The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 346
CH. 14 IBRAHİM 39. Our Lord, certainly, "Thou knowest what we conceal and PT. 13 Sajes وَمَا يَخْفَى عَلَى اللهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ what we make known. And وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ nothing whatsoever is hidden from Allah, whether in the earth or in the heaven. 1693 "2:78; 3:6; 27:66. at a place where there was no water, no vegetation and no sign of life was virtually tantamount to immolating him. However, when the literal interpretation of his dream by Abraham had actually caused him to lay Ishmael down and place the knife at his throat, Abraham was prohibited by God from doing so and thus the practice of offering human beings as sacrifice forever became banned to the followers of God. By using the words, that they may observe Prayer, Abraham seeks to attract God's mercy by mentioning the noble object for which he had caused his offspring to dwell near the Sacred House. God accepted the prayer, for He sees the motives of man and He never allows a work done with good intention to go unrewarded. After mentioning that he had caused his offspring to dwell in that barren valley so that they might establish the worship of God at the Sacred Mosque and thus fulfil the purpose for which it had been built, Abraham prays that "men's hearts might be inclined towards them", so that their preaching to them might prove effective and they might also join with them in worshipping God at the Holy Shrine and thus the purpose for which he had made his offspring dwell in that "bleak and barren valley" might be accomplished. This prayer of Abraham found its complete fulfilment in the advent of the Holy Prophet; for before him it was only the Arabs who visited Mecca to offer their oblations but, after his advent, people from all over the world began to flock to the Holy House of God. The prayer also implied that the Ka'bah would one day become the centre of the worship of the One True God. Nor did Abraham neglect the physical welfare of his offspring. He prayed that his descendants living in and around Mecca might have plenty of fruits. This prayer was made at a time when not a blade of grass was seen for many miles about that place. Still the prophecy met with fulfilment in a wonderful manner, for the choicest fruits come to Mecca in the hearts of nations have become plenty and at all seasons. Spiritually, extraordinarily drawn towards the House of God at Mecca, where pilgrims flock from all parts of the world. The latter part of the prophecy is waiting to be fulfilled on a yet grander scale, when Islam will have spread and dominated all over the world. 1693. Commentary: 1554 This and the preceding verses speak