| Maryam: (54-55) And mention in the Book...

Know that this Ishmael is Ishmael, son of Abraham, peace be upon them both. Know that Allah, the Exalted, described Ishmael, peace be upon him, with several attributes:

First: His saying: {Indeed, he was true to his word} (54). This promise can be interpreted in two ways:

1. Between him and Allah: Meaning he never failed to obey whatever he was commanded regarding his Lord's worship. This is because when Allah sends an angel to the Prophets with commands to establish the religious law (Shari'ah), a commitment from them to fulfill that duty, along with all their personal acts of worship, must be evident.
2. Between him and the people: Meaning that whenever he promised something to people, he fulfilled his promise. Allah described him with this noble characteristic. It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he promised a companion to wait for him in a certain place, and he waited for him for a year. Furthermore, he promised himself patience regarding the slaughter (sacrifice), and he fulfilled it when he said: {You will surely find me, if Allah wills, among the patient} (As-Saffat: 102). It is also narrated that a man told Jesus, peace be upon him, "Wait for me until I come to you," and Jesus replied, "Yes." The man left and forgot the appointment. He later came to that place for a need, and Jesus was there for the appointed time. Regarding the Prophet (PBUH), it is narrated that he promised to meet a man, but the man forgot. The Prophet waited for him from the forenoon until close to sunset. Al-Sha'bi was asked about the time limit for waiting for someone who made an appointment. He replied: If he appointed a time during the day, one waits the entire day; if he appointed a time at night, one waits the entire night. Ibrahim ibn Yazid was asked about this, and he said: If you appoint a time corresponding to a prayer time, wait until the time of the next prayer.

Second: His saying: {And he was a messenger, a prophet} (54). This has already been explained.

Third: His saying: {And he used to enjoin upon his family the prayer and the zakāh} (55). The most likely interpretation of "family" (ahl) is those upon whom he was obligated to convey the religious law, which includes his entire community, as what is incumbent upon a man regarding his family is incumbent upon him concerning all of them. This applies if the command is taken to mean the obligatory prayer and zakāh. If it is taken to mean the recommended acts (nadb), then it means that just as he used to perform night prayers (Tahajjud), he would command those in his household at that time. His concern for their religion outweighed his compassion for them in worldly matters, unlike most people.

It is also said that he began by commanding his family regarding righteousness and worship to make them an example for others, as Allah says: {And warn your nearest relatives} (Ash-Shu'ara: 214), {And enjoin prayer upon your family, and be patient with it} (Tā-Hā: 132), and {Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire} (At-Tahrim: 6). Moreover, they are the most deserving recipients of charity, so they must be prioritized in religious benevolence.

As for zakāh, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) interpreted it as obedience to Allah and sincerity. He may have interpreted it as that which purifies the doer in the sight of his Lord. However, when zakāh is mentioned alongside ṣalāh, the apparent meaning is the obligatory charity. He might have known which members of his close family were obligated to pay zakāh and commanded them accordingly, or he commanded them to voluntarily give charity to the poor.

Fourth: His saying: {And he was pleasing to his Lord} (55). This is the height of praise, because one who is pleasing to Allah is the one who achieves the highest ranks in all his acts of obedience.

(The Sixth Story: The Story of Idris, peace be upon him)

**7 < { And mention in the Book, Idris. Indeed, he was a truthful one, a prophet. * And We raised him to a high station. } > 7

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