The Supplication of Ibrahim (AS) Mufti Minhajuddin Ahmed

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As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatu -llāhi wa barakātuh.

Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ — Allah sent him as a mercy for all the worlds. "I have sent you as a mercy, I have only sent you as a mercy for the worlds." And Nabī صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, what were the roles that he fulfilled, what were the purposes of his prophethood, the مَقَاصِدُ النُّبُوَّةِ maqāṣid al-nubuwwah, they are mentioned in the Qur'ān on three occasions. The same four purposes are mentioned, firstly it comes in the form of a du'ā' of Ibrāhīm عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام.

When Ibrāhīm عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was establishing the city of Mecca — al-Makkarama — with his wife Hājar عَلَيْهَا السَّلَام and his son Ismā'īl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, then he made a series of du'ās', they are mentioned both in Sūrat al-Baqarah as well as in Sūrat Ibrāhīm, the sūrah that bears his name.

He made du'ās' for their worldly existence and he made du'ās' for their دِينِ dīn, salvation and success as well, and he made du'ās' that Allah sent amongst his progeny a great teacher who will be a source of guidance for them. He knew that سُنَّةُ اللَّهِ sunnatullāh, the way of Allah, has always been that guidance that comes, the هِدَايَةٌ hidāyah that comes from Allah, has two means, these are the two means throughout time. Whenever guidance spread amongst the creation of Allah and people turned towards Allah, it was through two أَسْبَابٌ asbāb, two means. They are the كِتَابُ اللَّهِ kitābullāh and the رِجَالُ اللَّهِ rijālullāh, the book of Allah and the men of Allah — the revelation of Allah and the أَنْبِيَاء anbiyā' of Allah عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام, the selected servants of Allah. This is known as the سُنَّةُ اللَّهِ فِي القَوْم sunnatullāh fil qawm, the way of Allah in his creation.

You will find that the way of Allah that he has determined for his creation, it will never change. The سُنَّة sunnah of Allah will never change. One is the سُنَّةُ اللَّهِ sunnatullāh and one is the قُدْرَةُ اللَّهِ qudratullāh.

The قُدْرَةُ اللَّهِ qudratullāh is what is in the ability of Allah.

Really Allah has the قُدْرَةُ اللَّهِ qudratullāh, in the ability to do whatever he likes, whenever he likes, whichever way he likes. He is not bound by his سُنَّة sunnah.

He is not bound by his way, the way he has determined. Like this is the way of Allah — he determined every morning the sun will rise from the east and every evening the sun will set in the west. This is the system of Allah for this world, for this planet. This is the سُنَّةُ اللَّهِ sunnatullāh, the way of Allah. But this is not the limitation of the قُدْرَةُ اللَّهِ qudratullāh. Allah's قُدْرَةُ اللَّهِ qudratullāh exceeds that.

It is not limited to that. He is not bound by any physical law. So Allah is قَادِرٌ qādir, he has the ability to make the sun rise from the west and set in the east, reverse the process.

And to show his قُدْرَةُ اللَّهِ qudratullāh, sometimes that he is not bound by his سُنَّة sunnah, he will make such manifestations as he will before the day of قِيَامَة qiyāmah. Allah says that this is going to be that sign that will come before the day of judgement. After this sign appears, then the تَوْبَة tawbah of the slaves will not be accepted.

This is the final sign, that the تَوْبَة tawbah that is done after this مُعْجِزَة mu'jizah, miracle occurs, or manifestation of قُدْرَةُ اللَّهِ qudratullāh, then Allah will not accept the إِيمَان īmān of those who believe afterwards. Just like the سُنَّة sunnah of Allah is that it takes a father and a mother for a child to be born, it is a union of the sperm and the egg, and implantation of that in the uterus, and then we have a beautiful child that is born, the miracle of life. But Allah is قَادِرٌ qādir to do beyond that.

So he showed his قُدْرَةُ اللَّهِ qudratullāh with 'Īsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, born without a father. So Ibrāhīm عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was aware of the سُنَّة sunnah of Allah, that anytime anyone is guided and receives guidance throughout history, then it was a revelation, the وَحْي waḥy that comes from Allah, that is a means of guidance, and beyond that it is the أَنْبِيَاء anbiyā' عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام, the prophets of Allah, who implemented that guidance in their lives and showed practically, demonstrated how to live as a servant of Allah. With the combination of both, Allah gives هِدَايَة hidāyah.

