of Ya`qub (Jacob) son of Ishaq (Isaac) son of Ibrahim (peace be upon them). Then it is populated by Sulayman (Solomon) (peace be upon him). AlBayt Al`Atiq is the best and first house set for people for worship; it is a blessed house, for Allah honored it by making people offer Salah in it and circumambulate around it. All these are means for expiating sins and forgiveness. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
And (remember) when We made the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) a place of resort for mankind and a place of safety. And take you (people) the Maqâm (place) of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) [or the stone on which Ibrâhîm (Abraham) ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ stood while he was building the Ka'bah] as a place of prayer (for some of your prayers, e.g. two Rak' at after the Tawâf of the Ka'bahat Makkah), and We commanded Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and Ismâ'îl (Ishmael) that they should purify My House (the Ka' bah at Makkah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I'tikâf), or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer).
Allah (Glorified be He) has made this House a place of resort for people to which they are always yearning to go; whenever they return from it, they want to go back again. Allah (Exalted be He) has instilled its love and longing in the hearts of the believers; they find in it great goodness, raising of ranks, doubling of the reward of good deeds and forgiveness of misdeeds. Moreover, Allah (Exalted be He) has made this House a place of safety, where people feel secure and where game is also secure. It is a safe sanctuary where even game feel secure, which Allah (Exalted be He) has permitted Muslims to eat outside AlHaram. But within AlHaram, the games are secure; and should not be startled or killed.
whosoever enters it, he attains security.
i.e. whoever enters it should be secured; no harm or murder should occur in it, in other word, it is obligatory to give protection to whoever enters it and not to harm anyone in any way.
In the Jahiliyyah (preIslamic time of ignorance), this practice was followed; a man would meet the murderer of his father or brother and could not harm him, till he came out of it. AlBayt A l`Atiq and AlHaram have been made by Allah as a place of return and security for people. Allah ordered Ibrahim and Isma`il (peace be upon them) to purify the House for those who circumambulate it, and those who are staying there for worship and those who bow and prostrate in Salah. In another Ayah (Qur'anic verse), Allah (Exalted be He) says:
And (remember) when We showed Ibrâhîm (Abraham) the site of the (Sacred) House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) (saying): "Associate not anything (in worship) with Me, [Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh) Islâmic Monotheism], and sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it, and those who stand up (for prayer), and those who bow (submit themselves with humility and obedience to Allâh), and make prostration (in prayer);"
The Ayah here refers to the resident and those who circumambulate it and the prayers. Allah (Glorified be He) orders His Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma`il to purify this House and so should all the rulers. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stressed this point on the Day of the Conquest of Makkah; he stated that it is a safe sanctuary that Allah, not people, made sacred held on the day when He created the heavens and earth. He (peace be upon him) said:
"Its game should not be chased, its trees should not be chopped down, its thorns should not be cut, no blood should be shed, its fallen things should not be picked up except by one who would announce it."
He (peace be upon him) meant that this House is sacred, so it is an obligation upon Muslims and rulers as it was upon Ibrahim, Isma`il, all the prophets and their seal Muhammad (peace be upon them)
to respect and honor this House and to beware of what Allah (Exalted be He) prohibited in it including harming, wronging, and transgressing against Muslims, whether those who perform Hajj or `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) or others.
It is an obligation to purify this House for those who stay or worship in it. If people should respect this House and keep it away from harm, they should also purify it and avoid committing sins in it and keep away from Allah's Anger and Punishment. They should not harm or fight one another; for it is a secure country, whose people should revere, respect, and avoid committing sins to the disobedience of Allah or doing injustice or harm to each other, for a misdeed committed in it is grave as the good deeds done in it are doubled.
Misdeeds, according to the scholars, are doubled not in numbers for whoever commits a misdeed shall be recompensed by the like thereof, but it is doubled in quality, for a misdeed committed in AlHaram is not like a misdeed committed outside it; rather, it is more grave. In this respect, Allah (Exalted be He) says:
and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong (i.e. practise polytheism and leave Islâmic Monotheism), him We shall cause to taste from a painful torment.
