Eternal Words 3-Sura-'Al-i-'Imran Verse96
Verse96
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(96) إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
96. " Verily the first House (of worship) set up for mankind is the one at Bekka (Mecca), blessed and a guidance for the worlds."
Commentary:
One of the objections of the Children of Israel was that they said why Muslims had taken the Ka'bah as their Qiblah instead of Jerusalem which has been built 1500 years Before Christ by Solomon. This verse is an answer to them that the Ka'bah has existed from the beginning day and it is the first House, viz, its ancientness and its date is further than any other places of worship.
By the way, it is cited in Tafsir-AlMizan (vol. 3, p. 583, Persion version) that there are many traditions upon the expansion of the earth /dahw-ul-'ard/, (1) while there is no scientific reason to oppose it and it does not differ from the verses of the Qur'an.
In Nahjul-Balaqah, sermon 192, Imam Amir-ul Mu'mineen Ali (a.s.) says: "... Allah, the Glorified, has tried all the people among those who came before, beginning with Adam, upto the last ones in this world with stones (of Ka'bah)... " (2)
It is understood from this statement that the Ka'bah has existed from the time of Adam (a.s.) and its background is further than any other worshipping place.
In the Qur'an and the traditions of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.), the Ka'bah has been referred to with different terms. Some of them are as follows:
1. The Ka'bah is the first House: Sura 'Al-i-'Imran, No. 3, verse 96.
2. Ka'bah, a maintenance for the people: Sura Al-Ma'idah, No 5, verse 97.
3. The Ka'bah, the ancient (free) House: Sura Al-Hajj, No. 22, verse 29.
4. The Ka'bah, the House, a resort and a secure sanctuary for the people: Sura Al-Baqarah, No. 2, verse 125.
5. The Ka'bah is a sign of Islam: Nahjul-Balaqah.
Explanations:
1. Ka'bah is the secret of the guidance of people, an inclusive guidance for all, since it is the Qiblah of all. It is similar to the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h.) that have been revealed and who have been appointed for all human kind.
2. When Allah wills, the stones of Ka'bah will be blessed and will guide human beings. Besides that, looking at Ka'bah is counted worship, and, by His command, Abraham and Ishmael (a.s.) become its particular servants.
3. The Qur'an, the Messenger and the Ka'bah are independent for they are specific to Allah. Neither is the Quran made up and finished by any individual, nor the Prophet pays the allegiance of any one, nor the Ka'bah belongs to a particular person.
4. Ka'bah is the first point in the earth.
5. Ka'bah is the first House built for the worship of people.
6. The goodness and blessings of Ka'bah are not only for the believers, but they are for all.
" Verily the first House (of worship) set up for mankind is the one at Bakka (Mecca), blessed and a guidance for the worlds. "
(1) The term /dahv-ul-ard/ means that the earth was expanded and extended from beneath the Ka'bah.
(2) Nahjul-Balaqah, sermon 192
