The scholars differed regarding His words, exalted is He: “Indeed, the first House established for mankind was the one at Bakkah.” Some said: It was the first House to appear upon the surface of the water when the heavens (1) and the earth were created. Allah created it two thousand years before the earth; it was a white mass of foam upon the water, and the earth was spread out from beneath it. This was the view of Abdullah ibn Umar, Mujahid, Qatadah, and al-Suddi.

Others said: It was the first House built on earth. It is reported from Ali ibn al-Husayn that Allah, exalted is He, placed beneath the Throne a House, which is the Frequented House, and commanded the angels to circumambulate it. He then commanded the angels who dwell on earth to build on earth a House corresponding to it in form and measure. They built it, and it was called al-Dirah. He commanded those on earth to circumambulate it, just as the inhabitants of heaven circumambulate the Frequented House.

It is also reported that the angels built it two thousand years before the creation of Adam, and that they performed pilgrimage to it. When Adam performed pilgrimage to it, the angels said, “May your pilgrimage be accepted, Adam. We performed pilgrimage to this House a thousand years before you.” It is narrated from Ibn Abbas that he said: What is meant is that it was the first House Adam built on earth. It was also said: It was the first blessed House established on earth (2) as guidance for mankind. This is narrated from Ali ibn Abi Talib. Al-Dahhak said: It was the first House in which blessing was placed. It was also said: It was the first House established for people to make pilgrimage to. And it was said: It was the first House made a direction of prayer for mankind.

Al-Hasan and al-Kalbi said: Its meaning is that it was the first mosque and place of worship established for mankind, in which Allah is worshipped, as Allah, exalted is He, says: “In houses which Allah has permitted to be raised”—meaning, the mosques (3).

Abd al-Wahid al-Mulayhi informed us; Ahmad ibn Abdullah al-Nuaymi related to us; Muhammad ibn Yusuf related to us; Muhammad ibn Ismail informed us; Musa ibn Ismail informed us; Abd al-Wahid informed us; al-Amash related to us; Ibrahim ibn Yazid al-Taymi informed us from his father, who said: I heard Abu Dharr say, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which mosque was first established on earth?’ He said, ‘The Sacred Mosque.’ I said, ‘Then which one?’ He said, ‘Al-Aqsa Mosque.’ I said, ‘How long was there between them?’ He said, ‘Forty years. Then, wherever you are when the time for prayer comes, pray, for therein lies the merit.’” (4)

Regarding His words, exalted is He: “the one at Bakkah”: A group said that it is Makkah itself. This was the view of al-Dahhak. The Arabs interchange the letters b and m; thus, they use both sabbada and sammada to mean “he shaved his head,” and both lazib and lazim to describe a firm, adhering blow. Others said: Bakkah is the site of the House, whereas Makkah is the name of the entire town.

It was also said: Bakkah is the site of the House and the place of circumambulation. It was called Bakkah because people crowd together there—that is, they press and jostle one another. Some pray in front of others, and some pass in front of others.