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2:126 - And remember Abraham said: "My Lord make this a City of Peace and feed its people with
fruits such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day." He said: "(Yea) and such as reject
faith for a while will I grant them their pleasure but will soon drive them to the torment of fire an
evil destination (indeed)!" 127128
127 The root salama in the word Islam implies (among other ideas) the idea of Peace, and therefore when Mecca is the
city of Islam, it is also the City of Peace. The same root occurs in the latter part of the name Jerusalem, the Jewish
City of Peace. When the day of Jerusalem passed (see verse 134 or 141 below), Mecca became the "New
Jerusalem" - or rather the old and original "City of Peace" restored and made universal. (2.126)
128 The territory of Mecca is barren and rocky, compared with, say Taif, a city 70-75 miles east of Mecca. A prayer for the
prosperity of Mecca therefore includes a prayer for the good things of material life. This is the literal meaning. But
note that the opposition in this verse is between the fruits of the Garden for the righteous and the torments of the Fire
for the evil ones - a spiritual allegory of great force and aptness. (2.126)
2:127 - And remember Abraham and Isma`il raised the foundations of the House (with this prayer):
"Our Lord! accept (this service) from us for thou art the All-Hearing the All-Knowing.
2:128 - "Our Lord! make of us Muslims bowing to Thy (Will) and of our progeny a people Muslim
bowing to Thy (Will) and show us our places for the celebration of (due) rites; and turn unto us
(in mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Returning Most-Merciful.
2:129 - "Our Lord! send amongst them an Apostle of their own who shall rehearse Thy Signs to
them and instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom and sanctify them; for Thou art the Exalted in
Might the Wise." 129
129 How beautiful this prayer is, and how aptly it comes in here in the argument! Such Paganism or star-worship or planetworship
as there was in Abraham's time was first cleared out of Mecca by Abraham. This is the chief meaning of
"sanctification" or purification in ii. 125, although of course physical cleanliness is (in physical conditions) a necessary
element of purification in the higher sense. Abraham and his elder son Ismail then built the Ka'ba and established the
rites and usages of the sacred city. He was thus the founder of the original Islam (which is as old as mankind) in
Arabia. As becomes a devout man, he offers and dedicates the work to God in humble supplication, addressing Him
as the All-Hearing and the All-Knowing. He then asks for a blessing on himself and his progeny generally, both the
children of his eldest-born Ismail and his younger son Isaac. With prophetic vision he foresees that there will be
corruption and backsliding in both branches of his family: Mecca will house 360 idols, and Jerusalem will become a
harlot city (Ezekiel xvi. 15), a city of abomination. But the light of Islam will shine, and reclaim the lost people in both
branches and indeed in all the world. So he prays for God's mercy, addressing Him as the Oft-Returning Most
Merciful. And finally he foresees in Mecca an Apostle teaching the people as one "of their own", and in their own
beautiful Arabic language; he asks for a blessing on Muhammad's ministry, appealing to the Power and Wisdom of
God. (2.129)
See 2:130-135. 258.260.
3:67 -Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian but he was true in faith and bowed his will to
Allah's (which is Islam) and he joined not gods with Allah. 404
404 Cf. ii. 135 and the whole argument in that passage. (3.67)
See 3:95. 96-97; 6:74. 75-79.80-83; 9:113.114; 11:69-73.74-76
14:35 - Remember Abraham said: "O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security: and
preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols. 19121913
1912 This Prayer of Abraham, the True in Faith, the progenitor of the Semitic peoples and the Prototype of their Religion, is
introduced in this place, to illustrate the points referred to in the preceding section, xiv. 31-34, viz., how the new
Revelation through the Ka'ba bears out the universal Revelation of Prayer and Charity, Love of Allah and man,
Recognition of Allah's handiwork in nature, and Insistence on man's turning away from false worship and ingratitude to
Allah. Notice the four divisions into which it falls: (1) verses 35-36 are spoken by Abraham as on his own behalf ("O
my Lord!"); (2) verses 37-38 are spoken on behalf of his progeny ("O our Lord!") but with special reference to the elder
branch, the children of Isma'il; (3) verses 39-40 are again a personal appeal, but both branches of his family, viz., the
sons of Isma'il and Isaac, are expressly mentioned; (4) verse 41 is a Prayer for himself, his parents, and all Believers,
typifying that in the universality of Islam all nations are to be blessed. Jerusalem, for the Mosaic Law and the Gospel
of Jesus, was the centre and symbol for the Jewish race, though of course all Allah's Truth is universal; Makkah, the
centre of the Arab race, was to throw off its tribal character and become universal, in spite of the Makkans
themselves. (14.35)
1913 Cf. ii. 125-129. Abraham (with Isma'il) built the Ka'ba, and Abraham asks a blessing on his handiwork and forgiveness
for such lapses into idolatry as both branches of his family might fall into. (14.35)
14:36 - "O my Lord! they have indeed led astray many among mankind: he then who follows my
(ways) is of me and he that disobeys me but thou art indeed Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.
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