The Qur'ān, the revelation, what does Allah speak about it? In the Qur'ān, it is a source of guidance for all mankind. Those who have تَقْوَىٰ taqwā, they will benefit from that source of guidance. And the أَنْبِيَاء anbiyā' عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام, they are a source of guidance — they implemented.

So that is why he made du'ā' for his progeny. He didn't just make du'ā' that "Oh Allah send revelation," but he made du'ā', "Oh Allah send someone who will teach that revelation." That is very key.

He made the du'ā', "Oh my Lord, send amongst my progeny a messenger from amongst themselves." And what will this messenger do, this teacher of my children do? He had already made du'ā' for his children, for his ذُرِّيَّة dhurriyyah, for his descendants, "Protect me and my children, my descendants in this city from worshipping idols. Protect them from شِرْك shirk.

"Oh Allah, make me among those who establish salāh and my ذُرِّيَّة dhurriyyah, my progeny among those who establish salāh. Oh Allah, make me and my son Ismā'īl true Muslims who submit to you and from my ذُرِّيَّة dhurriyyah, again the word ذُرِّيَّة dhurriyyah, my progeny, an entire أُمَّة ummah that will submit to you." But how will this أُمَّة ummah come into existence? What are the means for that? He made du'ā' for that as well.

He said, "Oh my Lord, send amongst my children a teacher. And this teacher will, he will narrate unto them, he will relate unto them your آيَات āyāt, your verses that you have revealed. And he will teach them the meanings of the book.

"He will teach them the wise way to lead one's life, the way of سُنَّة sunnah. And he will work on purifying their hearts. You are the most strong and powerful Allah. And you are the one who has all wisdom."

So, in these آيَات āyāt, Ibrāhīm عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, when he made du'ā' to Allah, he pointed out four tasks. Four tasks that this Prophet will do.

And our beloved Nabī Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, when he was asked — it is mentioned in Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī — "Oh Messenger of Allah, tell us something about the beginning part of your life." And the questioner was imagining he is going to speak about his childhood. Then our Nabī Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, he went way back, way before he was even born.

And he said, "I am, in my existence, I am the personification of the acceptance of the du'ā' of my forefather Ibrāhīm. I am the answer to the du'ā' of my forefather Ibrāhīm. My forefather Ibrāhīm عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, when he made du'ā', I am the answer to that du'ā'.

"And, I am the interpretation of the dream of my mother when she was pregnant with me and she saw the نُور nūr emanating from her womb and enlightening the palaces of the world. The palaces of Shām were reflecting the نُور nūr that was coming out from her womb. And I am the glad tidings that 'Īsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام had given his people.

"And I give you the glad tidings of a prophet who will come after me. His name is Aḥmad." These are the statements of 'Īsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام as recorded by Allah in Sūrat al-Ṣaff.

"I am the same one." So, du'ā' of Ibrāhīm عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was accepted in favor of Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. He himself said, and beyond that, even Allah عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, he repeated that in the Qur'ān. He said, "Indeed, Allah has favored the believers.

"When he has sent a messenger from amongst themselves." And then he narrates what does this messenger do. In word for word, it is a repetition of the du'ā' of Ibrāhīm عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام. The same four tasks.

This messenger comes and he makes تِلَاوَة tilāwah and recites the آيَات āyāt of the Qur'ān. Teaches people the meanings of the book of Allah. And teaches them حِكْمَة ḥikmah and wisdom.

Inferiorly, prior to his being sent by Allah عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, prior to his بِعْثَة bi'thah, prior to his prophethood, they were in open error. They were lost. Open error.

So, Allah عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام says, "This is a favor that he accepted the du'ā'. And the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ came and fulfilled these tasks." But, we know our beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was the final prophet.

This is our عَقِيدَة 'aqīdah. And this is such a قَطْعِيّ qaṭ'ī belief that we have — that the one who rejects this belief, no matter if he calls himself a Muslim, is definitely not a Muslim. The one who rejects the خَتْمُ النُّبُوَّة khātm al-nubuwwah, rejects the finality of the prophethood of Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, will be out of the fold of Islam.

