in her innermost room is better than her prayer in her private quarters; her prayer in her private quarters is better than her prayer in her house; her prayer in her house is better than her prayer in her people’s mosque; and her prayer in her people’s mosque is better than her prayer with me.”

All this is because of the concealment and seclusion these places afford. It is well known that dwellings serve the same purpose as clothing: both were originally provided for protection and to ward off harm, just as food and drink were provided to secure benefit. A person uses clothing to protect himself from heat and cold, and from an enemy’s weapons. Likewise, dwellings provide protection from heat and cold, and from enemies.

Allah Most High says:

“Allah has provided you with shade from what He has created, and has provided you with shelters in the mountains. He has provided you with garments that protect you from the heat, and garments that protect you in battle. Thus He perfects His favor upon you, so that you may submit to Him.”

Here He mentions what they need to ward off things that may cause them discomfort. At the beginning of the surah, however, He mentions what is indispensable for warding off harm, saying:

“And He created livestock for you; in them you find warmth and other benefits, and from them you eat.”

He thus mentions what they use to keep warm and ward off the cold, because cold kills them, whereas heat causes them discomfort. Hence some Arabs said: “Cold is misery; heat is discomfort.” For this reason, He did not mention protection from cold in the other verse, since that had already been mentioned at the beginning of the surah. In the course of the surah, He mentions that by which He completes His favor, and mentions