Page 54 - Prayer in the Qur'an

52 PRAYER IN THE QUR'AN

The place where the Ka'ba was built has grown into a city
(Mecca) today. For this house, the Prophet Ibrahim (as) prayed as
follows:

And when Ibrahim said, "My Lord, make this a place of safety
and provide its inhabitants with fruits—all of them who have
faith in Allah and the Last Day," He [Allah] said, "I will let
anyone who becomes a disbeliever enjoy himself a little but
then I will drive him to the punishment of the Fire. What an
evil destination!" (Surat al-Baqara: 126)

The Prophet Ibrahim's (as) prayers were not oriented only to-
wards his own time but also intended for succeeding generations:
Our Lord, make us both Muslims submitted to You, and our
descendants a Muslim community submitted to You. Show us
our rites of worship and turn towards us. You are the Ever-
Returning, the Most Merciful. Our Lord, raise up among them

a Messenger from them to recite Your Signs to them and teach
them the Book and Wisdom and purify them. You are the
Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surat al-Baqara: 128-129)
Another of the Prophet Ibrahim's (as) prayers shows how he
sought ways to draw closer to Allah:

When Ibrahim said, "My Lord, show me how You bring the
dead to life." He asked, "Do you not then have faith?" He
replied, "Indeed I do! But so that my heart may be at peace."
He said, "Take four birds and train them to yourself. Then put
a part of them on each mountain and call to them; they will
come rushing to you. Know that Allah is Almighty, All-Wise."
(Surat al-Baqara: 260)

The Prophet Ibrahim's (as) wish to witness how Allah resurrects