بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Qibla means ‘Direction’. In religious context it means the direction of one’s faith. The word ‘Kaaba’ is understood to be the cube shaped House of God, situated in the city of Makkah.
The belief system of every individual can be thought of his spiritual house in which he feels protection. The spiritual house is initially built with inputs from one’s immediate environment and people in his surroundings, who instill the fundamentals of belief in him. The initial spiritual house a person builds and feels protection in it, is built without the knowledge and Sprit of Allah’s Ayahs.
29:41 مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ كَمَثَلِ الْعَنكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
The example of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds a house; and truly the flimsiest of houses is that of the spider;- if they but knew.
The First house established for mankind by Allah, is Kaaba (cube) which is at Bakka/Makka. This house is for guidance of the whole World. We will review in this post about, what guidance emanates from this place.
3:96 إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
The first House appointed for mankind is that at Bakka (Makkah): Full of blessings and of guidance for all Worlds.
Bakka is an attribute of city of Makkah meaning ‘busy place’. The city is situated in a non agriculture valley of folds having hills of varying shades of blacks and greys. The house is made of black-stone and is in the midst of the sacred Mosque/Masjid ul Haram. The house is not made of bricks, the lining we see which appear as bricks are decorative stripes put on the black stone. Other attributes for this place are Bait Ul Ateeq/the ancient House (29:33الْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ) and Umm ul Qura 6:92 ( أُمَّ الْقُرَىٰ) /Mother of dwellings.
5:97 جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الْكَعْبَةَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ قِيَامًا لِّلنَّاسِ وَالشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ وَالْهَدْيَ وَالْقَلَائِدَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Allah has made the Ka’bah, The Sacred House, a place of standing for people (in prayers), and The Sacred Month, and the offering, and the garlands/orbits, That you may know that Allah has knowledge of what is in the skies and in earth and that Allah is well-acquainted with all things.
Kabah, the sacred house, is recognizable with the standing of people in prayers (the system of salat is established in that place), and system of Hajj with association of month of Hajj and the offerings at Hajj. The people do tawaf/orbits around Kabah. These orbits appear as garlands around the Kabah when seen from above.
9:28 يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ فَلَا يَقْرَبُوا الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هَٰذَا ۚ وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ عَيْلَةً فَسَوْفَ يُغْنِيكُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِن شَاءَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
O you who believe! Truly the associaters are unclean; so let them not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year. And if you fear poverty, soon Allah will enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.
Those who associate others in Allah are unclean spiritually. When some one who was previously involved in associations with Allah, realizes that and makes correction in belief then he after cleansing himself should make plans for visit to the sacred House. Without the spiritual cleansing, the guidance emanating from sacred House stated in Ayat 3:96 will not be achieved.
2:158 إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
Surely! Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah, so if any who goes for Hajj or Umra of the House, It is no sin on him, that he goes round them and whoever voluntarily does good, so surely Allah is He who is thankful and knowing.
Safa and Marwa are two raised spots near the Sacred house, symbols for its recognition. One who goes for the visit of the sacred House, would go around them as part of the pilgrimage.
20:12 إِنِّي أَنَا رَبُّكَ فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى
(O’ Moosa) Surely I am your Lord so take off your shoes. Surely you are with the Holy Valley of folds.
All prophets went for pilgrimage of the sacred house. The Holy valley is called with the name of ‘Tuwa’ i.e a valley of folds in Quran. The practice of Prophet Moosa A.S to take off his shoes in the sacred valley, is followed by pilgrims when entering the House of the Lord.
23:15 وَجَعَلْنَا ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ آيَةً وَآوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَىٰ رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ
And We made the son of Mary and his mother, a Sign. We gave them shelter on raised ground of tranquility and springs.
Prophet Essa A.S and his mother Mariam, also are associated with the Holy land. The signs mentioned will always be there, e.g the well of Zamzam for spring of water and the raised spots of Safwa and Marwa.
