رَبَّنَا وَٱجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَآ أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 128
Translations
Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites [of worship] and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.
Transliteration
Rabbana waj'alna muslimayni laka wa min dhurriyyatina ummatan muslimatan laka wa arina manasikana wa tub 'alayna innaka anta al-Tawwabu al-Raheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the supplication of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail as they were constructing the Ka'bah, asking Allah to make them Muslims (those who submit to Him) and to raise from their descendants a nation submitting to Allah, to teach them their religious rituals, and to accept their repentance. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this du'a encompasses a comprehensive request for guidance, righteousness, and the continuation of the Islamic tradition through their progeny, demonstrating the prophets' humility and reliance upon Allah's mercy despite their elevated status.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Ibrahim and Ismail building the Ka'bah (2:125-129), a Medinan passage that provides historical and spiritual context for the sacred house of worship. The context emphasizes how the prophets themselves sought Allah's guidance and forgiveness, establishing the foundation for the Islamic practices (manasik) that would later be central to Hajj and Islamic worship.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 3364: The Prophet Muhammad said that Ibrahim made du'a for his descendants to be granted prophethood and wisdom. Additionally, Muslim 196 records that the Prophet emphasized following the way (millah) of Ibrahim as a central Islamic principle.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that even the greatest prophets sought Allah's guidance and forgiveness, modeling for us the importance of constant supplication for ourselves and our families' steadfastness in faith. It reminds us that our concern for the spiritual welfare of our descendants and our commitment to learning and practicing the divine ordinances are acts of worship that reflect true submission to Allah.