14. Ibrahim

(Tell) O Muhammad (My bondmen who believe) in Me and in My Scripture and messengers (to establish worship) the five daily prayers, complete with their ritual ablution, bowings, prostrations and that which is obligated in them in their prescribed times (and spend of that which We have given them) and give alms, (secretly and publicly) these are the Companions of Muhammad (pbuh) (before a day comes) this is the Day of Judgement (wherein there will be neither traffic) ransom (nor befriending) for the disbeliever, while the believer will benefit from his friendships.

Allah then declared His divine Oneness, saying: (Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth, and causeth water) rain (to descend from the sky, thereby producing) the rain brought forth (fruits) different kinds of fruit (as food for you) and for all other created beings, (and maketh the ships to be of service) subservient (unto you, that they) i.e. the ships (may run upon the sea at His command) by His permission and will, (and hath made of service) subservient (unto you the rivers) they flow wherever you want;

(And maketh the sun and the moon, constant in their courses) until the Day of Judgement, (to be of service unto you) subservient to you, (and hath made of service) and made subservient (unto you the night and the day) which come and go.

(And He giveth you of all ye ask of Him) as well as that which you do not know even how to ask for, (and if ye would count the bounty of Allah) the blessings of Allah (ye cannot reckon it) you would not be able to remember them or give thanks for them. (Lo! Man) i.e. the disbeliever (is verily a wrong-doer) he associates others with Allah, (an ingrate) He disbelieves in Allah and in His blessings.

(And when Abraham said) after the building of the House: (My Lord!) O my Lord! (Make safe) such that no turmoil takes place and whoever is in fear finds safety in (this territory) Mecca, (and preserve me and my sons from serving idols) from worshipping idols or fire.

And preserve me (My Lord!) O my Lord! (Lo! they have led many of mankind astray) i.e. they were made to lead many people astray; it is also said that this means: many people went astray because of them. (But whoso followeth me) whoever follows my religion and obeys me, (he verily is of me) he follows my religion. (And whoso disobeyeth me) whoever opposes my religion, (still Thou art Forgiving) of whoever repent of among them, (Merciful) towards whoever dies repentant.

(Our Lord!) O our Lord! (Lo! I have settled some of my posterity) Ishmael and his mother Hagar (in an uncultivable valley) in a valley with no vegetation or crops (near unto Thy holy House) i.e. Mecca, (our Lord!) O our Lord! (that they may establish proper worship) so that they perform the prayer faced towards the Ka'bah; (so incline some hearts of men) the hearts of some men (that they may yearn towards them) long and head towards them every year, (and provide Thou them with fruits) with different kinds of fruit (in order that they may be thankful) so that they are grateful for your blessings.

(Our Lord!) O our Lord! (Lo! Thou knowest that which we hide) of the love of Ishmael (and that which we proclaim) of the love of Isaac; it is also said that this means: You know that which we hide of the love of Ishmael and what we proclaim of aloofness towards him. (Nothing in the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah) whether it is a good or evil work.

(Praise be to Allah) Thanks to Allah (Who hath given me, in my old age, Ishmael and Isaac!) he was then 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 99 years old. (Lo! my Lord is indeed the Hearer of Prayer) He answers prayers.

(My Lord!) O my lord! (Make me to establish proper worship) make me perform the prayer properly, (and some of my posterity (also)) he says: bless me and bless my offspring so that we perform the prayer properly; (our Lord!) O our Lord! (and accept the prayer) accept my worship.