Transliteration:( Rabbanaaa inneee askantu min zurriyyatee biwaadin ghairi zee zar'in 'inda Baitikal Muharrami Rabbanaa liyuqeemus Salaata faj'al af'idatam minan naasi tahweee ilaihim warzuqhum minas samaraati la'allahum yashkuroon )
37. 'O my Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in a valley [82] with no cultivation near Your sacred house [83]. My Lord, that they may establish prayer [84], so make hearts from among people inclined towards them [85], and provide them with fruits [86], that they may give thanks.'
The phrase "some of my descendants" refers to Hazrat Hajira and Hazrat Ismail (peace be upon them) and their lineage.
Hazrat Ismail (عليه السلام) is the genealogical ancestor of the Arabs.
At the time of this settlement, Makkah was a lifeless, uninhabited desert with no water or vegetation.
Through the dua of Hazrat Ibrahim (عليه السلام), this barren place flourished and became blessed.
For an expanded discussion, refer to Tafseer Nacemi – Para 1.
Although the Holy Ka‘ba had not yet been rebuilt, the foundations laid by Hazrat Nuh (عليه السلام) were still known.
The term "sacred" signifies a place of honour, sanctity, and divine protection.
It also implies that:
Entry without Ihraam is forbidden,
The Dajjal cannot enter, and
It was protected from the flood of Hazrat Nuh (عليه السلام)
(Reference: Tafseer Roohul Bayaan).
From this part emerge multiple lessons:
The primary objective of settling in Makkah was worship of Allah Almighty, not worldly pursuits.
Farming and agriculture were not made possible there to keep the inhabitants focused on Allah.
Salaah is the supreme act of worship, and hence specially mentioned.
Prayer performed in Makkah holds far greater virtue than elsewhere.
The words of a Prophet are never void—they become realised facts.
Makkah, though infertile and dry, has always remained a populated and respected city.
Even without agriculture, its people are never hungry.
Muslims around the world love and revere Makkah, fulfilling Hazrat Ibrahim’s (عليه السلام) supplication.
Allah Almighty answered the dua by making nearby valleys like Taif and Fatima rich with fruits.
These areas now supply the markets of Makkah with a variety of fruits year-round.
The quality and diversity of fruits available there is exceptional, sometimes unmatched anywhere else.
37. “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House in order, O our Lord, that they may perform Salah. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.) This Ayah indicates that this was different supplication than the first one that Ibrahim said when he left Hajar and her son Isma`il in Makkah, before the Sacred House was built. This prayer, it appears, was said after the House was built, begging Allah and seeking His favor, and He is the Exalted and Most Honored. Ibrahim said here,
(by Your Sacred House…) then he,
(O our Lord, that they may perform Salah.) Ibn Jarir At-Tabari commented that this, “Refers to his earlier statement,
(the Sacred…),” meaning, `You have made this House Sacred so that people establish the prayer next to it,’
(So fill some hearts among men with love towards them,) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Sa’id bin Jubayr said, “Had Ibrahim said, `The hearts of mankind’, Persians, Romans, the Jews, the Christians and all other people would have gathered around it.” However, Ibrahim said,
(among men), thus making it exclusive to Muslims only. He said next,
(and (O Allah) provide them with fruits) in order that they may be helped in obeying You, and because this is a barren valley; bring to them fruits that they might eat. Allah accepted Ibrahim’s supplication,
(Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves.) ﴿28:57﴾ This only indicates Allah’s compassion, kindness, mercy and blessing, in that there are no fruit producing trees in the Sacred City, Makkah, yet all kinds of fruits are being brought to it from all around; this is how Allah accepted the supplication of the Khalil – Allah’s intimate friend, Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him.
(14:37) “Our Lord! I have made some of my offspring settle in a barren valley near Your Sacred House! Our Lord! I did so that they may establish Prayer. So make the hearts of people affectionately inclined to them, and provide them with fruits for their sustenance[50] that they may give thanks.
50. Allah granted this prayer of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). That was why people from the whole of Arabia used to come there for Hajj and Umrah at the time of the revelation of this Surah, and now people gather there from all over the world.
Besides this, there is plenty of food and fruit in all seasons of the year, though the valley is absolutely barren and no vegetation grows in it even for animals.
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