The meaning of "whoever inclines to evil actions therein" is whoever intends to do injustice therein, so he used the preposition Ba with the word "Ilhad i.e. evil actions, to give the meaning of "intend": and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong (i.e. practise polytheism and leave Islâmic Monotheism) If the one who intends to do a deed therein of deviation in religion deserves a painful torment, what about the one who actually did such a deed?
If the one who has the intention to do an evil action is threatened by painful torment, then the one who commits the crime and transgresses the limits deserves, with greater reason, punishment and painful torment.
Verily, those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh, and from AlMasjidalHarâm (at Makkah) which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there [as regards its sanctity and pilgrimage (Hajj and 'Umrah)]
This indicates that this House is sacred and there is no difference between the resident and the newcomer who come to perform Hajj or `Umrah or anything else with regard to its sacredness.
and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong (i.e. practise polytheism and leave Islâmic Monotheism)
Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) points out the greatness of this place, which Allah has made secure and sanctity, none of its dwellers or visitors is permitted to transgress Allah's Limits or harm people in it. Thus, it is known that wronging and harming people in AlHaram by an utterance or deed is among the gravest prohibited acts whose doer deserves painful torment; rather, it is one of the major sins.
Allah, not people, has made this Town sacred on the day He created the heavens and the earth. It was made lawful for me (to fight in it) only during an hour on one day, and today (now) its sanctity is the same (valid) as it was before. So it is incumbent upon those who are present to convey it (this information) to those who are absent.
It is not lawful for anybody to shed blood in it, cut down its trees, disturb its game, cut its thorns, or pick up the things dropped except by one who makes a public announcement of it.
If the game and trees are respected there, what about the [sanctity of] Muslims! We should give more priority to the Muslim. No one is permitted to harm people in AlHaram by word or deed; everyone should respect them in compliance with Allah's Shar` (Law) and should revere Allah's Prohibitions in it more than he would do elsewhere. He should be peaceful with his Muslim brothers and sisters, love all good for them, and hate all evil, help them to do good and quit evil and should not harm any one with words or deeds.
In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqâm (place) of Ibrâhîm (Abraham)
Allah (Exalted be He) has clear signs in it, which the scholars interpreted to refer to Maqam Ibrahim (the Station of Ibrahim), meaning the Maqams of Ibrahim, for the word Maqam is single added to a definite noun so it includes all the Maqams of Ibrahim. All AlHaram is the Maqam of Ibrahim where he worshipped Allah; this includes also the sacred monuments like `Arafat, A lMuzdalyfah and Myna. All this comes under Maqam Ibrahim. This also includes the stone where Ibrahim stood while building and on which people now offer Salah.
Then, We have sent the revelation to you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) Hanif (Islâmic Monotheism to worship none but Allâh)
This provides a reminder to the believers who are the loving servants of Allah, in order that they may follow the example of Allah's Prophet, Ibrahim. Allah orders our Prophet (Muhammad) to do so in His Saying:
Here, Allah (Exalted be He) orders His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to follow the religion of Ibrahim AlKhalil, the father of all the prophets.
Allah's Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the best of all messengers and the most perfect in delivering Allah's message and the most useful to people among them; he guided them to all that is good, guidance, and means of happiness. Every Muslim in this Ummah (nation based on one creed) should follow the example of his Prophet (peace be upon him) with regard to carrying out obligations, giving up prohibited acts, warding harm off people and delivering all good to them.
It is obligatory upon the scholars in charge to point out and guide. The rulers and officials in charge should implement the Rule of Allah, advise, and deter whoever wants to harm Muslims in Makkah of those who came to perform Hajj or `Umrah or other inhabitants, regardless of their race.
The rulers should respect, guard and protect AlHaram AlSharif against any evil, as Allah and His Prophet and Messenger (peace be upon him) ordered.
Thus, we come to know that what happened on the year 1407 A.H. on the part of some Iranian people who were performing Hajj is an act Munkar (that which is unacceptable or disapproved of by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect); rather, the Shari`ah of Allah prohibits it; the Book of Allah and the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) forbid that.
