رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ 100
Translations
My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous."
Transliteration
Rabbi hab li mina as-saliheen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records Prophet Ibrahim's supplication to his Lord, asking Him to grant him righteous offspring. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as Ibrahim's prayer for children who would be pious and obedient to Allah, reflecting his deep concern not merely for progeny but for spiritually upright descendants. The phrase 'min as-saliheen' (from among the righteous) emphasizes that Ibrahim sought quality of character and faith rather than mere quantity of children.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative about Prophet Ibrahim in Surah As-Saffat, which discusses various prophets and their righteousness. The context is Ibrahim's advanced age and his longing for offspring, which eventually led to the birth of Ismail (peace be upon him). This reflects the broader Quranic theme of prophets making heartfelt supplications to Allah during moments of personal longing.
Related Hadiths
Related thematically to Hadith Qudsi: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the general principle in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim that righteous children are among the deeds that benefit a person after death.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that when seeking blessings from Allah, particularly regarding family, one should prioritize spiritual rectitude and moral character over material abundance, recognizing that righteous children are a true blessing from Allah that requires conscious effort and sincere prayer.