraaninw wa taghshaa wujoohahumun Naar. 
[Q14:50] Their shirts made of pitch and the fire covering their faces

[Q14:50] Pakaian mereka dari belangkin (minyak tar) dan muka (serta seluruh badan) mereka diliputi oleh jilatan api Neraka.

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(14:50) They shall be in garments of tar *58 and the flames of fire shall be covering their faces.

*58 Some commentators and translators are of the opinion that stands for "sulphur" or "molten copper" but actually it stands for "tar" and the like. 

لِيَجْزِيَ اللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍ مَا كَسَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ {14:51}

[Q14:51] Liyajziyal laahu kulla nafsim maa kasabat; innal laaha saree'ul hisaab. 
[Q14:51] That ALLAH (SWT) may requite each soul (according to) what it has earned; surely ALLAH (SWT) is swift in reckoning. 

[Q14:51] (Keluarnya manusia dari kubur masing-masing itu ialah) kerana ALLAH (SwT) akan membalas tiap-tiap seorang apa yang dia telah usahakan; sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) amat cepat hitungan hisabNya.

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(14:51) This will happen so that Allah may recompense everyone for what one earned: Allah is prompt at reckoning.

هَٰذَا بَلَاغٌ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنْذَرُوا بِهِ وَلِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ {14:52}

[Q14:52] Haaza balaaghul linnaasi wa liyunzaroo bihee wa liya'lamooo annamaa Huwa illaahunw Waahidunw wa liyaz zakkara ulul albaab. 
[Q14:52] This is a sufficient exposition for the people and that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is One ALLAH (SWT) and that those possessed of understanding may mind.

[Q14:52] (Al-Quran) ini disampaikan kepada manusia supaya mereka diberi ingat dan diberi nasihat dengannya dan supaya mereka mengetahui (dengan hujjah-hujjah yang tersebut di dalamnya) bahawa sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) ialah Tuhan Yang Maha Esa dan supaya orang-orang yang mempunyai fikiran, beringat dan insaf. 

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(14:52) This is a Message for mankind so that they may be warned by it and realize that in fact there is but One God, and that men of understanding may learn a lesson from it.  

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