texts which make clear that he is the best of creation and the most honoured by his Lord. Abraham is the leader of whom Allah said:

“I will make you a leader for the people.”

He is the model—the example to be followed—of whom Allah said:

“Indeed, Abraham was an exemplary leader, devoutly obedient to Allah, inclining toward truth.”

It was to him that Allah assigned the site of the House and commanded him to proclaim the pilgrimage to it among the people. Allah declared the Sanctuary sacred through him, and He made Ishmael a prophet alongside him. Ishmael was the one who was to be sacrificed: he offered himself to Allah and patiently endured the trial, as we have demonstrated elsewhere with abundant evidence. His mother, Hagar, was the one who obeyed Allah and His Messenger Abraham by remaining with her son in that uninhabited valley, as Allah’s intimate friend said:

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House.”

Abraham and his family possessed a degree of love for Allah, worship of Him, faith in Him, and obedience to Him unmatched by others. Allah therefore singled them out by granting His House, which they built for Him, distinctive qualities found nowhere else. He also made certain deeds of theirs an example for people and acts of worship in which they follow them.

There is no doubt that Allah prescribed for Abraham the ritual passage between Safā and Marwah, the stoning of the pillars, and the standing at ‘Arafāt after the events involving Hagar and Ishmael, the account of the sacrifice, and the other events that took place—just as He prescribed for Muhammad a brisk gait during circumambulation—when He commanded him to proclaim the pilgrimage to the House among the people. Pilgrimage is founded upon humility and submission to Allah. For this reason, it is specifically called nusk; linguistically, “nusk” means worship.