Page 55 - Prayer in the Qur'an

THE PROPHETS' PRAYERS
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RELATED IN THE QUR'AN

the dead was not because of poor faith. On the contrary, he was a
man of perfected faith, yet he aimed fully to comprehend the truth
in which he had faith. He, in a quite sincere manner, wanted to see

Allah's miracle and Allah granted this frank wish.
The Prophet Ibrahim's (as) father was a pagan. The Prophet
Ibrahim (as) conveyed Allah's message to him, but his father re-
jected it. Despite this fact, the Prophet Ibrahim (as) asked Allah to
forgive his father:
He said, "Peace be upon you. I will ask my Lord to forgive you.
He has always honoured me. I will separate myself from you

and all you call upon besides Allah and I will call upon my
Lord. It may well be that, in calling on my Lord, I will not be
disappointed." (Surah Maryam: 47-48)
It may seem strange that a prophet would ask Allah to forgive a
disbeliever, so the Qur'an tells us why the Prophet Ibrahim (as)

made this prayer:
It is not right for the Prophet and those who have faith to ask
forgiveness for the idolaters—even if they are close relatives—
after it has become clear to them that they are the companions
of the blazing fire. Ibrahim would not have asked forgiveness
for his father but for a promise he made to him, and when it be-
came clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he renounced
him. Ibrahim was tender-hearted and forbearing. (Surat at-

Tawba: 113-114)
The Prophet Ibrahim (as), the builder of the Ka'ba where millions of
believers visit today, prayed for his sons, Isma'il, Ishaq and all believ-
ers:

Our Lord! I have settled some of my offspring by Your Sacred