We assigned to Abraham the site of the House
A Reflection on the Importance of Ḥajj
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more
A Reflection on the Importance of Ḥajj
May 29
[
﷽
The Month of Ḥajj is now upon us and there’s so much to consider. I will share a short reflection on this passage of the Qur’ān which is likewise named after the Month of Ḥajj. Allāh says,
وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَكَانَ ٱلْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِى شَيْـًۭٔا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْقَآئِمِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ
“And remember when We assigned to Abraham the site of the House, saying, ‘Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who circle It, those who stand in prayer, as well as those who bow and prostrate’.” – Sūrah al-Ḥajj v. 25
Imam al-Shawkānī, may Allāh have mercy on him, says regarding the verse, “And remember when We assigned to Abraham the site of the House”,
“It is said: ‘I gave so-and-so a dwelling” (بَوَّأْتُهُ مَنزِلًا) and ‘I provided a dwelling for so-and-so’ (بَوَّأْتُ لَهُ), just as one says ‘I enabled you” (مَكَّنْتُكَ) and ‘I enabled something for you’ (مَكَّنْتُ لَكَ).”
al-Shawkānī also quotes al-Zajjāj:
مَعْناهُ جَعَلْنا مَكانَ البَيْتِ مُبَوَّأً لِإبْراهِيمَ، ومَعْنى بَوَّأْنا: بَيَّنّا لَهُ مَكانَ البَيْتِ، ومِثْلُهُ قَوْلُ الشّاعِرِ
كَمْ مِن أخٍ لِيَ ماجِدٍ ∗∗∗ بَوَّأْتُهُ بِيَدَيَّ لَحْدًا
“‘We made the location of the House a place of dwelling for Ibrāhīm,’ and the meaning of bawwāʾnā (بَوَّأْنَا) is ‘We made clear to him the location of the House’. A similar usage is also found in a line of poetry: ‘How many a noble brother have I laid with my own hands in the grave’.”
In other words, the usage of phrase bawwāʾnā (بَوَّأْنَا) underscores that the action is deliberate and personal.
Imam’s Corner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Imām al-Shawkānī also draws our attention to the fact that the part of the verse—“that you not associate anything with Me” (أن لا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا)—is said that this serves as an explanation or justification of bawwāʾnā (“We assigned”),
قِيلَ إنَّ هَذِهِ هي مُفَسِّرَةٌ لَبَوَّأْنا لِتَضَمُّنِهِ مَعْنى تَعَبَّدْنا؛ لِأنَّ التَّبْوِئَةَ هي لِلْعِبادَةِ
because it includes/implies the meaning of “We commanded him to worship”; since tabwiʾah (the root meaning of the verb bawwa’a—“to assign/designate”) was for the purpose of worship.
In short, this āyah provides us an important keyhole by which we can look upon the significance of Ḥajj as a whole, namely that Allāh did not leave the guidance of mankind to neither guesswork or personal genius. Instead, Allāh clearly designated the location of the Sacred House to Ibrāhīm ﷺ thereby linking that designation to worship and devotion. From this we can proceed with assurance that Allāh has provided concrete, deliberate, and clear instructions to ensure that people could find their way to Him. This reflects a broader principle as seen throughout the Qur’ān: that divine guidance is intentional and measured, showing Allāh’s care and concern towards His creation, facilitating a path, the Straight Path, of worship for His creation.
You're currently a free subscriber to Imam’s Corner. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.