وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًا وَٱجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ 35
Translations
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this city [i.e., Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.
Transliteration
Wa-idh qāla Ibrāhīmu rabbi-j'al hādhā al-balada āminan wa-ajnubnī wa-baniyya an na'buda al-asnām
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) makes a heartfelt supplication to Allah, requesting that He make Makkah a city of peace and security, and that He protect him and his descendants from idolatry and idol worship. Ibn Kathir notes this represents Ibrahim's concern for the spiritual wellbeing of his progeny, establishing a foundational prayer for the sanctity of the Holy City. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this supplication reflects the deep connection between physical sanctuary (amān) and spiritual purification from shirk (polytheism).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Prophet Ibrahim's establishment of the Ka'bah in Makkah. It reflects the historical context of Ibrahim's mission to build the House of Allah and his concern for maintaining monotheistic worship in that sacred place. The broader context of Surah Ibrahim addresses themes of prophethood, gratitude, and monotheism throughout Ibrahim's life.
Related Hadiths
The hadith reported by Ibn Abbas in Tafsir Ibn Kathir states that when Ibrahim said this supplication, Allah answered his prayer, making Makkah a sanctuary (haram) where bloodshed is forbidden. Additionally, Sahih Muslim records a hadith about the sanctity and security of Makkah as a fulfillment of Ibrahim's prayer.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that seeking protection from idolatry—whether literal or metaphorical modern-day idols of wealth, status, or desires—should be a priority in our supplications, just as Ibrahim prioritized this for himself and his descendants. It reminds believers that true peace and security in society are intrinsically linked to spiritual purity and obedience to Allah alone.