The well/spring of Zamzam is a sign associated with the Kaaba the House of the Lord. This well supplies water and quenches thirst of millions of pilgrims and has been around for thousands of years without drying up. The well retains its water level in matter of minutes. (see picture in notes below)
6:75-79 وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَىٰ كَوْكَبًا ۖ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي هَٰذَا أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
And likewise, We showed Ibraheem A.S the kingdom of the skies and the earth that he might be of those having belief. When the night covered him over, he saw a planet: he said, “This is my Lord.” But when it set, he said: “I love not those that set. When he saw the moon rising he said: “This is my Lord.” But when the moon set, he said: “If my Lord does not guide me, I shall surely be among those who go astray. When he saw the sun rising he said: “This is my Lord; this is greater.” But when the sun set, he said: O my people! I am indeed free from your (guilt) of associating partners with Allah.
In terms of Hujjat/logical arguments to his people, Ibrahim A.S explained with the help of examples of exceeding bigger things which may appear to people as of divine importance, that only Allah is to be focused upon, no matter how bright and shining and invincible any object or personality seems to them.
6:79 إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
I have set myself firmly and truly, to Him Who originated the skies and the earth, and I am not from those who associate partners with Allah.
After disassociating oneself from previous psychological idols held in high esteem, one is to focus on the Lord, who created the skies and earth. This is the first step in setting the true direction of belief.
In terms of search for the true direction of belief, the order is to set our direction of belief to the Sacred mosque. Which means to adopt the system of the Sacred mosque and not to oppose the system established there.
2:144 قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ ۗ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
Without doubt, We see the movements of your face in the sky, so, We will revert you to a Qiblah/direction (of faith) that shall please you. So revert yourself to the intersection/portion of the Sacred Mosque: and from wherever you come, revert yourselves to its intersection/portion. Surely, those who are given the Book definitely know that this is the truth from their Lord. and Allah is not unaware of what they are doing.
The Masjid Al Haram has a established system of Salat and Tawaf. Which ever sect you belong to, leave sectarian practice and turn your self towards the ‘Salat’ portion of Masjid Al Haram. Facing the sacred mosque is symbolically stating that you adhere to the system of Salat established in that Mosque.
Prophet Ibrahim was shown the place of the Sacred House and he was entrusted to establish the system of Salat and Tawaf in the house.
22:26 وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
And when We pointed out the place of the House to Ibraheem “associate not anything with Me; and purify My house for those who go around, and who stand and bow, prostrate.”
In the sunnat/practice of Prophet Ibraheem A.S, we are to purify the House of the Lord of evil associations in the minds of people. There are stories in people’s mind that at some point in time the House of the Lord was not pure. That there were physical idols placed inside the House and people used to go around the House, naked. All these notions are false made out of distorted history. The House of the Lord must always been clean and a place of getting guidance for the Salat and Hajj for the mankind from day one, as it is the first House established for mankind for guidance.
2:125 وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى ۖ وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
And when We made the house a place of reward and safety for people, and you take from the standing position of Ibraheem, the Musalla / prayer performed. And We covenanted with Ibraheem and Ismaeel that both of you purify My house for those who go around and those who intent upon (do Aetikaf) and those who bow and prostate.
Please note the system of Masjid Haram:
1. Not to associate anyone in partnership with Allah
2. Tawaf of the House
3. Salat/Namaz
7:29 قُلْ أَمَرَ رَبِّي بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَقِيمُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَادْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأَكُمْ تَعُودُونَ
Say; “My lord has ordered with justice; and you establish your faces/selves near every mosque and call Him, making your judgment pure for Him. As He originated you, so you will return”.
