Quran Universe
14:39

ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى ٱلۡكِبَرِ إِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ

Alhamdu lillahi allathee wahaba lee AAala alkibari ismaAAeela waishaqa inna rabbee lasameeAAu aldduAAai

Praise to Allah, who has granted to me in old age Ishmael and Isaac. Indeed, my Lord is the Hearer of supplication.

Word by word
  1. ٱلۡحَمۡدُAll the Praise
  2. لِلَّهِ(is) for Allah
  3. ٱلَّذِيthe One Who
  4. وَهَبَhas granted
  5. لِيme
  6. عَلَىin
  7. ٱلۡكِبَرِthe old age
  8. إِسۡمَٰعِيلَIshmael
  9. وَإِسۡحَٰقَۚand Isaac
  10. إِنَّIndeed
  11. رَبِّيmy Lord
  12. لَسَمِيعُ(is) All-Hearer
  13. ٱلدُّعَآءِ(of) the prayer
Ibrahim · 14:39Makkah

Children in old age: my Lord hears every dua.

Ibrahim thanks Allah for Isma'il and Ishaq

What he was given
Ibrahimin old age
given
Isma'il
Ishaq
What he learned
too late nowthe time has passed
the Hearer of duaHe answered in old age

Ibn Kathir says Ibrahim praised Allah for giving him children after he had grown old. He notes Isma'il was thirteen years older than Ishaq. Ibrahim's lesson: He accepts the dua of those who call on Him.

You have been asking for something for years: a child, a spouse, healing, a way out of debt. People hint it is too late. Ibrahim was answered in old age. Keep asking, and praise Him for what has already come.

If it has not happened by now, it never will.

My Lord hears every dua, and His timing has no age limit.

Try this

Begin your next dua with praise for one answered prayer, then ask again.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 14:38)

"O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah. (38)"All praise is due to Allah, Who has given me in old age Isma'il and Ishaq. Verily, my Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations. (39)"O my Lord! Make me one who performs Salah, and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation. (40)"Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.") Ibn Jarir At-Tabari said, "Allah said that Ibrahim, His Khalil, sai (41)

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِي وَمَا نُعْلِنُ

(O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal.) meaning, 'You know the intention behind my supplication for the people of this town, seeking Your pleasure in sincerity to You. You know all things, apparent and hidden, and nothing escapes Your knowledge on the earth or in heaven.'" He next praised and thanked his Lord the Exalted and Most Honored for granting him offspring after he became old,

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ

(All praise is due to Allah, Who has given me in old age Isma'il (Ishmael) and Ishaq (Isaac). Verily, my Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.) 'He accepts the supplication of those who invoke Him, and has accepted my invocation when I asked Him to grant me offspring. ' Ibrahim said next,

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ

(O my Lord! Make me one who performs Salah,), preserving its obligations and limits,

وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي

(and (also) from my offspring,), make them among those who establish the prayer, as well,

رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ

(our Lord! And accept my invocation.), all of my invocation which I invoked You with herein,

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ

(Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents,) Ibrahim said this before he declared himself innocent from his father, after he became sure that he was an enemy of Allah,

وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 

(and the believers), all of them,

يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

(on the Day when the reckoning will be established.) on the Day when You will reckon Your servants and recompense or reward them for their deeds - good for good and evil for evil.