As-Saffat · Makki · ayah 108 of 182

As-Saffat 37:108

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ

“And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations:”

Saheeh International

Essence

Allah left for Ibrahim a good name among all who came after him: a prayer of his, answered across the centuries.

A reflection

A prayer answered in every prayer

Elsewhere Ibrahim made a specific du'a: 'Grant me a truthful mention among later generations' (26:84). This ayah reads like the reply. Wa-taraknā ʿalayhi fī al-ākhirīn: and We left for him, among the later generations, a lasting praise. One early commentator links the two explicitly. Ibrahim asked, and Allah left him a good name among those who came after, as He left an evil name on Pharaoh and his like.

Think how literally that prayer has been answered. In every prayer, Muslims send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ 'as You sent blessings on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim'. Sahih al-Bukhari records the Prophet ﷺ teaching that wording himself. Billions of times a day, in every language, Ibrahim is named with honour.

One classical scholar lists this among the gifts given to Ibrahim's household. Allah left upon them fair praise in the world, so that they are mentioned only with blessing.

There is a lesson in how Ibrahim prayed. He did not ask for fame. He asked for a truthful mention: to be remembered accurately, for what was real. Allah gave him that, and far more than he could have imagined.

What would you like to be truthfully remembered for? Ask Allah for it, and then live as though the answer is already being written.

The full entry has 2 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.