Our Lord, accept this from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.

  وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

As Abraham raises the foundations of the House, together with Ishmael,Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing. (Quran 2:127)

Allah reminds us that Ibrahim and Ismail (A.S) raised the foundations of the Sacred House, the Holy Ka’abah by the command of Allah. While they were building the House they were asking Allah to accept this deed of theirs as a deed exclusively done to achieve His pleasure.

Many narrations speak of Adam (A.S) being the first to build the Ka’bah, however the most sound among these narration is mentioned in the hadith of Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-Aas (ra):

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said, ‘Allah ( SWT) revealed to Adam and Hawwa: “Build for me a house.” So Jibreel (as) drew the lines and Adam began to dig while Hawwa would move the sand. When he hit the water, a voice called from below Adam, “That will suffice you, Adam”. When they finished building it, it was revealed to him to make tawaf of it. It was then said to him, “You are the first human and this is the first house.” (Tafsir al-Tabari: 1,547)

This is a beautiful Dua from Surah Al-Baqarah, made by Ibrahim (A.S) together with Ismael (A.S) when they were raising the foundations of the Ka'abah. Ibrahim (A.S) was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism ـ to worship none but Allah alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikin (the one who associates partners with Allah). Ibrahim (A.S) always carried out the commandments of Allah without losing a moment, and was ready to make all kinds of sacrifices in His way, whether they involved worldly goods, or wife and children, or his own likes and dislikes.

Allah reminds us that Ibrahim and Ismail (A.S) raised the foundations of the Sacred House, the Holy Ka’abah by the command of Allah. While they were building the House they were asking Allah to accept this deed of theirs as a deed exclusively done to achieve His pleasure. The Prophets Ibrahim (A.S) and Ismail(A.S) were performing a good deed, yet they asked Allah to accept this good deed from them.

Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that;

Wuhayb bin Al-Ward recited,

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا

And (remember) when Ibrahim and (his son) Ismail were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka`bah at Makkah), (saying), ""Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us"") and cried and said,

"O Khalil of Ar-Rahman! You raise the foundations of the House of Ar-Rahman (Allah), yet you are afraid that He will not accept it from you""

This is the behavior of the sincere believers, whom Allah described in His statement,

وَالَّذِينَ يُوْتُونَ مَا اتَوا

And those who give that which they give, (23:60), meaning, they give away voluntary charity, and perform the acts of worship yet,

وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ

(with their hearts full of fear) (23:60) afraid that these good deeds might not be accepted of them.

Many narrations speak of Adam (A.S) being the first to build the Ka’bah, however the most sound among these narration is mentioned in the hadith of Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-Aas (ra):

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said, ‘Allah ( SWT) revealed to Adam and Hawwa: “Build for me a house.” So Jibreel (as) drew the lines and Adam began to dig while Hawwa would move the sand. When he hit the water, a voice called from below Adam, “That will suffice you, Adam”. When they finished building it, it was revealed to him to make tawaf of it. It was then said to him, “You are the first human and this is the first house.” (Tafsir al-Tabari: 1,547)

Ibrahim (A.S) then re-built it after it was damaged in the Flood after Allah SWT informed him of its place and he built it again with Ismail (A.S).Ibrahim (A.S) wanted Allah to accept their deed commanded by Allah, as one done sincerely for His sake, for He is the Hearer of supplication and the Knower of intentions.

Ibrahim (A.S) also prayed for this city to be made "a place of peace" - for it to be safe from slaughter and plunder as from calamities, and secure against the domination of the infidels. The prayer was granted. Makkah became a thriving city, which is now a place of pilgrimage for Muslims who come to it in millions every year.

The Sahabahs worked diligently in perfecting their actions and making them faultless, then after that, they showed great concern for acceptance of their actions. They did this because they feared that their actions would be rejected. They are those who gave what was incumbent upon them while their hearts were in a state of fear. It is reported that ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (radiallaahu ‘anhu) said:

Be more concerned that your actions are accepted than your concern of performing the action itself.