Islam Guidance

Verse125

(125) وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْناً وَاتَّخِذُواْ مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

125. " And (remember) when We made the House (the Ka'bah in Mecca) a resort and a secure sanctuary for the people, (saying): ' Take to yourselves Abraham's Station for a place of prayer '. And We enjoined Abraham and Ismail (saying): ' Sanctify My House for those who go around it, for those who abide in it and pay devotion, and to those who bow down and prostrate themselves '."
Commentary :
The Magnificence of the Ka'bah
After explaining the high rank of Abraham (a.s.) stated in the previous verse, the Qur'an, in this verse, directs attention towards the magnificence of the House, the Ka'bah in Mecca, which was built by Abraham and his son (a.s.). It says:
" And (remember) when We made the House (the Ka'bah in Mecca) a resort and a secure sanctuary for the people, ..."
Since the term / ma qabah /, originally based on / qaub /, means ' a place to which people return ' or ' a place where people assemble ', and the Ka'bah has been a center where monotheists gather every year, then, by this assembly, believers, not only bodily but also spiritually, return to Divine Unity and to their intrinsic nature. So, that may be why the term / ma qabah / (a resort, an abode, a house) has been used for this Sacred House. And, since a man's house is the continuous returning site of its inhabitants who, after having completed their affairs, can experience rest and tranquility therein, there lies this sense of resting and tranquility in the meaning of the term / ma qabah /. This emphasizes the concept of its next word / amnan / ' secure sanctuary ' especially with the word ' people ', which indicates that this secure center is a common refuge for all people of the world.

This is, in fact, the acceptance by Allah of one of the requests that Abraham (a.s.) sought. (We will discuss this subject on page 300.) Then, it adds:
"... (saying): ' Take to yourselves Abraham's Station for a place of prayer.'..."
The opinions of the commentators are divided as to what ' Abraham's Station ' is. Some of them have said that the whole Hajj is Abraham's Station. Some others have rendered it to / 'arafah / ' the Mount of Recognition ', / mas'arul haram / ' Sacred Monument ', and /jamarat/ ' lapidations '; while others believe that the entire sacred premises of Mecca is considered the ' Station '.
But, as many Islamic narrations denote, and many of the commentators have said, too, the verse apparently refers to the very standing-place of Abraham which is located close to the Ka'bah where pilgrims offer their circumambulatory prayer after performing their ritual circumambulation of the Ka'bah. Thus, the purpose of the term /musalla/, mentioned in the verse, is ' the place of prayer ', too.
Then, it refers to the covenant that He made with Abraham (a.s.) and Ismail (a.s.) about the purification of the Ka'bah, where it says:
"... And We enjoined Abraham and Ismail (saying): ' Sanctify My House for those who go around it, for those who abide in it and pay devotion, and to those who bow down and prostrate themselves '."
What is the meaning of sanctification here? Some have said that the meaning of sanctification here is purification fro m the existence of idols.
Some others have said that the purpose is purification from outward dirt like blood and the contents of animals' stomachs which people sacrificed therein, because there were some ignorant persons who thoughtlessly did such deeds as leaving these remains behind.
Furthermore, some believe that sanctification, here, means ' purity of intent ' when building this House of Monotheism.
There is no reason for us to confine the meaning of sanctification here. Its purpose is purification of this ' House of Monotheism ' from any dirt, physically and spiritually.
It is for this reason that in some traditions we read that this verse has been rendered into sanctification from pagans and in some others into washing and purifying the body from dirt.
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Explanation :
The Secure Refuge, its Social and Educational Effects
According to the above verse, ' the House of Ka'bah ' has been chosen and proclaimed as ' a secure refuge ' by Allah. We know that there are resolute rules in Islam instructing every believer to avoid any quarrel, war, fight and bloodshed within the limits of this Holy land, Mecca. It is so that not only the members of humankind, regardless of nationality, race, gender, group, or condition, should be safe and secure there, but also animals and birds are protected there, in that nobody is allowed to hurt them.
In this world, where fighting and wars are always within the overall scene, the existence of such a peaceful center can function as a special helpful fortress within which the problems of many nations can be solved. The security of this region lets different peoples, with all their differences and enmities that they may have, gather together therein, sitting, speaking, and solving their difficulties. Thus, one of the most important problems which usually exists, initiating face to face oral communications about dismissing or decreasing enmities between nations, can be solved.
It frequently happens that the two sides of a conflict or the opposing governments in the world are willing to put an end to their antagonism and have parley for this purpose, but they cannot find a secure and respectable place wherein both sides can feel free to speak therein peacefully and securely. This case has been anticipated in Islam, and Mecca is introduced as such a center.
Now that most of the Muslims of the world are unfortunately involved in some hostile conflicts, they can make use of this sacred secure land, and, under its banner of holiness and special spirituality which enlightens the hearts, begin speaking with each other to solve their problems.
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Why the 'House' of Ka'bah ?
In the above verse, the Ka'bah is referred to by the Lord as ' My House ',while it is clear that neither is Allah bodily substance nor does He need a House. The purpose, here, is to honour and glorify the Ka'bah by stating its honour and lofty status, and, therefore, it is called /baytullah / ' the House of Allah '.

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