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.
Allah says;
وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لاِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ
And (remember) when We showed Ibrahim the site of the House (saying);
Allah tells us that He showed Ibrahim the site of the `Atiq House, i.e., He guided him to it, entrusted it to him and granted him permission to build it.
Many scholars take this as evidence to support their view that Ibrahim was the first one to build the House and that it was not built before his time.
It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Dharr said,
"I said, `O Messenger of Allah, which Masjid was the first to be built?'
He said,
الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَام
(Al-Masjid Al-Haram) .
I said, `Then which?'
He said,
بَيْتُ الْمَقْدِس
(Bayt Al-Maqdis).
I said, `How long between them?'
He said,
أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَة
(Forty years)."
And Allah says;
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكاً
Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, (3;96) until the end of following two Ayat.
Allah says;
وَعَهِدْنَأ إِلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّأيِفِينَ وَالْعَـكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
and We commanded Ibrahim and Ismail that they should purify My House for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I`tikaf), or bowing or prostrating themselves. (2;125)
And Allah says here;
أَن لاَّ تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْيًا
Associate not anything with Me,
meaning, `Build it in My Name Alone.'
وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ
and sanctify My House,
Qatadah and Mujahid said,
"And purify it from Shirk.
لِلطَّايِفِينَ وَالْقَايِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
for those who circumambulate it, and those who stand up, and those who bow, and make prostration (in prayer).
means, `and make it purely for those who worship Allah Alone, with no partner or associate.'
What is meant by "those who circumambulate it" is obvious, since this is an act of worship that is done only at the Ka`bah and not at any other spot on earth.
وَالْقَايِمِينَ
(and those who stand up), means, in prayer.
Allah says;
وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
and those who bow, and make prostration.
Tawaf and prayer are mentioned together because they are not prescribed together anywhere except in relation to the House.
Tawaf is done around the Ka`bah and prayer is offered facing its direction in the majority of cases, with a few exceptions, such as when one is uncertain of the direction of the Qiblah, during battle and when praying optional prayers while traveling.
And Allah knows best