Because this is proven through نَصٌّ قَاطِع naṣṣ qāṭi', through a very clear, explicit آيَة āyah of the Qur'ān.

That Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ is the خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ khātam al-nabbiyyīn. He is the Rasūl of Allah and he is the seal of the prophets.

We have to be careful. I will not identify which Muslim school, but one of the Muslim schools I went to in our area — I was just visiting — and I saw a translation of the Qur'ān. I do not have to shy from telling you the name of the translator because it is important to identify this.

Muhammad Ali Lāhorī, in English translation of the Qur'ān by Muhammad Ali — not Yūsuf Ali but Muhammad Ali. So I was very shocked to see this translation and I showed the principal of the school that I opened this آيَة āyah from Sūrat al-Aḥzāb.

What does it say?

"The seal of the prophets." It was translated as "he is the most perfect prophet." And in the footnote it says, "This آيَة āyah does not deny prophets that will come after him.

"As Mīrzā Ghulām Aḥmad Qādiyānī was a prophet of Allah."

"And he will receive revelation from Allah. Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was the most perfect prophet, but there are prophets who will come after him."

That is why Allah says about the Qur'ān:

That many people are misguided through this book. And many people are guided through this book. And only those who are the grave sinners are misguided through this book.

The scholars of تَفْسِير tafsīr say here يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا — "Many people are misguided through this book" — is mentioned first. وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا — "Many people are guided through this book" — is mentioned second.

Does that mean that the book of Allah, the Qur'ān, is sent for a means of misguidance? That's the objective? Absolutely not.

It is a source of guidance. The reason يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا — "many people are misguided through this book" — is mentioned first, is because Allah wants to bring our attention to this absolute reality in fact, which we would perhaps not pay attention to, not be aware of, not realize. Yes, many people can be misguided through this book.

Without the true knowledge, without the عِلْم 'ilm of دِين dīn, then there will be people who will be misinterpreting the words of Allah. This is called تَحْرِيف taḥrīf. This is called keeping the word of Allah there intact but changing the meanings, distorting the meanings.

So Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, in any case, was the خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ khātam al-nabbiyyīn, is the final prophet. Those who believe that he was not the final prophet, they are expelled from the fold of Islam. They are not Muslims.

I was a cabinet member of the interfaith partnership of the greater St. Louis area. So we had 31 different faith groups. So we had a Qādiyānī mosque that came up and they were Qādiyānī Imāms and they joined us to represent the Muslims in the interfaith.

So this was an issue of contention that I had to take up with the board. And I said that you have Catholic representatives — yes, these are — this is a cardinal who represents the Catholic church, these are Protestants who represent the Protestant church. Then why in the world do you have a separate representative for the church of latter day saints, the Mormon church? They say, "If you do not believe in this Brigham Young, who this person who claimed to receive revelation after Jesus, and he was in Utah, in Salt Lake City, he founded a new religion, this is a Mormon religion."

I said, "Why don't you merge that with the Catholic faith? Don't they, aren't they, do they call themselves Jews? No. What do they call themselves? They call themselves Christians. I said, but you separate them, you say they are Mormon Christian.

"You don't call them Christian, you call them Mormons. Latter day saints, these saints who came now in 1800s, they received revelation from God and they changed the teachings of the Bible. They have their own book. Do you not consider them separate? Yes or no?" They said, "Yes, we consider them separate."

I said, "Guess what, congratulations, we are not now 31 members, we are now 32 members. 32 faiths. So you have now more diversity.

"This is not — these people do not represent Islam. They are different faith, the Qādiyānīs, because they believe in a prophet after Prophet Muhammad. Just like the Mormons are different from the Catholics, because they believe in Brigham Young, these people are also different.

"In fact, just like the Muslims are different from Christians, we believe in 'Īsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام but we believe in Muhammad عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام after 'Īsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام. The Jews are, the Christians are different from the Jews. They believe in Mūsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام but they believe in 'Īsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام after Mūsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام. So likewise, the Qādiyānīs are different — after Muhammad عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, they believe in Ghulām Aḥmad Qādiyān to be a prophet. So it becomes very, very clear.

