The Command to purify the House

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that,
{And We gave Our ’ Ahd (command) to Ibrahim and Isma'il}

means, “Allah ordered them to purify it from all filth and impurities, of which none should ever touch it.” 11 ' Also, Ibn Jurayj said, “I said to ‘Ata’, What is Allah's ‘Ahd?’ He said, *His command.’” Also, Said bin Jubayr said that Ibn ‘Abbas commented on the Ayah,
{that they should purify My House (the Ka'bah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (1‘tikdJ)}

“Purify it from the idols.” Further, Mujahid and Said bin Jubayr said that,
{purify My House for those who are circumambulating it}

means, “From the idols, sexual activity, false witness and sins of all kinds.”
Allah said,
{for those who are petforming Tawaf (circumambulating) it}.

The Tawaf around the House is a well-established ritual, Said bin Jubayr said that,
{for those who are circumambulating it}

means, strangers (he means who do not live in Makkah), while;
{or staying (1'tikaf)}

is about those who live in the area of the Sacred House. 1 ' 1 Also, Qatadah and Ar-Rabl‘ bin Anas said that Ttikaf is in reference to those who live in the area of the House, just as Said bin Jubayr stated.’ 21 Allah said,
{or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer)}

Ibn ‘Abbas said, when it is a place of prayer it includes those who are described as bowing and prostrating themselves.’ 3 ’ Also, ‘Ata’ and Qatadah offered the same Tafsir.^
Purifying all Masjids is required according to this Ayah and according to Allah’s statement,
{ln houses (mosques) which Allah has ordered to be raised (to be cleaned, and to be honored), in them His Name is remembered (i.e. Adhan, Iqdmah, Salah, invocations, recitation of the Qur'an). Therein glorify Hun (Allah) in the mornings and in the (late) afternoons > (24:36).
There are many Hadiths that give a general order for purifying the Masjids and keeping filth and impurities away from them. This is why the Prophet said,
({ The Masjids are established for the purpose that they were built for (i.e. worshipping Allah alone). »’*’
I have collected a book on this subject, and all praise is due to Allah.

Makkah is a Sacred Area

Allah said,
{And (remember) when Ibrahim said, "My Lord, make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.")
Imam Abu JaTar bin Jarir At-Tabari narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah jg said,
1 Ibrahim made Allah's House a Sacred Area and a safe refuge. I have made wlwt is between the two sides of Al-Madinah a Sacred Area. Therefore, its game should not be hunted, and its trees should not be cwi.s ,2] An-Nasal 131 and Muslim 14 ’ also recorded this Hadith. 1
There are several other Hadiths that indicate that Allah made Makkah a sacred area before He created the heavens and earth. The Two Sahihs recorded ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas saying that the Messenger of Allah sg said,
lAllah has made this city a sanctuary (sacred place) the Day He created the heavens and earth . Therefore, it is a sanctuary until the Day of Resurrection because Allah made it a sanctuary. It was not legal for anyone to fight in it before me, and it was legal for me for a few hours of one day. Therefore, it is a sanctuary until the Day of Resurrection, because Allah made it a sanctuary. None is allowed to uproot its thorny shrubs, or to chase its game, or to pick up something that has fallen, except by a person u)ho announces it publicly, nor should any of its trees be cut.v Al-‘Abbas said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Except the lemon-grass, for our goldsmiths and for our graves.’ The Prophet added, « Except lemon-grass J 111
This is the wording of Muslim. The Two Sahihs also recorded Abu Hurayrah narrating a similar Hadith, while Al-Bukhari recorded a similar Hadith from Safiyyah bint Shaybah who narrated it from the Prophet j£. 121
Abu Shurayh Al-‘Adawi said that he said to ‘Amr bin Said while he was sending armies to Makkah, “O Commander! Let me narrate a Hadith that the Messenger of Allah a£s said the day that followed the victory of Makkah. My ears heard the Hadith, my heart comprehended it, and my eyes saw the Prophet -jig when he said it. He thanked Allah and praised him and then said.
8 Allah, not the people, made Makkah a sanctuary, so any person ivho has belief in Allah and the Last Day, should neither shed blood in it nor should he cut down its trees. If anybody argues that fighting in it is permissible on the basis that Allah's Messenger fought in Makkah, say to him, ‘Allah allowed His Messenger and did not allow you.' Allah allowed me only for a few hours on that day (of the Conquest), and today its sanctity is valid as it was before. So, those who are present should inform those xoho are absent (concerning this fact ). »
Abu Shurayh was asked, What did ‘Amr reply?’ He said, (‘Amr said) ‘O Abu Shurayh! I know better than you about this, the Sacred House does not give protection to a sinner, a murderer or a thief.’ This Hadith was collected by Al- Bukhari and Muslim. 111
After this, there is no contradiction between the Hadlths that stated that Allah made Makkah a sanctuary when He created the heavens and earth and the Hadiths that Ibrahim made it a sanctuary, since Ibrahim conveyed Allah’s decree that Makkah is a sanctuary, before he built the House. Similarly, the Messenger of Allah jg was written as the Final Prophet when Adam was still clay. Yet, Ibrahim said,
{Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own } (2:129).
Allah accepted Ibrahim’s supplication, although He had full knowledge beforehand that it will occur by His decree. To further elaborate on this subject, we should mention the Hadith about what the Messenger of Allah jg said when he was asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Tell us about how your prophethood started.” He said,
«/ <j/« the supplication of my father Ibrahim, the good news of Jesus, the son of Mary, and my mother saw a light that radiated from her which illuminated the castles of Ash-Sham (Syria).*'"
In this Hadith, the Companions asked the Messenger about the beginning of his prophethood. We will explain this matter later, if Allah wills.

Ibrahim invokes Allah to make Makkah an Area of Safety and Sust