Chapter 2: Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), verses 125-126

Translation:

We made the Kabah a resort and a sanctuary for mankind, saying: ‘Pray in the place where Abraham stood.’ We enjoined Abraham and Ishmael to cleanse Our House for those who walk around it, who meditate in it, and who bow down and prostrate themselves. ‘Lord,’ said Abraham, ‘make this a land of peace and feed its people with fruits, those of them that believe in God and the Last Day.’ ‘As for those that do not,’ He answered, ‘I shall let them prosper awhile and then drag them to the scourge of the Fire—an evil destination.

Tafsir (Commentary):

Every year, the Faithful come from all over the world to visit the House of God in Mecca, where no one is allowed to harm even the lowliest animate creature; for Mecca has been made into a sacred place of worship for all time. since people came to this place to remember God in an atmosphere of peace and solitude, it has to be cleansed of all impurities, and all activities that are contrary to its basic purpose are banned. Here the faithful bow and prostrate themselves, their greatest mark of respect for their Creator being the circumambulation of the Kabah.

In ancient times Arabia was the most arid land on earth: its sandy surfaces and barren rocks were totally unsuitable for any kind of cultivation. Worse, it was totally exposed to attack from the outside world. Four thousand years ago Abraham was commanded to take his family into an “uncultivable valley,” in that part of Arabia known as Hijaz, and settle them there. Without the slightest hesitation, Abraham bowed to the will of God. Once he had reached Mecca in accordance with the divine commandment, he asked his Lord to hear his prayer. “Make this town a place of peace,” he prayed, “and make special provision for the material needs of its denizens; for the land that they inhabit is uncultivable.” Abraham’s prayer was answered: the land of Hijaz has remained an abode of peace and plenty up to the present day.

The believer’s whole life should be an act of worship. In whatever far-off corner of the world he lives, he should at all times remember that, one day, he shall have to return to the Lord. He should cause no harm to one’s fellow men, and as for the earth he lives on, it should be thought of as a place of worship, and kept clean of all pollution. His life should be focused on God—it should revolve around Him alone.

Though the individual has to live in the world, his heart and mind should always be on God; his whole life should be that of submission to Him. True religion makes certain demands of everyone, sometimes even requiring that his children be taken to a place as arid and uncultivable as Abraham’s valley. Whatever is entailed, we should faithfully carry out God’s commandments and only then pray to God that He should make his efforts prosper. It may well be that God will make fountains gush forth from a dry desert, and lush crops spring forth from a barren land.

Whatever splendor and glory one is accorded in this life, these things in themselves do not signify that one is considered fit by God for the leadership of mankind. Everything given to man is a means of testing him and there is no one who is exempt from God’s trial. While leadership (imamat) indicates that one has been selected by God to represent Him in the nations of the world, its highest form is only for those who have been found fit by God to represent His divine religion on earth.