"And every house of worship that they have, one standard element of architecture is in front of the main gates, in big bold lettering, is always written لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ Lā ilāha illallāh, Muhammadur Rasūlullāh. So to reinforce the fact that hey, we have the same كَلِمَة kalimah, so how dare you not call us Muslims. We have to be aware of that reality.

So Muhammad عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام is the final prophet, but his Nabuwwah is till the end of the times. If Nabī عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام came, he threw on him آيَاتِي āyātī to make تِلَاوَة tilāwah of the آيَات āyāt, teach the آيَات āyāt of the Qur'ān, يُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْحِكْمَةَ yu'allimuhum al-ḥikmah, teach حِكْمَة ḥikmah, teach سُنَّة sunnah, and make تَزْكِيَة tazkiyah of the hearts. Then after he leaves this world, then who will continue his message? When, who will continue his, who will continue his objectives? Allah has given the entire أُمَّة ummah the responsibility of دَعْوَة da'wah.

Invitation towards Allah, in general, is the responsibility of this entire أُمَّة ummah. But in particular, Allah has singled out the role of عُلَمَاء 'ulamā'. As Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ has said that أَنْبِيَاء anbiyā' are going to end.

Allah says in the Qur'ān, "I am the Seal of the Prophets. I am the last one. However, الْعُلَمَاءُ وَرَثَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ al-'ulamā'u wirāthat al-anbiyā'i.

"The عُلَمَاء 'ulamā', those who study the دِين dīn of Allah, dedicate themselves to learning the دِين dīn, their whole lives, they are the inheritors of the Prophets. They inherit from the Prophets.

"What did they inherit? وَالْأَنْبِيَاءُ لَمْ يُورِثُوا دِينَارًا وَلَا دِرْهَمًا wal-anbiyā'u lam yūrithū dīnāran wa lā dirhamān. The أَنْبِيَاء anbiyā', they did not leave as inheritance gold or silver.

As Abū Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ one time went into the marketplace and he told the people, "Oh, you are busy buying and selling here and working so hard to earn money.

"Guess what? There is free inheritance of Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ being distributed in Masjid Nabawī and you guys are toiling so hard here." So everyone ran to the Masjid. When they went there they saw حَلَقَة ḥalaqah of تَعْلِيم ta'līm where education of سُنَّة sunnah of Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was taking place.

They came back they said, "Oh Abū Hurayrah, we thought the camels and land and dates orchards will be distributed inheritance. And there was just a حَلَقَة ḥalaqah of عِلْم 'ilm there." He said, "Oh people, this is the inheritance of Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

"As Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said, 'The scholars, the أَنْبِيَاء anbiyā', they did not leave behind as inheritance Dīnār, gold coins or silver coins.

"'The inheritance left behind is the عِلْم 'ilm of the دِين dīn. Whoever acquires that has acquired a big share of the inheritance. Has acquired a big, big, big share. A big, abundant goodness he has acquired.'"

So this is the reality that Allah has selected his servants throughout the ages who carried this عِلْم 'ilm. Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said that every generation they are selected servants of Allah. Allah has chosen them and their task, their mission, is that they inherit the دِين dīn of Allah, the عِلْم 'ilm of دِين dīn of Allah, from the previous generation and they acquire it and internalize it and then they pass it on to the next generation. And then, their responsibility is they protect the دِين dīn from the misinterpretations of those who are going towards extremes.

We have so many different extreme views of people who call themselves Muslims — from the radical right to the radical left. We have those on the radical right who believe that every single U.S. citizen, as a supporter of the American government and foreign policy, is a viable target to kill and murder indiscriminately and it is an active reward. And they prove this from Qur'ān and سُنَّة sunnah. So-called prove it.

So who is going to disprove this ideology and speak out against this ideology? Allah has created in جَنَّة jannah and has created — and the purpose of جَنَّة jannah is for heterosexual pleasure in جَنَّة jannah. That is what they are claiming. "You will imagine these boys as scattered pearls, beautiful pearls."

