(37) “Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in a barren valley near Your Sacred House.”

This was because he brought Hagar, Ishmael’s mother, and her son Ishmael, peace be upon him, who was still a nursing infant, from Syria and settled them in Mecca. At that time, it had no inhabitants and no one to call upon or answer. After settling them there, he prayed to his Lord with this supplication, humbly entreating Him and placing his trust in Him: “Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants”—that is, not all of them, for Isaac was in Syria, as were the rest of his sons. He settled only Ishmael and his descendants in Mecca. His words, “in a barren valley,” mean that the land of Mecca is unsuitable for cultivation.

“Our Lord, so that they may establish prayer.” That is: Make them monotheists who establish prayer, for establishing prayer is among the most distinctive and excellent acts of religious worship. Whoever establishes it upholds his religion. “So cause the hearts of some people to incline toward them”—that is, to love them and the place in which they dwell.

Allah answered his prayer and brought forth Muhammad ﷺ from the descendants of Ishmael. He called Ishmael’s descendants to Islam and to the religion of their forefather Abraham. They responded to him and became people who established prayer.

Allah made pilgrimage to this House—beside which Abraham’s descendants had been settled—obligatory, and placed within it a wondrous secret that draws hearts toward it. They continually make pilgrimage to it yet never have their fill of it. Rather, the more often a servant returns to it, the greater his longing, ardent attachment, and yearning become. This is the secret behind the Exalted’s ascribing it to His sacred Self.

“And provide them with fruits, so that they may be grateful.” Allah answered his prayer, and the fruits of all things came to be brought there. Indeed, at all times you see blessed Mecca abundantly supplied with fruits, while provisions flow to it from every direction.