All mosques are shatar/part(شَطْرَ) of the Masjidul-Haram/Sacred Mosque by virtue of facing towards it. You may visit any mosque and pray there in as per system of Salat established in the Sacred Mosque. If people argue with you over your salat then your argument should be that you have taken the system of salat on the basis of Ayahs of Quran (See previous post https://topicsfromquran.com/2017/03/21/salat-procedure/ )
2:127 وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
And when Ibraheem and Isma’il raised from the House, Al-Qawaid/the Rules, “Our Lord! Accept from us for you are All hearing, All knowing.”
What are the rules that were raised by Ibrahim and Ismail from the House of Allah; the rules of Salat/Prayers and Tawaf/Hajj.
14:37 رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ
“O’ our Lord surely I have settled from my offspring within the valley without cultivation near your Sacred House, O’ Our Lord, so that they establish As-Salat/The prayer, so make the hearts of people loving towards them and provide them with fruits so that they will be thankful.”
Ibrahim A.S, who was made Imam and entrusted to keep the House of Allah purified, made some of his offsprings (spritual) station there and prayed to Allah for ensuring the sanctity of establishment of salat at that place. After the system of Salat is established by people there, they will be rewarded with fruits imported from all over the world in that non-agricultural valley.
3:97 فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
In it are clear ayats / signs, the standing position of Ibraheem; whoever enters it attains security. And for Allah is Pilgrimage of the house on people, those who can afford the journey, but if anyone denies, surely Allah is not in need of any in the worlds.
When a person disassociate with alternative religious teachings, leave the sectarian belief system, adopts the guidance of Allah and enters the House of the Lord physically and spiritually, he surely enters into peace and security. He leaves behind him sectarian hatred and enmity.
When you exit from your previous beliefs i.e the beliefs held before the clarity of Ayahs of Allah, you should redirect your self towards the Masjid Haram and become part of it, so that people cannot argue with your way of salat/prayers.
2:150 وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِي وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And from wherever you come out, so revert yourself to the intersection / portion of the Sacred Mosque and wherever you are, revert yourselves to its intersection/portion that there would be no ground of dispute over you from the people except those of them that are bent on wickedness, so fear them not but fear Me and that I may complete My favors on you and that you may be guided.
The people who insist that the system of Salat and Tawaf in the Masjid ul Haram/Sacred Mosque is not right, and instead their system is right, should see below Ayahs:
8:34-5 وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلَّا يُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُوا أَوْلِيَاءَهُ ۚ إِنْ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِندَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةً ۚ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
But what plea they have, that Allah should not punish them when they are in opposition about the Sacred Mosque and they are not its protectors (Walis). No one can be its protectors except those who take guard, but most of them do not understand. Their Salat/prayer near the House is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands, “Taste the penalty because you rejected”.
If you do not follow the system of salat which is established at the Holy House, it is just like whistling and clapping in the eyes of Allah
1:6 اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Guide us to the straight path.
Most people believe that by the grace of God, they are born on the straight path, while Allah has made it incumbent to recite this Ayat in each Raka of Salat five times a day to supplicate to Allah to guide them to the straight path. Truly, guidance is only from Allah and He bestows it to whomever He wills and can only be attained by following the Spirit of Ayahs of Allah.
2:142 سَيَقُولُ السُّفَهَاءُ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَا وَلَّاهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ الَّتِي كَانُوا عَلَيْهَا ۚ قُل لِّلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ ۚ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
The fools among the people will say: ” What has reverted them from their Qiblah/direction (of faith) on which they were?” Say: for Allah is East and West. He guides whom He wills to a straight path.
When one attains the Sprit of Ayahs of Allah, he realizes that he needs to change his direction of belief as per Ayahs of Allah and moves away from the sectarian teaching. At that time the silly people of his earlier sect would object and ask what made him change his direction of faith.
2:143 وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Likewise, We made you a balanced nation, that you be a witnesses over people, and the messenger be a witness over yourselves; and We did not make the Qiblah/direction (of faith) you were on it before, except that We know those who followed the messenger from those who would turn over their heels. Surely, it is a great thing, except, for those whom Allah guides and never would Allah make your belief be of no effect. Surely, Allah is to people full of Kindness, Most Merciful.
