سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 97
۞ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكَعْبَةَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ قِيَـٰمًا لِّلنَّاسِ وَٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَٱلْهَدْىَ وَٱلْقَلَـٰٓئِدَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿97﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Allâh has made the Ka‘bah, the Sacred House, an asylum of security and benefits (e.g.Hajj and ‘Umrah) for mankind, and also the Sacred Month and the animals of offerings and the garlanded (people or animals marked with the garlands on their necks made from the outer part of the stem of the Makkah trees for their security), that you may know that Allâh has knowledge of all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and that Allâh is the All-Knower of each and everything.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ جَعَلَ
jaʿala
Has (been) made
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
(by) Allah
ٱلْكَعْبَةَ
l-kaʿbata
the Kabah
ٱلْبَيْتَ
l-bayta
the House
ٱلْحَرَامَ
l-ḥarāma
the Sacred
قِيَـٰمًۭا
qiyāman
an establishment
لِّلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for mankind
وَٱلشَّهْرَ
wal-shahra
and the month(s)
ٱلْحَرَامَ
l-ḥarāma
[the] sacred
وَٱلْهَدْىَ
wal-hadya
and the (animals) for offering
وَٱلْقَلَـٰٓئِدَ ۚ
wal-qalāida
and the garlands
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That (is)
لِتَعْلَمُوٓا۟
litaʿlamū
so that you may know
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
يَعْلَمُ
yaʿlamu
knows
مَا
mā
what
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَمَا
wamā
and what
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
وَأَنَّ
wa-anna
and that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
بِكُلِّ
bikulli
of every
شَىْءٍ
shayin
thing
عَلِيمٌ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knowing
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
97. Allah has made the Ka‘bah, the Sacred House [145], a means of stability and security for the people, as well as the sacred months, the sacrificial animals, and the animals marked with garlands [146], so that you may know that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and that Allah is Knowing of all things [147].
[145] In this verse, three different meanings of ﴿قِيَاماً للنَّاسِ﴾ can be taken, and all three are correct.
(1) By ﴿الناس﴾, all people of that era, those before and after, and all until the Day of Judgment are meant. In this case, the meaning would be that the existence of the Ka'bah is the cause for the stability and survival of the entire world, and the world will exist only as long as the House of Allah and the creatures who honor it exist. When Allah wills for this world to end, at that time the House of Allah will be lifted, just as this building was the first to be constructed on this earth. Imam Bukhari has preferred this meaning and, under this very verse, has brought the following hadith:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that (near the Day of Judgment) a small-shinned (insignificant) Abyssinian will destroy the Ka'bah [بخاري۔ كتاب المناسك۔ باب قول الله تعالىٰ : __QUR_2__]
From this hadith, another point is also incidentally understood: before this, no matter how strong or powerful an enemy may be, he will not succeed in his evil intentions to demolish the Ka'bah. And just as Allah humiliated and defeated the People of the Elephant (Abraha), likewise He will destroy every person, nation, or government that attempts the reprehensible act of demolishing the Ka'bah.
(2) By ﴿الناس﴾, only the people of Arabia are meant, who used to travel freely during the sacred months, especially when they were accompanied by animals with sacrificial collars for the purpose of sacrifice. Because all the tribes of Arabia respected such animals, and all this was due to the sanctity of the Ka'bah. Those performing Hajj and 'Umrah and the trade caravans would travel with great peace of mind for a third of the year. In this way, the Ka'bah was the support for the social and economic life of the entire country.
(3) By ﴿الناس﴾, the people of Makkah and its surroundings are meant. In this case, the meaning would be that in this barren valley, the existence of the Ka'bah is the means of livelihood for the people of Makkah and all those around it. In exchange for providing accommodation, food, and transportation services to those coming from the farthest corners of the world for Hajj and 'Umrah, these people receive so much income that they can live for the whole year, and even much more than that. They also receive many other social and political benefits.
[146] For sacrificial and collared animals, see the footnote number 7 of verse 2 of Surah Al-Ma'idah.
[147]
Shari'ah Rulings Are Based on People's Interests:
That is, He is well aware of the needs and interests of the creatures living in this barren valley. By declaring His House a sacred region and making it a center for all the Muslims of the world, He has provided for all their needs, so that all kinds of provisions for food are brought there in abundance. If one reflects only on this point, it becomes clear that every command of Allah is based on the interests of mankind, whether those interests are religious or worldly. Furthermore, this matter is not limited to this region alone, but He is fully aware of the conditions, needs, and interests of all people, and He commands accordingly.
[145] In this verse, three different meanings of ﴿قِيَاماً للنَّاسِ﴾ can be taken, and all three are correct.
(1) By ﴿الناس﴾, all people of that era, those before and after, and all until the Day of Judgment are meant. In this case, the meaning would be that the existence of the Ka'bah is the cause for the stability and survival of the entire world, and the world will exist only as long as the House of Allah and the creatures who honor it exist. When Allah wills for this world to end, at that time the House of Allah will be lifted, just as this building was the first to be constructed on this earth. Imam Bukhari has preferred this meaning and, under this very verse, has brought the following hadith:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that (near the Day of Judgment) a small-shinned (insignificant) Abyssinian will destroy the Ka'bah [بخاري۔ كتاب المناسك۔ باب قول الله تعالىٰ : __QUR_2__]
From this hadith, another point is also incidentally understood: before this, no matter how strong or powerful an enemy may be, he will not succeed in his evil intentions to demolish the Ka'bah. And just as Allah humiliated and defeated the People of the Elephant (Abraha), likewise He will destroy every person, nation, or government that attempts the reprehensible act of demolishing the Ka'bah.
(2) By ﴿الناس﴾, only the people of Arabia are meant, who used to travel freely during the sacred months, especially when they were accompanied by animals with sacrificial collars for the purpose of sacrifice. Because all the tribes of Arabia respected such animals, and all this was due to the sanctity of the Ka'bah. Those performing Hajj and 'Umrah and the trade caravans would travel with great peace of mind for a third of the year. In this way, the Ka'bah was the support for the social and economic life of the entire country.
(3) By ﴿الناس﴾, the people of Makkah and its surroundings are meant. In this case, the meaning would be that in this barren valley, the existence of the Ka'bah is the means of livelihood for the people of Makkah and all those around it. In exchange for providing accommodation, food, and transportation services to those coming from the farthest corners of the world for Hajj and 'Umrah, these people receive so much income that they can live for the whole year, and even much more than that. They also receive many other social and political benefits.
[146] For sacrificial and collared animals, see the footnote number 7 of verse 2 of Surah Al-Ma'idah.
[147]
Shari'ah Rulings Are Based on People's Interests:
That is, He is well aware of the needs and interests of the creatures living in this barren valley. By declaring His House a sacred region and making it a center for all the Muslims of the world, He has provided for all their needs, so that all kinds of provisions for food are brought there in abundance. If one reflects only on this point, it becomes clear that every command of Allah is based on the interests of mankind, whether those interests are religious or worldly. Furthermore, this matter is not limited to this region alone, but He is fully aware of the conditions, needs, and interests of all people, and He commands accordingly.
