The creation of the universe by our Creator was not mere cosmetic Divine feat. It was created to show man the magnitude of powers and abilities of God so that they take heed and believe in him. For this, many prophets were sent to different nations, but most mocked the prophets and the Divine message they brought to them. Even Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) was mocked by the polytheists and idol worshippers when he told them that they idols the make with their own hands are but lifeless pieces of stone.
Herein under we share a prayer of Prophet Ibraheem which he made after laying the foundation and four walls of present day Ka'bah (the cubicle in the center of Masjid al Haram in Makkah). Since these four walls represented a direction where every Muslim around the world were to face and pray. When Prophet Ibraheem had finished with his work, he made a supplication to God to preserve this place forever.
The prayer made by Prophet Ibraheem is mentioned in verse 126 of Surah Al Baqarah (The Cow), the second surah of Al Qur'an, given herein under along with the Divine response to it. This a very important verse of Al Qur'an which carries a life long message for all those who still disbelieve in One True God.
The Verse
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَـٰذَا بَلَدًا ءَامِنًۭا وَٱرْزُقْ أَهْلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ مِنْهُم بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۖ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُۥ قَلِيلًۭا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
"And [mention] when Abraham said, 'My Lord, make this city [of Mecca] secure and provide fruits to its people—those among them who believe in Allah and the Last Day.' He answered, 'And as for those who disbelieve, I will let them enjoy themselves for a little while; then I will force them to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination'".
Context of the verse
2:126 is from Surah Al-Baqarah. It records a supplication made by Prophet Ibrahim. This verse appears in a passage (2:124–129) about Prophet Ibrahim's role as a model of faith and the establishment of the Kaaba as a center of worship. The sequence is significant:
- 2:124: Allah appoints Ibrahim as a leader (imam) after testing him.
- 2:125: The Kaaba is declared a place of worship and security.
- 2:126: Ibrahim prays for the security and prosperity of the city.
- 2:127–129: Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail raise the foundations of the Kaaba and pray for future generations.
Thus, verse 2:126 is part of a larger narrative about building a community founded on faith, peace, and devotion to Allah.
Explanation of the Verse
1. What is Ibrahim asking for? His prayer has two requests:
- Security "My Lord, make this a secure city..." That is he asks that the city (understood to be Mecca) be a place of peace, where people can live and worship without fear.
- Provision "...and provide its people with fruits..." - that is he prays for material well-being and sustenance.
Notice that Ibrahim initially qualifies this second request: "...whoever among them believes in Allah and the Last Day." He asks that believing people receive these blessings.
The Ibrahimic wisdom One may also notice that Prophet Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) did not pray for the land of Makkah to be made fertile, but suggested in his prayer that the fruits might come to Makkah from somewhere else as an import.
- He probably intended that his descendants should not get unduly absorbed in agriculture, for his purpose in founding the settlement was that his people لیقوموا الصلاۃ "should be steadfast in the prayers." In other words, he wanted the essential function of his descendants to protect "the House of Allah" and to engage themselves in acts of worship. Otherwise, he could have prayed for Makkah itself to be made fertile, and Allah would have granted the prayer as easily.
- And if we correlate this prophetic wisdom to present days, we will find that there still is no vegetation, even water, enough for inhabitants of Makkah today. To this are added millions of pilgrims who visit Makkah each year. Yet provisions are brought in along with water in so much abundance that it suffices the entire people and pilgrims present at any time of the year, specially during the days of Hajj (the annual pilgrimage) when millions of pilgrims are present in Makkah at one time.
Ibn Kathir notes that this was a supplication for Makkah to be a place free of fear and terror. Allah fulfilled this by making the Kaaba an area where even the surrounding areas were in danger, but those who entered Makkah were protected. Ibrahim also asked for fruits to feed its people, asking Allah to limit this blessing to those who “believe in Allah and the Last Day”.
2. Allah's response Allah broadens the scope of the prayer:
"And whoever disbelieves—I will grant him enjoyment for a little..."
This is a profound theological point: Allah explains that His provision in this world is not limited to believers. He gives food, health, wealth, rain, and opportunities to believers and non-believers alike. Worldly blessings are expressions of His generosity and wisdom, not necessarily indicators of a person's spiritual standing. However, the verse continues by distinguishing between temporary worldly enjoyment and ultimate accountability in the Hereafter.
One of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi explains this part of the verse as under:
When Abraham prayed to Allah to provide his descendants with the necessities of life, he excluded from his prayer the would-be transgressors, because Allah had excluded them from His promise of leadership. Allah, however, removed his misunderstanding immediately, saying, "There is a great difference between the two things. While the righteous leadership will be bestowed upon the true believers only, the necessities of life will be given to both the believers and the unbelievers." It also implies that the possession of wealth is not the standard to judge whether Allah is pleased with one or not. If one is given abundance of wealth, it does not necessarily mean that Allah is pleased with him and considers him to be worthy of leadership as well.
Notable Muslim scholar of 14th century Ibn Kathir notes: Allah is incredibly Merciful and Sustaining, granting worldly provision, wealth, and enjoyment even to the disbelievers. However, this provision is brief and temporary. After a brief period of worldly enjoyment, the disbeliever's fate is absolute and eternal torment in the Hellfire.
The main lessons
This verse teaches several principles:
- Peace and security are blessings to pray for.
- Material provision is a blessing from Allah.
- Allah's mercy in this world extends to all people.
- Worldly success is not, by itself, proof of Allah's approval.
- Every person remains accountable for their response to faith.
- Why is it sometimes quoted to non-Muslims?
The verse is occasionally shared in interfaith discussions because it highlights an important Quranic principle:
Allah's worldly mercy is universal: The Quran consistently teaches that Allah provides for all humanity, regardless of belief. Elsewhere, it says:
"There is no creature on earth except that its provision is upon Allah." (Surah Hud 11:6)
This can help correct the misconception that Islam teaches Allah cares only for Muslims. According to the Quran, sunlight, rain, sustenance, and countless other blessings are given to humanity broadly.
However, Quran 2:126 is not a verse that Muslims are instructed to "oft repeat" specifically to non-Muslims. The Quran does not single it out for that purpose. If someone cites it in conversation, it is usually to illustrate:
- Allah's generosity toward all people.
- The distinction between worldly blessings and eternal reward.
- The shared spiritual heritage of Prophet Ibrahim, who is revered in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
- How should we reflect on it today?
This verse invites several reflections:
- Pray for peace before prosperity. Ibrahim first asks for security, then for provision. A society without safety cannot truly flourish.
- Recognize Allah's universal mercy. Every blessing we enjoy—food, health, family, opportunities—is part of Allah's sustaining care.
- Avoid judging people by material success. Wealth or comfort is not necessarily a measure of spiritual worth.
- Use worldly blessings responsibly. Since provision is a gift, it should lead to gratitude, generosity, and remembrance of Allah.
Ultimately, Quran 2:126 presents a balanced vision: seek a peaceful and prosperous society, appreciate that Allah's mercy encompasses all people in this life, and remember that the lasting distinction between people lies not in what they possess, but in how they respond to Allah's guidance and live their lives accordingly.
You may watch the video below in which prominent Muslim scholar Nauman Ali Khan explains the above quoted verse:
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may refer to more Selected Verses from Surah 2 Al Baqarah (The Cow) already published
You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages:
- Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
- Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
- Selected Verses from the Qur'an.
You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
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