I’m the Prayer of my father Ibrahim

Thousands of years ago, Ibrahim Khalilullah and his son Isma’il built the Ka’bah in the dry and waterless valley of Makkah. The Ka’bah was made the first place for the worship of Allah Almighty in this universe. This Holy Sanctuary undoubtedly possesses an exalted status and unparalleled glory.

Imam al-Qastalani writes:
“The House of Allah was built ten times.

1. It was first built by angels.
2. The second time by Adam,
3. The third time by Adam’s son Sheeth,
4. The fourth time by Ibrahim,
5. The fifth time by the community of ‘Amalqa,
6. The sixth time by the tribe of Banu Jurhum,
7. The seventh time by Qusay ibn Kilab, the forefather of Allah’s Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him),
8. The eighth time by the Quraish,
9. The ninth time by Abdullah bin Zubair
10. The tenth time by Hajjaj bin Yusuf.”
    

“The House of Allah was built ten times. Ibrahim and Isma’il built the Holy Ka’bah the fourth time.”

When the Ka’bah was being built by Ibrahim and Isma’il for the fourth time and its walls raised, Ibrahim asked his son to bring him a stone to stand on, so that he could finish the building.
Isma’il then brought the stone for Ibrahim to stand on. This stone was later known as Maqam Ibrahim (the Station of Ibrahim).
After he completed building Allah’s House, Ibrahim uttered the following supplication:

Ibrahim had the honor of having his supplication answered. True to his prayer, the place is still an abode of peace that commands great respect. Fruits grown across the world are abundantly available to its residents throughout the year. Then Ibrahim and Isma’il made another supplication:

“Our Lord! And send amongst them a Messenger of their own (and indeed Allah answered their invocation by sending Muhammad), who shall recite to them Your Verses and instruct them in the Book (this Qur’an) and Al-Hikmah (full knowledge of the Islamic laws and jurisprudence or wisdom or Prophet’s legal ways), and purify them. Verily, You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”

By ‘purification’ they implied that he would purify their souls and entire way of life including their behavior, characters, habits, social dealings, interactions and politics. This was the practical responsibility of Allah’s Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) to the Companions, which he fulfilled to the best of his ability.

Thousands of years have elapsed since the father and the son prayed, and Allah Almighty granted their prayers. Then the birth of the best of creation, the chief of Adam’s progeny, the one who intercedes with Allah on behalf of the sinful, Muhammad, took place.
The Companions said,

Esteemed readers, this Light of Guidance was the eminent being of our Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) whose auspicious birth eliminated the darkness of infidelity and polytheism, and illuminated the whole world with the light of Islamic Monotheism and Prophetic Sunnah.

Maqam Ibrahim is the stone with the footprints of Ibrahim. This stone is almost square shape having 40 cm of length and width and the height of about 20 cm. The color of this stone is yellowish and reddish white. On this stone, there is a foot print of 10 cm in depth the prints of fingers on which are not clear. Over time, the footprints have become larger on top due to rubbing of hands for blessing (touching the stone for blessing has no tradition or significance in Islam).

Note: This story is taken from a Book called ” Golden Stories of Accepted Prayers“ By Abdul Malik Mujahid.