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
ٱلَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَمَرُوا۟ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا۟ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْأُمُورِ
[And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakāh and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allāh belongs the outcome of [all] matters.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَـٰنٍ مَّرِيدٍ
And of the people is he who disputes about Allāh without knowledge and follows every rebellious devil.
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.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلْفُلْكَ تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَيُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَآءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Do you not see that Allāh has subjected to you whatever is on the earth and the ships which run through the sea by His command? And He restrains the sky from falling upon the earth, unless by His permission. Indeed Allāh, to the people, is Kind and Merciful.