This noble verse establishes the obligation to respect the Sacred Precinct and hold it in the highest veneration, and warns against intending to commit sins there or actually committing them.
⦗537⦘
(26–29) “And when We assigned to Abraham the site of the House, saying, ‘Do not associate anything with Me, and purify My House for those who circumambulate it, those who stand in worship, and those who bow and prostrate. * Proclaim the Hajj to all people: they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every distant pass, * so that they may witness benefits for themselves and mention Allah’s name on known days over the livestock He has provided for them. So eat from them and feed the destitute poor. * Then let them end their state of dishevelment, fulfil their vows, and circumambulate the Ancient House.’”
The Most High mentions the grandeur and majesty of the Sacred House and the greatness of its builder, Abraham, the close friend of the Most Merciful. He says: “And when We assigned to Abraham the site of the House,” meaning that We prepared it for him, gave it to him as a dwelling place, and made some of his descendants its inhabitants. Allah commanded him to build it, so he built it upon mindfulness of Allah and founded it upon obedience to Him. He and his son Ishmael built it, and Allah commanded him not to associate anything with Him, but to make his deeds sincerely for Allah and build the House in Allah’s name.
“And purify My House,” meaning from polytheism, sins, impurities, and filth. The Most Merciful called the House His own because of its honour and virtue, so that love for it would become immense within people’s hearts, hearts would be drawn toward it from every direction, and the duty of purifying and venerating it would be even greater. This is because it is the House of the Lord, intended for those who circumambulate it and remain there in devotion, occupying themselves with acts of worship such as remembrance, recitation, pursuing and imparting knowledge, and other deeds that draw one near to Allah; “and those who bow and prostrate,” meaning those who pray.
In other words, purify it for these virtuous people, whose concern is to obey and serve their Lord and draw near to Him at His House. They are the ones entitled to it and to honour, and part of honouring them is purifying the House for their sake. Purifying it also includes keeping it free from frivolous and loud voices that disturb those engaged in prayer and circumambulation. Circumambulation is mentioned before devotional retreat and prayer because it is exclusive to this House; devotional retreat follows because it is confined to mosques in general.
“Proclaim the Hajj to all people,” meaning: inform them of it, invite them to it, and convey to those near and far its obligatory status and virtue. If you call them, they will come to you to perform Hajj and Umrah, “on foot,” meaning walking on their own feet, impelled by yearning, “and on every lean camel,” meaning a lean she-camel that crosses vast deserts and wastelands and journeys continuously until it reaches the noblest of places, “from every distant pass,” meaning from every faraway land.
Abraham, peace be upon him, did so, and after him so did his descendant Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Both called people to perform Hajj at this House and proclaimed that call repeatedly. What Allah had promised then came to pass: people came to it on foot and riding from the eastern and western reaches of the earth.
Allah then mentions the benefits of visiting His Sacred House, encouraging people to do so: “so that they may witness benefits for themselves,” meaning that they may attain religious benefits at Allah’s House through virtuous acts of worship, including acts that can be performed nowhere else, as well as worldly benefits through trade and the acquisition of worldly profits. All of this is evident and well known.
“And mention Allah’s name on known days over the livestock He has provided for them.” This is among both the religious and worldly benefits. That is, they should mention Allah’s name when slaughtering the sacrificial offerings, in gratitude to Him for providing them with these animals and making them readily available. Once you have slaughtered them, “eat from them and feed the destitute poor,” meaning those suffering severe poverty.
“Then let them end their state of dishevelment,” meaning that they should complete their rites and remove the dirt and discomfort that affected them while in the consecrated state; “fulfil their vows,” which they imposed upon themselves, including Hajj, Umrah, and sacrificial offerings; “and circumambulate the Ancient House,” meaning the ancient House, the finest of all mosques and one kept free from the domination of tyrants.
This is a command to circumambulate, specifically mentioned after the general command to perform the rites because of its virtue and honour, and because it is the intended objective, while the rites preceding it are means leading to it.
Perhaps—Allah knows best—the command also serves another purpose: circumambulation is prescribed at all times, whether it is connected to a rite or performed independently.