The building of Kaaba remained the same up till when the Quraysh rebuild the Kaaba. Narrated 'Aishah : Allah's Apostle said (to her).

After Ibrahim built the Kaaba, Allah ordered him to:

"And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men:..." [Surah Al Hajj 22:27]

Meaning announce the pilgrimage to mankind and call them to perform pilgrimage to this House, which We have commanded you to built.

It is reported in at-Tabari (18: 605,607) from Ibn Abbas and others that Ibrahim said:

So Ibrahim stood up and said: 'O Mankind! Your Lord has established a House so come on pilgrimage to it.' The mountains lowered themselves so that his voice would reach all regions of the Earth, and those who were still in their mother's wombs and their father's loins would hear the call. The response came from everyone in the cities, deserts and countryside, and those whom Allah decreed will make the pilgrimage until the Day of Judgment, as Allah said:

"...they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways;" [Surah Al Hajj 22:27]

Supplications of Ibrahim

After the construction of Kaaba, Ibrahim invoked Allah to bless the city of Makkah and those who live therein and provide them with provisions:

"And remember Ibrahim said: "My Lord, make this a City of Peace, and feed its people with fruits,-such of them as believe in God and the Last Day."..." [Surah Al Baqarah 2:126]

And thus Allah responded to the call of Ibrahim :

"Remember We made the House (the Kaaba) a place of assembly for men and a place of safety;..." [Surah Al Baqarah 2:125]

and:

"...Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary, to which are brought as tribute fruits of all kinds,- a provision from Ourselves? but most of them understand not." [Surah Al Qasas 28:57]

Ibn Abbas said: "On the day of the conquest of Makkah, Allah's Messenger said:

Ibrahim also invoked Allah to:

"Our Lord! Send amongst them an Apostle of their own, who shall rehearse Thy Signs to them and instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, and sanctify them: For Thou art the Exalted in Might, the Wise." [Surah Al Baqarah 2:129]

and indeed Allah answered his invocation and sent Prophet Muhammad , who was born in Makkah and from where Islam spread throughout the world.

The Glad tidings of Ishaque and Yaqub

One day Ibrahim was sitting outside his tent, three Angels in human shape descended to the earth; Jibreel , Israfeel , and Mika'eel . Ibrahim arose and welcomed them:

"They said: 'Salam' (greetings or peace). He answered Salam and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. But when he saw their hands went not toward it (the meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived feat of them. They said: 'Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lut.' And his wife was standing (there), she laughed. But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaque and Yaqu'ob. She said (in astonishment): 'Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband, an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing!' They said: 'Do you wonder at the Decree of Allah? The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be on you, O family (of Ibrahim). Surely, He (Allah) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious.'" [Surah al-Hud 11:69-73]

"And We gave (Ibrahim) Ishaque and Yaqub..." [Surah Al 'Ankabut 29:27]

Ibrahim , an Imam (leader) to the people

After Ibrahim qualified in all the trials of Allah, He, the Exalted, decided to make him an Imam meaning a Prophet and leader and an example for the people to come:

"And remember that Ibrahim was tried by his Lord with certain Commands, which he fulfilled: He said: "I will make thee an Imam to the Nations." He pleaded: "And also (Imams) from my offspring!" He answered: "But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers."" [Surah Al Baqarah 2:124]

"...and We granted him his reward in this life; and he was in the Hereafter (of the company) of the Righteous." [Surah Al 'Ankabut 29:27]

Allah granted Prophethood and Divine Books to his progeny:

"We gave him Ishaque and Yaqub: all (three) We guided: and before him, We guided Nuh, and among his progeny, Dawud, Sulaiman, Ayyub, Yusuf, Musa, and Harun: thus do We reward those who do good: And Zakariya and Yahya, and Isa and Ilyas: all in the ranks of the righteous: And Ismail and Al-Yas'a, and Yunus, and Lut: and to all We gave favour above the nations: (To them) and to their fathers, and progeny and brethren: We chose them, and We guided them to a straight Way. This is the Guidance of Allah: He giveth that guidance to whom He pleaseth, of His worshippers. If they were to join other gods with Him, all that they did would be vain for them." [Surah Surah Al An'am 6:84-88]

Thus, every Book (Scripture) was given to the Prophets from the progeny of Ibrahim . From Ishaque , the second son of Ibrahim came the Prophets of Israel and their progeny finished on Isa (AS). From Ismail , the first son of Ibrahim came only one Prophet, the superior among them and the seal of them, which is Prophet Muhammad .

Thus, Ibrahim acquires great respect and honor in the hearts of Muslims. He is the most superior of the Prophets after Prophet Muhammad . Therefore, when we send prayers and blessings on our Prophet , we are also ordered to mention his name.

Narrated by Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila:

Source: - As-Sunnah Newsletter - Sister Shawana A. Aziz