Indeed changing ones direction of belief is a great burdensome thing to do by any one. He or she has to face a lot of opposition from community and near and dear ones. This can only be achived with the help and guidance of Allah and Allah does not let go the belief of people to wastage.
We know that the first house established for the mankind is in Bakka/Makkah (3:96). However, people think of it as the second Qibla historically. The first Qibla is deemed to be another mosque which cannot be recognized with peace and Barakat/blessings. The characteristics of this alternative mosque are exposed in below Ayahs.
9:107 وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مَسْجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَكُفْرًا وَتَفْرِيقًا بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِرْصَادًا لِّمَنْ حَارَبَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَلَيَحْلِفُنَّ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلَّا الْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
And these (hypocrites) who have taken a mosque as an ambush (i.e. hidden place for sudden attack), for those who have been waging war against Allah and His messenger from before, to harm and to reject (i.e. Islam / Peace) and to make divisions between the believers and definitely they swear that our intention is nothing except goodness. And Allah testifies that surely they are definite liars.
The hypocrites have taken one Mosque for harm and rejection and division among believers and for waging gorilla war against the People who had been fighting with Allah from before. So you can recognize which mosque is this one, where there is a dispute, between two groups. Gorilla type of war is going on there and Islam is being harmed. And there can never be peace at that place till the day of Judgment 5:64.
9:108 لَا تَقُمْ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ۚ لَّمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى التَّقْوَىٰ مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِ ۚ فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا ۚ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُطَّهِّرِينَ
You never ever stand in it, definitely that mosque (i.e. Masjid-e-Haram / Sacred mosque) whose basis from the first day is on Taqwa/taking guard, it is more right that you stand in it. In it are men who love to purify themselves. And Allah loves those who purify themselves.
The order is that believers never to take a stand for that mosque which symbolizes harm, gorilla war and terrorism. Believers are to take stand for the Sacred Mosque, Masjid ul Haram which is established on Truth since day one.
2:145 وَلَئِنْ أَتَيْتَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ بِكُلِّ آيَةٍ مَّا تَبِعُوا قِبْلَتَكَ ۚ وَمَا أَنتَ بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَتَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا بَعْضُهُم بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَةَ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ۙ إِنَّكَ إِذًا لَّمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
And even if you were to bring to those who are given the Book all the signs (Ayahs), they would not follow your Qiblah (direction), nor you are going to follow their Qiblah nor will they follow each other’s Qiblah. If you were to follow their desires after the knowledge has come to you, surely, you would be among the wrong doers.
14:35-36 وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ ۖ فَمَن تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And when Ibraheem said, O’ my Lord! Make this city of peace and security and keep me and my sons strangers from serving Asnam (idols with love). O my Lord! Surely they have led astray many among people, so who follows me is of me, and he who disobeys me, so you are surely Oft-Forgiving,Most Merciful.
Asnam are the idols with association of love. Many sectarians fall prey to psychological idols whose love is instilled in them by their environment. Prophet Ibraheem A.S prays to Allah to make him and his sons strangers to the Asnams as a majority of mankind has been lead to delusion.
27:91 إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ رَبَّ هَٰذِهِ الْبَلْدَةِ الَّذِي حَرَّمَهَا وَلَهُ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
For me, I have been commanded to serve the Lord of this City, Who has made it sacred, and for Him are all things: and I am commanded to be of those who are Muslims/submitters.
27:92 وَأَنْ أَتْلُوَ الْقُرْآنَ ۖ فَمَنِ اهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ
And that I recite the Quran, and if any one accept guidance, he does it for the good of his own self, and if anyone goes astray, say “I am only a warner”.
Notes:
Link to the lecture of Qibla (direction of belief) by scholar Sholar Mohammad Shaikh:
https://www.iipccanada.com/category/urdu-video-lectures/emaan-ki-simt/
Topics from The Book (Al-Kitab) 