So proving it from the Qur'ān. Any random Muslim person in the mosque right now sitting here who has no عِلْم 'ilm of تَفْسِير tafsīr, first thing you will say is, "Oh my God, what about" — can you not understand the mentioned in the Bible too? Yeah, that's the interpretation.

They have an answer for everything. They will say that that was forcible homosexual rape. Not consensual homosexual sex.

So forcible heterosexual rape is also a crime, or forcible homosexual rape is also a crime. But if it's done consensually, it's totally permitted. So this is being promoted from the Qur'ān.

Many people misguided through the book. So this is one example of the progressive movement on the left. So who is going to protect the دِين dīn from the progressive reformist of Islam on the left and the radical extremist on the right?

And keep the دِين dīn on the pure middle. "We have made you an أُمَّة ummah of moderation between these extremes." This is the responsibility.

Remove the excesses from the دِين dīn of the scholars of the عُلَمَاء 'ulamā'. And the time is now to conclude — is this responsibility, who is taking care of the responsibility in this day and age in America?

There are very, very, very few seminaries across the country. Seminaries are institutes of higher Islamic learning. What happens sometimes is — which means in English for our beloved friends who do not understand Urdu — that you know the cheap lentil soup outside? You have more value and you enjoy it and you eat it with relish, compared to the beautiful chicken dinner that your wife prepares at home. Why? Because your wife is always slaving in the kitchen, working at home, you don't care about it.

But any cheap dish you get outside, it tastes much better because it's from outside. So we have such an institute here, right here, that you are sitting in, that we do not realize what is going on. In this institute such students of عِلْم 'ilm are coming from all over the states, from areas that are completely devoid of learning, devoid of any scholarship.

They are thirsty and they want إِمَام imāms, they want عُلَمَاء 'ulamā', they want people to be available to answer their questions. But there is no one to answer their questions. There is no one to help them when they have doubts about their religion, when they have domestic abuse cases, when they have issues in marriages, when they have issues with children, when they have issues of theology, عَقِيدَة 'aqīdah, there is no guide.

So they are sending their students here to learn and to go back and serve in their communities as إِمَام imāms, as teachers. So this great work is taking place right here. And for this purpose, الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ alḥamdu lilāh, there is a very great event that we have been announcing.

It's going to take place just tomorrow, إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ in shā'a allāh, tomorrow night. So first of all, we are the people here in Dārul Islām. We have to have sincere appreciation for what is going on.

Make du'ā' to Allah that we do not become the scenario where under the candle is the dark. We are right under the candle. The light and the نُور nūr is emanating far off corners.

Students from Newark in California are benefiting here. Families have moved here from Switzerland. They were actually in a good position. Why are they doing in Switzerland? By the Alps. In a high position with Nestlé in the capital of the headquarters of Nestlé Corporation. They moved all of them from Switzerland.

People moved here from Saudi Arabia. People moved from different countries, different states to acquire the عِلْم 'ilm of دِين dīn. And we are right here, but we should not become deprived.

Either ourselves become عُلَمَاء 'ulamā', why not? Become a scholar. Become a full-time student of عِلْم 'ilm. Become a full-time student of عِلْم 'ilm.

Or become a patron, supporter of the students of عِلْم 'ilm. Don't be in any fifth category. You will be destroyed.

This is the instruction of Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. So we should either become a student, send our children to become students and benefit from the عِلْم 'ilm that is being taught here, the عِلْم 'ilm that is مُنجِي munjī, that will give us salvation, or become a supporter, إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ in shā'a allāh, for the next phase of the seminary. And if we cannot attend the dinner tomorrow, then definitely we should contribute whatever we can.

We are the ones who are witnessing it, seeing is believing. This is not some drawing, but we will be seeing it, we will be observing as the construction begins, إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ in shā'a allāh, with تَوْفِيق tawfīq of Allah, in March, end of February, March, we hope to start the construction. So we need all of your du'ās'.

May Allah make the event tomorrow night successful. May Allah allow us to reach our goal. May Allah give us إِخْلَاص ikhlāṣ and sincerity, give us اسْتِقَامَة istiqāmah, accept all the efforts of the volunteers and the donors and fulfill all their needs.

Wa خُتْمَان, الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ al-ḥamdu lilāh.