This is Prophet Ibrahim Alaihissalaam’s supplication to Allah when He brought Isma`il Alaihissalaam to Makkah.
Word-by-word Meanings:
Transliteration
Arabic
Translation
Rabbi
رَبِّ
My Lord
ij’al
اجْعَلْ
Make
haatha
هَٰذَا
this
al-balada
الْبَلَدَ
city
aaminan
آمِنًا
secure
wajnubnee
وَاجْنُبْنِي
and keep me away
wabaniyya
وَبَنِيَّ
and my sons
an
أَن
that
na’buda
نَّعْبُدَ
we worship
al-asnaam
الْأَصْنَامَ
the idols
Allah mentions here, while bringing forth more evidences against Arab polytheists, that the Sacred House in Makkah was established on the worship of Allah alone, without partners. He also states that Ibrahim Alaihissalaam, who establsihed the city, had disowned those who worship others besides Allah, and that he begged Allah to make Makkah peaceful and secure.
(O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) of peace and security,) and Allah accepted his supplication.
Allah said in other Ayat,
(Have they not seen that We have made (Makkah) a secure sanctuary.) 29:67 and,
(Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Makkah, full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-‘Alamin. In it are manifest signs, the Maqam of Ibrahim; whosoever enters it, he attains security.) 3:96
Ibrahim Alaihissalaam then said,
(and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.) It is proper for whoever supplicates to Allah to also ask for the benefit of his parents and offspring, as well as himself.
In another narration, it is said: A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said to him: “O Messenger of Allah! What shall I say if I want to pray to my Rab (Lord)?” He (ﷺ) said, “Say: ‘Allahumma-ghfir li, warhamni, wa ‘afini, warzuqni (O Allah! Forgive me, have mercy on me, protect me and provide me with sustenance).’ Surely, this supplication is better for you in this life and in the Hereafter.”
وعن طارق بن أشيم، رضي الله عنه، قال: كان الرجل إذا أسلم علمه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، الصلاة، ثم أمره أن يدعو بهؤلاء الكلمات: ”اللهم اغفر لي، وارحمني، واهدني، وعافني، وارزقني” ((رواه مسلم)). وفي رواية له عن طارق أنه سمع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وأتاه رجل، فقال: يا رسول الله، كيف أقول حين أسأل ربي؟ قال: ”قل: اللهم اغفر لي، وارحمني، وعافني، وارزقني، فإن هؤلاء تجمع لك دنياك وآخرتك”.
Allah tells us that when Musa Alaihissalaam killed that Coptic,he became afraid of the consequences of his action. He went out and about, and saw the man who sought his help the day before, fighting with another Coptic. When Musa Alaihissalaam passed by him, he called for his help again, against this other Coptic
Musa Alaihissalaam said to him:
(Verily, you are a plain misleader!) meaning, `you obviously lead people astray and are very evil.’
Then Musa Alaihissalaam intended to attack that Coptic, but the Israelite — because of his own cowardice and weakness — thought that Musa Alaihissalaam wanted to hit him because of what he had said, so he said, in self-defence .
(O Musa Alaihissalaam! Is it your intention to kill me as you killed a man yesterday) Nobody except him and Musa Alaihissalaam, peace be upon him, knew about it, but when the other Coptic heard this, he took the news to Fir`awn’s gate and told him about it. So Fir`awn came to know of it, and he became very angry and resolved to kill Musa Alaihissalaam, so he sent people after him to bring him to him.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:-
(20. And there came a man running, from the farthest end of the city. He said: “O Musa Alaihissalaam! Verily, the chiefs are taking counsel together about you, to kill you, so escape. Truly, I am one of the good advisers to you.”)
When the man told Musa Alaihissalaam about how Fir`awn and his chiefs were conspiring against him, he left Egypt on his own. He was not used to being alone, because before that he had been living a life of luxury and ease, in a position of leadership.
At that point,he made this dua.
(My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrongdoers!) means, from Fir`awn and his chiefs. It was mentioned that Allah sent to him an angel riding a horse, who showed him the way. And Allah knows best.
(And then he went towards (the land of) Madyan,) he took a smooth and easy route — and he rejoiced because of that.
(he said: “It may be that my Lord guides me to the right way.”) meaning, the most straight route. And Allah did indeed do that, for He guided him to the straight path in this world and the Hereafter, and caused him to be guided and to guide others.
Allah tested Sulayman Alaihissalaam,then made Things easy for Him
(34. And indeed, We tried Sulayman and We placed on his throne Jasad (a body), and he returned.)
