Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manasik, and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.
Ibn Jarir said,
"They meant by their supplication, `Make us submit to Your command and obedience and not associate anyone with You in obedience or worship."
Also, Ikrimah commented on the Ayah,
رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ
(Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You),
"Allah said, `I shall do that."'
وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ
(And of our offspring a nation submissive unto You),
Allah said, `I shall do that.'"
This supplication by Ibrahim and Ismail is similar to what Allah informed us of about His believing servants,
وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَاماً
And those who say;`Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders of the Muttaqin. (25;74)
This type of supplication is allowed, because loving to have offspring who worship Allah alone without partners is a sign of complete love of Allah. This is why when Allah said to Ibrahim,
إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا
(Verily, I am going to make you an Imam (a leader) for mankind (to follow you)), (2;124),
Ibrahim said,
وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي
قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ
("And of my offspring (to make leaders)." (Allah) said, "My covenant (Prophethood) includes not the Zalimin (polytheists and wrongdoers)") (2;124) which is explained by,
وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الَاصْنَامَ
(And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols) (14;35)
Muslim narrated in his Sahih that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,
إِذَا مَاتَ ابْنُ ادَمَ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ ثَلَثٍ
صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ
أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ
أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَه
When the son of Adam dies, his deeds end except for three deeds;
an ongoing charity,
a knowledge that is being benefited from and
a righteous son who supplicates (to Allah) for him.
The Meaning of Manasik
Sa`id bin Mansur said that Attab bin Bashir informed us from Khasif, from Mujahid who said,
"The Prophet Ibrahim supplicated,
وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا
(and show us our Manasik), Jibril then came down, took him to the House and said, `Raise its foundations.'
Ibrahim raised the House's foundations and completed the building.
Jibril held Ibrahim's hand, led him to As-Safa and said, `This is among the rituals of Allah.'
He then took him to Al-Marwah and said, `And this is among the rituals of Allah.'
He then took him to Mina until when they reached the Aqabah, they found Iblis standing next to a tree. Jibril said, `Say Takbir (Allah is the Great) and throw (pebbles) at him.'
Ibrahim said the Takbir and threw (pebbles at) Iblis.
Iblis moved to the middle Jamrah, and when Jibril and Ibrahim passed by him, Jibril said to Ibrahim, `Say Takbir and throw at him.'
Ibrahim threw at him and said Takbir.
The devious Iblis sought to add some evil acts to the rituals of Hajj, but he was unable to succeed.
Jibril took Ibrahim's hand and led him to Al-Mash`ar Al-Haram and Arafat and said to him, `Have you Arafta (known, learned) what I showed you' thrice.
Ibrahim said, `Yes I did."'
Similar statements were reported from Abu Mijlaz and Qatadah