The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 219
PT. 1 AL-BAQARAH means, the patient returned to state of health. means, a place where people assemble; a place of resort; a place to which a visit entitles one to or reward (Mufradāt & Aqrab). See also 2:104. Cb (who perform the circuit) is the plural of which is derived from meaning, he performed a circuit, he went round (Aqrab). Gue (We commanded) is derived from which means, he promised. means, he enjoined upon or commanded him and made it a condition for him (Aqrab). (who remain for devotion) is the plural of which is derived from. They say i. e. he remained confined to a place, sticking to it. and are words denoting a specified form of religious service in which the worshipper stays within the precincts of a mosque for a number of days which he passes in prayer and devotion (Aqrab & Mufradāt). CH. 2 there whenever they make circuits round the Ka'bah, Commentary: The verse means that a promise was made to Abraham that the Ka'bah would be made a at or a place of reward and a centre where people would come together for worship. The truth of the first-mentioned part of the covenant, i. e. that the Ka'bah is a place of reward, can only be recognized by believers who irresistibly feel the ennobling influence of a visit to the Holy Shrine. But the truth of the latter part of the prophecy, i. e. that it would become a resort for men, has been established by the facts of history during the past fourteen hundred years, being testified to even by the enemies of Islam. The Ka'bah, as some traditions say and as hinted by the Quran itself, was originally built by Adam, and was, for sometime, the centre of worship for his progeny. Then in the course of time people became separated into different communities and adopted different centres for worship. Abraham then rebuilt the Ka'bah and it continued to remain a centre of worship for his progeny through his son Ishmael. But with the lapse of time it was virtually converted into a house of idols which numbered as many as 360-almost the same as the number of days in a year. At the advent of the Holy Prophet, however, the Ka'bah was again appointed the centre of worship for all nations, the Holy Prophet having been sent as a Messenger for. i. e قام station is derived from) مقام he stood. means, a place where one stands (Aqrab). Here it means the Ka'bah, where Abraham stood worshipping God. is also the name of a place near the Ka'bah where, after making circuits around it, the pilgrims perform two rak'ats of Prayer. It appears that after completing the construction of the Ka'bah, Abraham said a prayer there in token of his gratitude to God; and it is to commemorate this prayer of Abraham that Muslims are required to perform two rak'ats of Prayer 219