himself, and does not harm Allah in the least.”

Even in Mecca itself, calamity is not warded off from its people, nor is provision brought to them, except through their obedience to Allah and His Messenger. As Abraham, Allah’s close friend, peace be upon him, said:

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your Sacred House, our Lord, so that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them, and provide them with fruits, so that they may be grateful.”

During the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, they revered the sanctity of the Sacred Precinct, performed pilgrimage and circumambulated the House. They were better than other polytheists, and Allah does not wrong anyone even by an atom’s weight. They were accorded honors that others were not accorded and given what others were not given, because they adhered more closely to Abraham’s religion than others did. Under Islam, if they are better than others, their recompense is proportionate to their excellence; and if their deeds are worse than those of others, their recompense is proportionate to their evil deeds.

The merit of mosques and sacred sites benefits only those who act within them in obedience to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Otherwise, places in themselves bring neither reward nor punishment. Rather, reward and punishment depend on deeds that are commanded or forbidden.

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had established a bond of brotherhood between Salmān al-Fārisī and Abū al-Dardā’. Abū al-Dardā’ was in Damascus, while Salmān al-Fārisī was in Iraq. Abū al-Dardā’ wrote to Salmān:

“Come to the Holy Land.”

Salmān wrote back:

“Land does not sanctify anyone; rather, it is a person’s deeds that sanctify him.”

Residing at the frontier posts for jihad is better than living in the Two Sacred Sanctuaries, by agreement of the scholars.