The scholars unanimously agreed upon the obligation of respecting AlBayt, sanctifying and protecting it from all harm, sin, and injustice, and facilitating the affairs of people who come to perform Hajj and `Umrah and helping them to do good and avoid evil. It is never
permissible for any one from Iran or elsewhere to harm people by means of speech, actions, demonstrations, or mass marches that keep people from carrying out the rituals of Hajj and `Umrah. The one who performs Hajj should be like his Muslim brothers and sisters with regard to being quiet and kind to everyone who performs Hajj helping them to do good and avoid evil. This is due upon all pilgrims regardless of their race or country, in order to obey Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), glorify His Bayt and keep Makkah
AlMukarramah sanctified, acting upon the Order of Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and following the approach of the Messenger and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with him). This is an obligation upon all Muslims. This matter is quite clear to every one. Whoever harms people in AlBayt Al`Atiq is the one who does not believe in Allah and the Last Day or the one who is ignorant of the Rulings of Allah or intends to do injustice to people, so he will be punished according to the harm and injustice he inflicts upon others.
True belief in Allah and the Last Day keeps one away from what Allah (Exalted be He) prohibited in this place and elsewhere; true belief deters one from transgressing the Limits of Allah and from committing prohibited acts. One commits a sin due to weakness in Iman (Faith/belief). With regard to AlMasjid AlHaram and AlMasjid AlNabawy (the Prophet's Mosque) in Madinah, it is the duty of rulers to carefully protect them and ward off any harm from them and their inhabitants and whoever comes to perform Hajj or `Umrah or other visitors out of obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and glorification of the Order of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him), and helping all obey Allah and His Messenger, and assuring the hearts of those performing Hajj and `Umrah so that they would not forget what Allah ordered them to do or commit what Allah forbade them to do.
Help you one another in AlBirr and AtTaqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression.
By Al'Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss, Except those
who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (AlMa'ruf) which Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (AlMunkar which Allâh has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allâh's Cause during preaching His religion of Islâmic Monotheism or Jihâd).
It is obligatory to recommend one another to adhere to AlHaqq (the Truth), practice patience, and cooperate in righteousness and piety in this sacred place and elsewhere; moreover, this place is more sacred and glorified than any other place.
It is the best place, for Makkah AlMukarramah is the most beloved place to Allah. It is the greatest place then comes AlMadinah Al Munawwarah then AlMasjid AlAqsa. These are the three Masjids that Allah gave special holiness; they are the greatest and best Masjids which deserve more respect and care. The greatest of them is AlBayt Al`Atiq, which Allah has made a secure resort for people, so its inhabitants and whoever comes to visit it should realize its virtue and esteem, in order not to commit what Allah (Exalted be He) prohibited. This is an obligation upon both the residents and newcomers. Its dwellers should glorify it and avoid what Allah (Exalted be He) prohibited in it.
If the one who intends to do sins in it deserves painful punishment, so what about the one who actually does sins in it? This address is not only the newcomer, for the resident is more entitled to be included. He should know what Allah has prohibited, keep away from committing sins, and work studiously to obey Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and helping his Muslim brothers and sisters in Makkah and those who come to perform Hajj or `Umrah. He should be guiding them to all good. It is an obligation upon the residents of Makkah to help and guide them to the means of salvation and to avoid harming them by way of a word or action. They should be callers to AlHaqq.
All these matters should be observed in these two Masjids and cities. In every time and place, Muslims should fear Allah, honor His Sacred Rites, cooperate with his brothers in piety and righteousness and keep away from whatever Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) prohibited. The rulers should stand against and punish whoever violates the Commands of Allah or
wants to transgress His Limits and harms His Servants in order to obey Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and protect the Muslims who come to perform Hajj and `Umrah and others. They should respect this sacred country and this secured country against committing the Prohibitions of Allah in it or transgressing Allah's Limits in it or securing whoever does not fear Allah and harms His Servants and disturbs their Hajj and security by a bad word or deed.
May Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) by His Best Names and Lofty Attributes guide Muslims everywhere to whatever pleases Him, fix their hearts and deeds, help them carry out His Rights and avoid His Prohibitions. May Allah grant them understanding of religion, guide our rulers to do what is best for the countries and peoples, and help them perform their obligations, protect His Bayt and the city of the Prophet (peace be upon him) from harm or evil. We ask Allah also to suppress the enemies of Islam everywhere, make them too preoccupied with their own affairs to harm the Muslims and make them plan for their own destruction and save Muslims from their evils. He (Glorified and Exalted be He) is Most Generous, All Hearing and EverNear. May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and Companions! Amen.