Others said that what is meant is the entire Sacred Precinct. Equality means that the resident and the visitor are equal with respect to lodging there: neither has a greater right than the other to any dwelling he occupies. However, no one is to be displaced if he has already preceded others to a lodging. This was the view of Ibn Abbas, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, Qatadah, and Ibn Zayd. They said: They are equal with respect to houses (1) and dwellings.

Abd al-Rahman ibn Sabit said: When pilgrims arrived in Mecca, none of the people of Mecca had any greater right to his dwelling than they did. Umar ibn al-Khattab would forbid people from closing their doors during the pilgrimage season. According to this view, it is not permissible to sell or lease the houses of Mecca. According to the first view—which is closer to what is correct—it is permissible, for Allah, exalted is He, says: “Those who were expelled from their homes” (al-Hajj: 40). On the day of the Conquest of Mecca, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan is safe.” (2) Thus, he attributed the house to him as an attribution of ownership. Umar also purchased a house in Mecca for use as a prison for four thousand dirhams, which indicates the permissibility of selling such houses. This was the view of Tawus and Amr ibn Dinar, and it was also held by al-Shafi'i.

His saying, exalted is He: “And whoever intends therein deviation through wrongdoing”: that is, in the Sacred Mosque, by wrongful deviation; namely, inclining toward wrongdoing. The letter ba in the phrase “by deviation” is redundant, as in His saying: “growing with oil” (al-Mu'minun: 20). Its meaning is: whoever intends therein wrongful deviation. Al-A'sha said: “Our spears have guaranteed the provision of our dependents,” meaning, the provision of our dependents. Al-Mubarrad rejected the view that the letter ba is redundant and said: The meaning of the verse is that one’s intent therein is to commit wrongful deviation.

They differed concerning this deviation. Mujahid and Qatadah said: It is associating partners with Allah and worshipping other than Him.

Others said: It includes everything forbidden, whether speech or action, even reviling a servant.

Ata said: It is entering the Sacred Precinct without being in a state of ihram, or committing any of the prohibitions of the Sacred Precinct, such as hunting game or cutting trees.

Ibn Abbas said: It is to kill therein one who has not killed you, or to wrong therein one who has not wronged you. This is also the meaning of al-Dahhak’s statement.

It is reported from Mujahid that he said: Bad deeds are multiplied in Mecca just as good deeds are multiplied.

Habib ibn Abi Thabit said: It is hoarding food in Mecca.

Regarding His saying, “And whoever intends therein deviation through wrongdoing, We shall make him taste a painful punishment,” Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud said: “If a man merely intends a sin, it is not recorded against him unless he commits it. But if a man intends to kill another man in Mecca while he is in Aden