Acceptance of Deeds and Offspring
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 تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُسْلِمَةً لَكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
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“Our Lord, accept from us! Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing. Our Lord, make us submissive to You, and from our offspring a community submissive to You, show us our rites of worship and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepter of repentance, the Merciful.”
Forms: The verbs “taqabbal” and “ij’al”. A model of etiquette: having erected the Kaaba, the prophets did not become proud of their righteous deed but with tears asked for the acceptance of the deed, for humility and for the righteousness of their offspring.
Tafsir of Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Saadi
Sheikh al-Saadi writes: “Ibrahim and Ismail were performing the most noble deed, the building of the House of Allah, yet at the same time they prayed for the acceptance of this labour. A righteous person is never deluded by good deeds but fears that they will not be accepted.”
Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir
Ibn Kathir cites the words of Wuhayb ibn al-Ward, who wept when reciting this verse: “O beloved of the Most Merciful! You are building the House of Allah and you fear that it will not be accepted from you!”
Tafsir al-Baghawi
The words of Allah, the Exalted: “... And (mention) when (the Prophet) Ibrahim raises the foundations of the House, and Ismail...” that is, the foundation of the Kaaba. The word “qawa’id” (foundations) is the plural form of “qa‘ida” (foundation). Al-Kisa’i said: the walls of the Kaaba.
“...‘Our Lord! Accept from us...’” Here there is an implied meaning: and they said, “Our Lord! Accept from us our building.”
“...for indeed, You are the Hearing...” that is, You hear our supplications. “...the Knowing!...” that is, You know our intentions.
“...‘Our Lord! And make us both submissive to You...’” monotheists, obedient, sincere, and humble before You.
“...and from (among) our offspring...” that is, from our children,
“...a community...” a group. “Umma” (community) means the followers of the prophets. “...submissive to You...” obedient to You. “...and show us...” teach us, explain to us.
“...our rites of worship...” that is, the laws of our faith and the landmarks of our pilgrimage. Another opinion is that it means the places of our pilgrimage. Mujahid said: the places where we will offer sacrifices. The word “nusuk” means a sacrificial animal.
Another opinion is that it means our places of worship. The root meaning of “nusuk” is worship, and “nasik” is a worshipper.
And Allah, the Exalted, answered their supplication by sending Jibril, who showed them the rites on the Day of ‘Arafa. When they reached the plain of ‘Arafat, he (Jibril) said, “Have you recognized (this place), O Ibrahim?” He replied, “Yes,” and so that time was called “‘Arafa,” and the place “‘Arafat” (from the word “to recognize,” “to know”). “...and accept our repentance...” forgive us “...for indeed, You are the Accepter of Repentance, the Merciful!...”
In “Sahih al-Bukhari” (No. 3364) the story of the building of the Kaaba by Ibrahim and Ismail is described in detail, when they walked around the building and repeated these very words of supplication.