the Station of Abraham, a place of prayer. And We entrusted Abraham and Ishmael to purify My House for those who circumambulate it, those who remain there in devotion, and those who bow and prostrate themselves.” [al-Baqara: 125]

Thus, He said, “And take…”; and an imperative denotes obligation.

If it is objected that the command to take the Station as such could refer to making it a place for the two units following circumambulation, a qibla, or a place of supplication (1), the response is that the intended meaning—taking it as a place for the two units following circumambulation—is established by the lengthy hadith of Jābir describing the Hajj of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). He said: “…then he proceeded to the Station of Abraham (peace be upon him) and recited, ‘And take the Station of Abraham as a place of prayer.’ He then placed the Station between himself and the House… In the two units, he would recite, ‘Say: He is Allah, the One,’ and ‘Say: O disbelievers!’” Muslim narrated it. (2)

Amr ibn Dīnār said: We asked Ibn Umar about a man who had circumambulated the House for Umrah but had not yet gone between al-Safā and al-Marwa: could he have marital relations with his wife? He replied: “The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) arrived, circumambulated the House seven times, prayed two units behind the Station, and went between al-Safā and al-Marwa. Indeed, in Allah’s Messenger you have an excellent example.” Al-Bukhārī narrated it. (3)

The fact that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) performed the two units behind the Station after circumambulation and recited the verse indicates that the two units are obligatory. His prayer serves to clarify the undetailed command in the verse, “And take”; and the clarification of an obligatory, undetailed command carries the same ruling. (4)