“My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and from my descendants. Our Lord, accept my supplication.”

My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and many from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.

Ibrahim is old when he says this. The verses just before are his thanks for being given Isma‘il and Ishaq in his old age, and his acknowledgement that Allah knows what he hides and what he shows. Then comes the request — and he does not ask for the two sons to be safe or successful, but for himself and his descendants to be people who keep up the prayer. He ends by asking that the asking itself be accepted.