He turned back to Him and asked for forgiveness
(35. He said: “My Lord! Forgive me, and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any other after me. Verily, You are the Bestower.”)
(36. So, We subjected to him the wind; it blew gently by his order wherever he willed,)
Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “When Sulayman, peace be upon him, slaughtered the horses out of anger for the sake of Allah, Allah compensated him with something better and swifter, the wind whose morning was a month’s (journey), and its afternoon was a month’s (journey).”
Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
(An `Ifrit from among the Jinn came and bothered me last night- or he said something similar -Trying to stop me from praying. Allah enabled me to overpower him, and I wanted to tie him to one of the pillars in the Masjid so that you could see him this morning. Then I remembered what my brother Sulayman said, (My Lord! Forgive me and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any other after me)) he said, “so he let him go, humiliated.” ) This was also recorded by Muslim and An-Nasa’i.
Allah Subhaanahu wataa’la says in the Holy Quran:-
(69. And recite to them the story of Ibrahim.)
Here Allah Subhaanahu wataa’la tells us about His servant, Messenger and Close Friend, Ibrahim, upon him be peace, the leader of the pure monotheists.
Allah commanded His Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him) to recite this story to his Ummah so that they could follow this example of sincerity towards Allah, putting one’s trust in Him, worshiping Him Alone with no partner or associate, and renouncing Shirk and its people.
Allah granted guidance to Ibrahim Alaihissalaam before, i.e., from a very early age he had denounced his people’s practice of worshiping idols with Allah, may He be exalted.
(70. When he said to his father and his people: “What do you worship”) (71. They said: “We worship idols, and to them we are ever devoted.”) (72. He said: “Do they hear you when you call”) (73. “Or do they benefit you or do they cause harm”) (74. They said: “(Nay) but we found our fathers doing so.”) (75. He said: “Do you observe that which you have been worshiping –”) (76. “You and your ancient fathers”) (77. “Verily, they are enemies to me, save the Lord of Al-`Alamin,”)
(78. Who has created me, and it is He Who guides me.) (79. And it is He Who feeds me and gives me to drink.) (80. And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me.) (81. And Who will cause me to die, and then will bring me to life. ) (82. And Who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Recompense.)
Here Ibrahim Alaihissalaam mentions Allah Subhaanahu wataa’la‘s Kindness towards Him
Ibrahim Alaihissalaam said,
(And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me.) meaning, `when I fall sick, no one is able to heal me but Him, Who heals me with the means that may lead to recovery’. Here he attributed sickness to himself, even though it is Allah Who decrees it, out of respect towards Allah Subhaanahu wataa’la.
Shirk is the worst form of wrong, its practitioner shall never succeed,they will not prosper or be saved.
Allah Subhaanahu wataa’la says in the Holy Quran:-
(117. And whoever invokes besides Allah, any other god, of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely, disbelievers will not be successful.) (118. And say : “My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy!”)
Here Allah Subhaanahu wataa’la is teaching us to recite this supplication, for forgiveness, in a general sense, means wiping away sins and concealing them from people, and mercy means guiding a person and helping him to say and do good things.
“My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the suggestions (whisperings) of the Shayatin (devils). And I seek refuge in You, my Lord ,lest they be present with me”
رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِ
وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ
Rabbi a’oothu bika min hamazaatish-shayaateeni. Wa-a’oothu bika rabbi an yahduroon.
Surah Al-Muminoon ,verses 97,98
This dua can be recited for the following purposes.
Protection from Satan
To seek refuge from the tricks,whispers and the presence of devils
This is the supplication of the believers who avoid the evil and falsehood.
Allah commanded to seek refuge with Him from the Shayatin, because no trick could help you against them and you cannot protect yourself by being kind to them.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:-
(And say: “My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings of the Shayatin.”)
The Messenger of Allah used to say,
(I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, All-Seeing, from the accursed Shayatin, from his whisperings, evil suggestions and insinuations.)
(“And I seek refuge with You, My Lord! lest they should come near me.”) means, in any issue of my life.
So we are commanded to mention Allah at the beginning of any undertaking, in order to ward off the Shayatin at the time of eating, intercourse, slaughtering animals for food, etc.
Abu Dawud recorded that the Messenger of Allah used to say:
(O Allah, I seek refuge with You from old age, I seek refuge with You from being crushed or drowned, and I seek refuge with you from being assaulted by the Shayatin at the time of death.)
