2 Duas of Prophet Ibrahim (as) for Makkah
رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ
Rabbij ‘al haazaa baladan aaminanw warzuq ahlahoo minas samaraati man aamana minhum billaahi wal yawmil aakhiri
Translation
“My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits – whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day.”
Surah Baqarah Ayat 126
رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ
Rabbij ‘al haazal balada aaminanw wajnubnee wa baniyya an na’budal asnaam
Translation
“My Lord, make this city [Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.”
Surah Ibrahim Ayat 35
Key Takeaways
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Today, Makkah al-Mukarramah is a vibrant, secure city with low crime, corruption, and theft. Even though few things can grow there, Allah (swt) continues to grant abundant provision to its inhabitants—much of this prosperity stems from these two duas of Prophet Ibrahim (as).
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A subtle yet meaningful difference exists between the two duas: In Surah Baqarah, Ibrahim (as) prays “make this a secure city” (baladan), while in Surah Ibrahim, he says “make this city secure” (al-balada) – a distinction tied to Makkah’s development from an unestablished land to a settled city.
First Du’a
Prophet Ibrahim (as) recited this dua before Makkah became an established city. He prayed for Allah to transform the land into a safe, peaceful abode for all who would live there, and further asked for “fruits” – a metaphor for blessings, opportunities, and prosperity. To this day, Makkah al-Mukarramah maintains peace and stability, a fulfillment of Allah’s will.
Notably, Ibrahim (as) prayed for provisions for all the city’s people, without distinguishing between believers and mushrikeen (idol-worshippers). The verse continues: “[Allah] said. ‘And whoever disbelieves – I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination.’” (2:126)
This verse exemplifies Allah’s justice: He provides equally for believers and disbelievers in worldly needs—food, drink, rest, and recreation. Yet it warns us not to mistake wealth or riches for divine favor. Our final destination is with Allah, where we will all be accountable for our choices.
Second Dua
The difference between this dua and the first lies in two Arabic letters (alif lam), changing “baladan” (a city) to “al-balada” (the city). This small shift reflects Makkah’s transformation: when Ibrahim (as) returned, the land had become an established city, and he prayed for it to remain secure.
Another contrast is his request: instead of praying for provisions (already evident in the city’s prosperity), Ibrahim (as) asked Allah to “keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.”
Prophet Ibrahim (as) displayed great foresight: he recognized that success often leads people to indulge in comfort, while hardship prompts reflection. When life is easy, we may forget the One who made it possible—falling into arrogance and believing in our own superiority. This is where past communities strayed from the beliefs and values that initially brought them success.
Iblees (Satan) is patient, waiting for the right moment to spread corruption. We must not grow complacent in times of prosperity; on the contrary, this is when we need to strengthen our faith. Success is often the greatest test, and Ibrahim (as), knowing this, prayed for protection from sinful acts like idol-worship.
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