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
۞ ذَٰلِكَ وَمَنْ عَاقَبَ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبَ بِهِۦ ثُمَّ بُغِىَ عَلَيْهِ لَيَنصُرَنَّهُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌ
That [is so]. And whoever responds [to injustice] with the equivalent of that with which he was harmed and then is tyrannized - Allāh will surely aid him. Indeed, Allāh is Pardoning and Forgiving.
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِّيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۗ فَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلِمُوا۟ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُخْبِتِينَ
And for every [religious] community We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allāh over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. For your god is one God, so to Him submit. And, [O Muḥammad], give good tidings to the humble [before their Lord]
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
That is because Allāh causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night and because Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ تَعْرِفُ فِى وُجُوهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلْمُنكَرَ ۖ يَكَادُونَ يَسْطُونَ بِٱلَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۗ قُلْ أَفَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرٍّ مِّن ذَٰلِكُمُ ۗ ٱلنَّارُ وَعَدَهَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, you recognize in the faces of those who disbelieve disapproval. They are almost on the verge of assaulting those who recite to them Our verses. Say, "Then shall I inform you of [what is] worse than that? [It is] the Fire which Allāh has promised those who disbelieve, and wretched is the destination."