Prophet Ibraheem's descendants

[mettle guy]

    
A question on verse 2:124 surah al-Baqra

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers."

Prophet Ibraheem's descendants were Prophets Ismaeel, Ishaq, Yaqub and Yusuf.  Therefor when he asked about granting leadership to his descendants, why was his request refused by God Almighty ?

[Ruhi_Rose]

Walaykum As-Salam.    It wasn’t exactly a ‘request’ but a query to be precise.  The term “descendants’ – in original Quranic Arabic ذُرِّيَّتِي which means “my descendants” as spoken by Prophet Ibrahim – does not mean Prophet Ibrahim’s sons, grandson and great-grandson.  Rather it refers to the nations, that is, the populace by and large springing in the years, decades and centuries after Prophet Ibrahim and his sons, grandson and great-grandson.  This is what Prophet Ibrahim meant when he asked that question from The Almighty.  Thus, in one brief sentence, Allah Almighty makes it clear in His response, alluding that His covenant (or promise) of  leadership is only for those of Ibrahim’s descendants who are righteous.  The unrighteous are definitely excluded whether they be the misguided Israelites or the people of Makkah who deviated into polytheism from the correct teachings of Prophet Ismail.

Needless to say, the trail of Prophet Ibrahim’s direct descendants – Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub and Yusuf - were very righteous.  They were granted leadership by The Almighty and recognized as Prophets.

So, in Verse 2:124 when Allah Almighty states "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers." .. this refers to the various people of later times sprouting from these nations.  It does not refer to Prophet Ibrahim’s immediate four descendants.   

[mettle guy]

I comprehend.  Shukran for this tafseer sister.  It is a good exposition.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Welcome.