سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 125
وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا ٱلْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَٱتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ مُصَلًّى ۖ وَعَهِدْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْعَـٰكِفِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ﴿125﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) when We made the House (the Ka‘bah at Makkah) a place of resort for mankind and a place of safety. And take you (people) the Maqâm (place) of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) [or the stone on which Ibrâhîm (Abraham) عليه السلام stood while he was building the Ka‘bah] as a place of prayer (for some of your prayers, e.g. two Rak‘at after the Tawâf of the Ka‘bahat Makkah), and We commanded Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and Ismâ‘îl (Ishmael) that they should purify My House (the Ka‘bah at Makkah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I‘tikâf), or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذْ
wa-idh
And when
جَعَلْنَا
jaʿalnā
We made
ٱلْبَيْتَ
l-bayta
the House
مَثَابَةًۭ
mathābatan
a place of return
لِّلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for mankind
وَأَمْنًۭا
wa-amnan
and (a place of) security
وَٱتَّخِذُوا۟
wa-ittakhidhū
and (said), "Take
مِن
min
[from]
مَّقَامِ
maqāmi
(the) standing place
إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ
ib'rāhīma
(of) Ibrahim
مُصَلًّۭى ۖ
muṣallan
(as) a place of prayer
وَعَهِدْنَآ
waʿahid'nā
And We made a covenant
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
with
إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ
ib'rāhīma
Ibrahim
وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ
wa-is'māʿīla
and Ishmael
أَن
an
[that]
طَهِّرَا
ṭahhirā
[You both] purify
بَيْتِىَ
baytiya
My House
لِلطَّآئِفِينَ
lilṭṭāifīna
for those who circumambulate
وَٱلْعَـٰكِفِينَ
wal-ʿākifīna
and those who seclude themselves for devotion and prayer
وَٱلرُّكَّعِ
wal-rukaʿi
and those who bow down
ٱلسُّجُودِ
l-sujūdi
and those who prostrate
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 125) ➊ {مَثَابَةً:} This is a noun of place from {”ثَابَ يَثُوْبُ“} (to return), meaning "the place of returning." People repeatedly return to the House of Allah; their hearts are never satisfied. See Surah Al-Hajj (27) and Surah Ibrahim (37). The second characteristic is that it has been made a place of complete security. Even in the time of ignorance, a person would see his enemy there but would not harm him. Islam maintained this respect and even emphasized and increased it.
➋ There are two explanations regarding the Station of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). One is that it is the stone upon which Ibrahim (peace be upon him) stood while building the Ka'bah. In Sahih Muslim, in the incident of the Farewell Pilgrimage, it is mentioned from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the Tawaf, he came towards the Station of Ibrahim and recited this verse: «{ وَ اتَّخِذُوْا مِنْ مَّقَامِ اِبْرٰهٖمَ مُصَلًّى }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۲۵ ] Then he placed the Station (of Ibrahim) between himself and the House of Allah and prayed two units of prayer. [ مسلم، الحج، باب حجۃ النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : ۱۲۱۸ ] Just as the pilgrims do. In Sahih Bukhari, it is mentioned that the suggestion to pray near the Station of Ibrahim was given by Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), which Allah approved. [ بخاری، الصلوۃ، باب ما جاء فی القبلۃ … : ۴۰۲ ] The number of Umar's (may Allah be pleased with him) concurrences is eighteen.
The second explanation, in Tafsir Abd al-Razzaq with an authentic chain from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), is that the Station of Ibrahim refers to the place of Hajj, i.e., the Haram and Arafat, where Ibrahim (peace be upon him) stayed during Hajj. Thus, the scholars say that the two units of prayer after Tawaf are valid wherever they are performed in the Haram.
➌ {طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ......:} Purification here does not only mean cleaning from rubbish and filth, but also purification from all impurities of idolatry and polytheism, because Tawaf, I'tikaf, bowing, and prostration are the rights of none but Allah. The polytheists of Makkah are being reminded of what was commanded to their forefather, and what kind of obedience they have shown by bringing idols into the very Ka'bah.
➋ There are two explanations regarding the Station of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). One is that it is the stone upon which Ibrahim (peace be upon him) stood while building the Ka'bah. In Sahih Muslim, in the incident of the Farewell Pilgrimage, it is mentioned from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the Tawaf, he came towards the Station of Ibrahim and recited this verse: «{ وَ اتَّخِذُوْا مِنْ مَّقَامِ اِبْرٰهٖمَ مُصَلًّى }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۲۵ ] Then he placed the Station (of Ibrahim) between himself and the House of Allah and prayed two units of prayer. [ مسلم، الحج، باب حجۃ النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : ۱۲۱۸ ] Just as the pilgrims do. In Sahih Bukhari, it is mentioned that the suggestion to pray near the Station of Ibrahim was given by Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), which Allah approved. [ بخاری، الصلوۃ، باب ما جاء فی القبلۃ … : ۴۰۲ ] The number of Umar's (may Allah be pleased with him) concurrences is eighteen.
The second explanation, in Tafsir Abd al-Razzaq with an authentic chain from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), is that the Station of Ibrahim refers to the place of Hajj, i.e., the Haram and Arafat, where Ibrahim (peace be upon him) stayed during Hajj. Thus, the scholars say that the two units of prayer after Tawaf are valid wherever they are performed in the Haram.
➌ {طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ......:} Purification here does not only mean cleaning from rubbish and filth, but also purification from all impurities of idolatry and polytheism, because Tawaf, I'tikaf, bowing, and prostration are the rights of none but Allah. The polytheists of Makkah are being reminded of what was commanded to their forefather, and what kind of obedience they have shown by bringing idols into the very Ka'bah.
