7. PROPHETS’ DU’A (PRAYER) IN THE QUR’AN (2) 3. Ṣāliḥ (Shelah) a.s.. 4. Abraham (Ibrāhīm) a.s.

7. PROPHETS’ DU’A (PRAYER) IN THE QUR’AN (2)

3. Ṣāliḥ (Shelah) a.s.

          Prophet Ṣāliḥ (Saleh, Shelah) a.s. was sent to the Thamūd tribe lived at an area between Hejaz (Western Arabia) and Shām (Greater Syria), known as “Madā’in Ṣāliḥ”, several hundred kilometres north of Madinah.  This tribe was named from their ancestor Thamūd bin (son of) Athīr bn Iram bin Sām bin Nūḥ. His name was mentioned nine times in the Qur’an (Q. 7:73. 75, 77; 11:61, 62, 66, 89; 26:142; 27:45). The Thamūd people worshiped idols. Allah sent them Prophet Ṣāliḥ to advise them to worship Allah and reminded them of their duties towards Him. He lived according to some sources closer to 500 B.C.

 As a miracle for him they asked him to bring a pregnant camel out of a certain solid rock which they chose, or they would not believe and obey him. Prophet Ṣāliḥ a.s. prayed to Allah, and He answered his prayer. Prophet Ṣāliḥ a.s. informed them that the camel would drink in the well by turns, a day for the camel, and the other day for them. On the days for the camel to drink they could milk her and fill their containers from its milk (Q. 54:28 and 26:155).

          The she-camel used to graze in some of their valleys so that she could move easily and drink a lot of water. When she passed by their cattle, the cattle would be afraid of her. Although their chief Jundu‘ bin ‘Amr and several others believed him, others did not believe him and wanted to kill the camel so that they could take the water for themselves every day. Nine chiefs of them persuaded the entire tribe in agreeing to kill the camel (Q. 27:48). They killed her, and the entire tribe was responsible for the crime (Q. 91:14; 17:59)

          When the news of the crime reached Prophet Ṣāliḥ a.s. he came to them while they were gathering. They told him to bring the threat of punishment. When he saw the dead camel he cried to them, “Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days.” (Q. 11:65).

          It is said that on Wednesday the nine people killed the camel. That night they plotted to kill Prophet Ṣāliḥ a.s and said: “If he is truthful, we should finish him before we are finished. If he is a liar, we will make him follow his camel.” But Allah protected Ṣāliḥ a.s and rained down stones that smashed their heads. The next day, Thursday, the first day of the respite, they found their faces had turned yellow. On Friday, the second day of the respite, their faces turned red. On Saturday, the third day of the respite, their faces turned black. On Sunday morning they heard a loud cry (ṣayḥah) from above and a severe tremor overtook them from below. Within an hour their bodies became dead, and none of them escaped. “And they lay (dead) prostrate in their homes.” (Q. 7:78)

          Here history repeats itself. The fate of those who disbelieved and disobeyed Prophet Ṣāliḥ a.s. was like that of those who disbelieved and disobeyed Prophet Noah a.s., namely, total punishment. Only believers of these respective prophets escaped the torment. The prayer of Prophet Ṣāliḥ a.s. when he found out that his people denied him, was as follows:

قَالَ رَبِّ انْصُرْنِي بِمَا كَذَّبُونِ (المؤمنون:39(

He said: “O my Lord! Help me because they deny me.” (Q. 23:39)

and Allah answered him:

قَالَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ لَيُصْبِحُنَّ نَادِمِينَ (المؤمنون: 40(

“In a little while, they are sure to be regretful.” (Q. 23:40).

The whole story of Ṣāliḥ a.s.  is mentioned in the Qur’an in Q. 7:73-79; 11:61-68; and 26:141-159.

4. Abraham (Ibrāhīm) a.s.

          Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. the supplication of Prophet Abraham a.s. to make the city of Makkah and its inhabitants in peace, security, prosperity and Allah’s guidance. It was in Makkah where he placed his wife Hajar and his son Ismā‘īl.  When Ismā‘īl grew up he and his father raised the foundations of the Ka‘bah, then they both prayed to Allah to accept this service. Then they prayed to Allah that would send them a messenger among them from their descendants, and that Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. as the descendant of Prophet Ismā‘īl a.s. was the answer of their prayer. Allah says,

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَام.

رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي وَمَنْ
 عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ. (إبراهيم:35- (36

And (remember) when Ibrāhīm (Abraham) said: “O my

Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security,

and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.

O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among

mankind. But whoso disobeys me, still You are indeed

Off-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Q. 14:35-36)

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ

مِنْهُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ قَالَ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَى عَذَابِ النَّارِ

وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ. وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا

إِنَّكَ  أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ. رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُسْلِمَةً لَكَ

وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ. رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا

مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ  وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ

إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ (البقرة:126- 129(

And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said, “My Lord,

make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its

people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last

Day.” He (Allah) answered: ”As for him who disbelieves, I shall

leave him in contentment for a while, then I shall compel him to

the torment of Fire, and worst indeed is that destination!” And

 (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) and (his son) Ismā‘īl

(Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka’bah

at Makkah), (saying), “Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us.

Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. Our Lord! Make

us submissive to You, and show us our manāsik (all the

ceremonies of pilgrimage—hajj and ‘umrah), and accept our

 repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance,

the Most Merciful. Our lord! And send amongst them

a messenger of their own, who shall recite to them Your

Verses and instruct them in the Book (this Qur’an),

and al-hikmah, (wisdom, i.e., full knowledge of the

Islamic laws and jurisprudence, or wisdom or

Prophet’s sunnah—legal ways), and purify

them. Verily, You are the All-Mighty,

the All-Wise.” (Q. 2: 126-129)

          Bukhari reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “Prophet Ibrahim took Ismā‘īl l and his mother and went away with them until he reached the area of the House, where he left them next to a tree above Zamzam in the upper area of the Masjid. During that time, Ismā‘īl’s mother was still nursing him. Makkah was then uninhabited, and there was no water source in it. Ibrahim left them there with a bag containing some dates and a water-skin containing water. Ibrahim them started to leave, and Ismā‘īl s mother followed him and said, ‘O Ibrahim! To whom are you leaving us in this barren valley that is not inhabited?’ She repeated the question several times, and Ibrahim did not reply. She asked, ‘Has Allah commanded you to do this?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘I am satisfied that Allah will never abandon us.’ Ibrahim, left and when he was far enough away where they could not see him, close to Thaniyyah, he faced the House, raised his hands, and supplicated, as follows:

رَبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِنْدَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ

رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُمْ مِنَ

الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ. (إبراهيم:(37

O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in

uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka‘bah at

 Makkah) in order, O our Lord that they may perform al-salat

 (prayer). So fill some hearts among men with love towards

 them, and ( Allah) provide them with fruits so that

 they may give thanks (Q. 14:37)

          Prophet Ibrahim a.s. praised and thanked Allah for answering his invocation for his descendants. He then prayed that he and his descendants would be made to establish the prescribed prayer. He said,                  

 رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِي وَمَا نُعْلِنُ وَمَا يَخْفَى عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ

فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ

وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ. رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي

رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ . رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ (إبراهيم:38-41(

O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal

 and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the heaven

 is hidden from Allah. All praise and thanks are Allah’s Who

 has given me in old age Ismā‘īl (Ishmael) and Isḥāq (Isaac).

 Verily, my Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.

O my Lord! Make me one who perform al-salat (prayer)

 and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And

accept my invocation.” (Q. 14:35-41)

          Prophet Ibrahim also made invocation for himself and forgiveness for his father. He said,

رَبِّ هَبْ لِي حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ. وَاجْعَلْ لِي لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ

فِي الْآخِرِينَ. وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ وَرَثَةِ جَنَّةِ النَّعِيمِ. وَاغْفِرْ لِأَبِي إِنَّهُ كَانَ

مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ. وَلَا تُخْزِنِي يَوْمَ يُبْعَثُونَ. يَوْمَ لَا يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ

إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ (الشعراء:83-89(

“My Lord! Bestow hukm (religious knowledge, right

judgement of the affairs and Prophethood) on me,

and join me with the righteous. And grant me an

honourable mention in later generations And make

me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight.

And forgive my father, verily, he is of the erring. And

disgrace me not on the Day when (all the creatures)

will be resurrected. The Day whereon neither wealth

nor sons will avail, Except him who comes to Allah

with a clean heart [from polytheism

and hypocrisy).” (Q. 26:83-89)

          Prophet Ibrahim also prayed for righteous offspring. He said,

رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ. فَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِغُلَامٍ حَلِيمٍ . (الصافات: 100-101(

“My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous.” So We

gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy (Q. 100-101)

 The forbearing boy was Ismā‘īl (Ishmael), who inherited the forbearing character of his father. He was the ancestor if the Arabs. Allah said about Prophet Ibrahim a.s., as follows:

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ (التوبة:114)

“…Verily, Abraham was tender-hearted, forbearing” (Q. 9:114)

          Prophet Ibrahim was also blessed with another son, Isaac (Isḥāq) who would be the ancestor of the Jews. The angel (rather than Allah) gave a glad tiding of a boy who would possess knowledge and wisdom,

قَالُوا لَا تَوْجَلْ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ (الحجر:53)

They (the angels) said: “Do not be afraid! We give you

 glad tidings of a boy (son) possessing much knowledge

 and wisdom” (Q. 15:53)

          The brief story of Ishmael and Isaac in the Qur’an has been dealt with in my Friday khuṭbah in the ANUMA on 15 August, 2006.

(CIVIC, 1 August, 2014)

المراجع

المكتبة الشاملة

تفسير الطبري (ت. 310 هـ (

تفسير القرطبى (ت. 671 هـ(

تفسير ابن كثير (ت. 774 هـ(

Selected Khutab vol. 3,  “Ishmael and Isaac” (pp. 145-150; 15 August, 2006)

 http://islam.about.com/od/prophets/p/saleh.htm

Abu Khalil, Dr. Shauqi . Atlas of the Qur’an. Riyadh, Darussalam, 2003