وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَكَانَ ٱلْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِى شَيْـًٔا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْقَآئِمِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ 26
Translations
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform ṭawāf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.
Transliteration
Wa-idh bawwa'na li-Ibrahim makana al-bayti an la tushrик bi-ya shay'an wa-tahhir bayti li-al-ta'ifin wa-al-qa'imin wa-al-rukka' al-sujud
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah established the location of the Ka'bah for Prophet Ibrahim and commanded him to keep it free from polytheism and to purify it for those who circumambulate it, stand in prayer, bow, and prostrate. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse establishes the Ka'bah as a sanctuary dedicated exclusively to the worship of Allah alone, with Ibrahim entrusted as the builder and custodian of this sacred House. The purification mentioned encompasses both physical cleanliness and spiritual purity from shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Hajj (a Medinan surah) and appears within a passage discussing the virtues and sanctity of the Ka'bah and the pilgrimage. It recalls the historical moment when Allah commanded Ibrahim to construct the House of Allah and establish the rites of Hajj, connecting the ancient prophetic legacy to the religious obligations of the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding the Ka'bah: 'Verily, this House is the House of Allah' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet forbade certain acts inside the Ka'bah to maintain its sanctity and purity (Sahih Bukhari).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that places of worship must be preserved with utmost sanctity and dedication to Allah alone, free from any form of shirk, and that both physical and spiritual purity are essential in approaching the Divine. For modern readers, it emphasizes that sincere devotion requires complete commitment to monotheism and conscious purification of the heart and actions.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَـٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols [i.e., rites] of Allāh; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allāh upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy [who does not seek aid] and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.
ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَهُمْ وَٱلْمُقِيمِى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Who, when Allāh is mentioned, their hearts are fearful, and [to] the patient over what has afflicted them, and the establishers of prayer and those who spend from what We have provided them.
يَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُۥ وَمَا لَا يَنفَعُهُۥ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ
He invokes instead of Allāh that which neither harms him nor benefits him. That is what is the extreme error.
لِّيَجْعَلَ مَا يُلْقِى ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ لَفِى شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
[That is] so He may make what Satan throws in [i.e., asserts] a trial for those within whose hearts is disease and those hard of heart. And indeed, the wrongdoers are in extreme dissension.