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Building the Kaaba

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Building the Kaaba

بِنَاءُ الْكَعْبَة

The building of the Kaaba marks a profound and pivotal moment in Islamic tradition, symbolizing the establishment of pure monotheism at the very heart of the earth. This sacred task was undertaken by the venerable Prophets Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ishmael (Ismail). The Quran vividly captures this momentous occasion, recounting [when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and with him Ishmael], as they humbly prayed for divine acceptance of their work. This structure in Mecca was not an arbitrary creation; it was divinely designated. Allah explicitly [designated for Abraham the site of the House, saying, "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaf"]. This act solidified the Kaaba as the first house dedicated solely to the worship of the One God, a beacon of purity against idolatry. Today, it stands as the spiritual epicenter for Muslims worldwide, the immutable direction (Qibla) towards which prayers are offered, and the ultimate destination for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, embodying unity and devotion to Allah.

Quran 2 verses

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

Wa iz yarfa'u Ibraaheemul qawaa'ida minal Baitiwa Ismaa'eelu Rabbanaa taqabbal minnaa innaka Antas Samee'ul Aleem

And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.

اور جب ابراہیم اور اسمٰعیل بیت الله کی بنیادیں اونچی کر رہے تھے (تو دعا کئے جاتے تھے کہ) اے پروردگار، ہم سے یہ خدمت قبول فرما۔ بےشک تو سننے والا (اور) جاننے والا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Verse 127 shows another essential quality of this great prophet. In obedience to Allah, he had left the fertile land of Syria and made his wife and child to settle in the barren desert, and now he was taking up the labour of building "the House of Allah." This was a moment when a man who had been be...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And mention when Abraham raised up the foundations the supports or the walls of the House building it min al-bayt ‘of the House’ is semantically connected to yarfa‘u ‘raises up’ and Ishmael with him wa-Ismā‘īlu is a supplement to Ibrāhīmu both of them saying ‘Our Lord! Receive this building from us....
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Command to purify the House Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that, وَعَهِدْنَآ إِلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـعِيلَ (And We gave Our 'Ahd (command) to Ibrahim and Isma`il) means, "Allah ordered them to purify it from all filth and impurities, of which none should ever touch it." Also, Ibn Jurayj said, "I said...

وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَكَانَ ٱلْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِى شَيْـًٔا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْقَآئِمِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ

Wa iz bawwaanaa li Ibraaheema makaanal Baiti allaa tushrik bee shai'anw wa tahhir Baitiya litaaa'ifeena walqaaa' imeena warrukka 'is sujood

And [mention, O Muhammad], 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 Tawaf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.

(اور ایک وقت تھا) جب ہم نے ابراہیم کے لئے خانہ کعبہ کو مقرر کیا (اور ارشاد فرمایا) کہ میرے ساتھ کسی چیز کو شریک نہ کیجیو اور طواف کرنے والوں اور قیام کرنے والوں اور رکوع کرنے والوں (اور) سجدہ کرنے والوں کے لئے میرے گھر کو صاف رکھا کرو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary The previous verse contains a warning of severe punishment to the infidels who prevented the Muslims from entering the Sacred Mosque and the precincts of Haram. This verse describes the eminence and the superior status of the Baitullah which magnifies manifold the evil of their deeds. The...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And mention when We settled when We pointed out for Abraham the site of the House that he may build it — for it the House had been raised to heaven at the time of the Flood — and We commanded him saying ‘Do not ascribe any partner to Me and purify My House of graven images for those who circumambula...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Building of the Ka`bah and the Proclamation of the Hajj This is a rebuke to those among Quraysh who worshipped others than Allah and joined partners with Him in the place which from the outset had been established on the basis of Tawhid and the worship of Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. A...

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