Maqame Ibraheem

Translation:

Verse 2:125. And behold! We made the House* a secure place of assembly for mankind. – And take guidance from Abraham's stature in devotion to Allah! – And We bade Abraham** and Ishmael*** to cleanse My**** House for those who would go around it and spend some time there in devotion, and who would bow and prostrate. 

 *In Verse 3:96, the Qur'aan informs us that the first House set up for mankind is the one at Bakkah (Makkah). Pilgrimage to this House is a duty unto Allah, for those who can undertake the journey (3:97). It is described as al-Baital-haraam (the sacred House) in Verses 5:2 and 5:97, and. as al-Baitil-ateeq (the ancient House) in 22:29 and 22:33. From Verse 14:37, we learn that Abraham had settled some of his offspring in the uncultivable terrain near Allah's sacred House and had prayed for their provision. And from Verse 22:26, we learn that Allah had guided Abraham to the site of His sacred House. In some other Verses of the Qur'aan, like in Verse 2:144, the House has also been called al-Masjidil-haraam.

 **We have already seen this Prophet and Messenger of Allah mentioned as a leader of men, in Verse 2:124. In Verse 2:127, we are informed that it was he, along with his son, who had raised the foundation of the House of Allah. He has been described as a Haneef (an upright man, one who professes the true religion) whom Allah has taken as a khaleel (a beloved one), and whose religion believers are commanded to follow [4:125]. And Allah Ta'ala speaks highly of him at many other places throughout the Qur'aan.

***We learn from Verse 14:39 that Ishmael was one of the two sons Allah gave Abraham in his old age. He too was a Messenger, a Prophet (19:54).

****Those who would wonder why this sudden change in the same sentence from the plural We to the singular My, may well reflect that the conveyance of the divine command was made through the angels. So, the plural 'We' was used. But the House was for devotion to Allah exclusively. Hence, the singular, 'My'.

Mohammad Shafi