How should we understand the verses stating that the Kaaba is protected (safe)?..

- The Kaaba was destroyed by catapults and people were killed there in the past...

Dear Brother / Sister,

Remember that we made the Kaaba, known as “al-bayt, old house, baytullah”, a place of reward and security for people so that people could perform hajj (pilgrimage), visit it, earn rewards, and those who take refuge in it would be safe from attacks... Remember it and take the station of Abraham as a place of prayer; pray there.

O Muhammad! I swear by this place where you were born, where you were raised, where you were sent as a prophet, where you became safe with power, greatness and respect, and which is known as safe. Tafsir scholars unanimously agree that it is Makkah because it is a name of Makkah as it is mentioned in the chapter of al-Balad, it is a place of assembly and a place of safety and it includes the station of Abraham:

“Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer...”(al-Baqara, 2/125)

It is also known as Balad al-Amin since the secure sanctuary is there:

“…Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary, to which are brought as tribute fruits of all kinds?...”(al-Qasas, 28/57)

The phrase Bayt al-Atiq is used for the Kaaba. Atiq means to be free. This name was given to the revered Kaaba because it was saved from the attacks of cruel despots. A hadith like that was also reported from the Prophet. He said: “In other words, Almighty Allah named the Kaaba “al-Atiq” because He protected it from the evil of despots. A tyrant was never able to prevail over it.” (see Tirmidhi, Tafsir, Hajj, 3169) Tirmidhi says, “it is hasan”.

Indeed, “Tubba’” (the ruler of Yemen) once wanted to destroy the Kaaba but he was paralyzed, and when he followed the advice to give up that idea, he recovered. Thereupon, he had a cover made for the Kaaba to show his respect for it; it was the first Kaaba cover. Afterwards, Abraha was also devastated in the Incident of Elephant. Although Hajjaj destroyed it, his aim was not to destroy the Kaaba, but to remove Ibn Zubayr from there. Then he had it built again. (Elmalılı, the interpretation of al-Hajj, verse 29)

According to what Alusi writes, the following is stated in a marfu hadith:

“It is the place where the Kaaba, which is the guide to the worlds, is located, and the place where the Messenger of Allah was born and where he was sent as a prophet.”

Although it is understood from it that this chapter was revealed in Makkah, it is not clear whether it was revealed before or after the Migration (Hijrah). Although those revealed after the Migration are regarded as Madani even if they were revealed in Makkah after the conquest of Makkah, it does not necessarily mean Makki in the sense of revealed before the Migration; it might as well be Madani. In that case, even if this was revealed there after the conquest of Makkah, it would mean Madani, as reported by Qatada. The fact that most of the scholars say “it was revealed in Makkah” can also be interpreted in the sense that it was revealed within Makkah. Although this meaning suits the meaning of this chapter, which is like an outcome of the previous one, the famous meaning of being Makki is that it was revealed before the Migration. In that case, it means that this assurance was given to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) at that time.

AMIN is derived from the root “amanah” and it means the one who makes something safe, away from oppression and injustice, who protects well what is entrusted to him, and reliable. In this sense, it is said that the name “amen” has not been heard. It is stated that the use of the word “amin” in place of “amn” means “dhu amn”, that is, in the sense of safe as in the verse (al-Qasas, 28/57) because as an active doer “amin” means the one who has security, that is, who has no fear, or who gives security, or who gives fearlessness or trust.

The security of a town is that it protects the people in it like a reliable person protects the entrusted thing and protects it from being harmed; or, it means not feared, not intimidated, in safety and peace in the (passive) form of mamun. The fact that the town is secure in this sense means that the people in it are fearless and safe, i.e., not being afraid of problems and troubles; it is a metaphorical expression. In that case, safe can express both meanings.

That Makkah is a safe town like that is due to the verse

“Allah made the Ka’ba, the Sacred House, an asylum of security for men...” (al-Maida, 5/97)

showing that Allah made it Bayt al-Haram for people and haram for the position of the Kaaba and despite being a valley without cultivation, it was made habitable  

“O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks.” (Ibrahim, 14/37) due to the prayer of the Prophet Ibrahim.

“…Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary, to which are brought as tribute fruits of all kinds?...” (al-Qasas, 28/57)

“Do they not then see that We have made a sanctuary secure, and that men are being snatched away from all around them?...” (al-Ankabut, 29/67)

As it is stated in the verses above, it is a secure sanctuary, the birthplace of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the place where he was sent as a prophet.

“But Allah was not going to send them a penalty whilst thou wast amongst them; nor was He going to send it whilst they could ask for pardon.” (al-Anfal, 8/33)

It is because, in accordance with the divine promise, its people are guaranteed that they will not be punished as long as the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) is among them and as long as they seek forgiveness from Allah.

Issues such as the Kaaba’s survival to the present day though it was the first temple to be built in the world, its being saved from the army of the Abraha as stated in the chapter of al-Fil, and the prohibition of war in the sacred months indicate that the Kaaba is a safe place. The occurrence of some events in history did not prevent Makkah from being a safe town.

Since safety is one of the most important conditions of life, the fact that an oath is taken related to Makkah with the phrase “safe town” shows that it is more important than the places in the Holy Land, which is mentioned as Tin, Zaytun and Tur Sinin, and which is not free from strife and conflict in terms of this security. There is a progression from material taste to spiritual safety in those oaths, which tells us that Makkah is holier and therefore higher in divine covenants and oaths, which shows us the importance of homeland security for human creation and the value and real security of homelands and towns, which are related to religion. Therefore, the attribute of “safe town” indicates Makkah but it also indicates that the value of other towns should be measured mostly in terms of security and peace, which is expressed in the following verses:

“Allah sets forth a Parable: a city enjoying security and quiet, abundantly supplied with sustenance from every place: Yet was it ungrateful for the favors of Allah. So, Allah made it taste of hunger and terror (in extremes) (closing in on it) like a garment (from every side), because of the (evil) which (its people) wrought. And there came to them an Messenger from among themselves, but they falsely rejected him; so the Wrath seized them even in the midst of their iniquities. So, eat of the sustenance which Allah has provided for you, lawful and good; and be grateful for the favors of Allah, if it is He Whom ye serve.” (an-Nahl, 16/112-114).

In the verse, it is stated that the Kaaba was built as a place of hajj where people from various parts of the world would come and visit again and again without getting tired of it, and hence that place was made a safe place, and that it was the will of Almighty Allah from the beginning; in addition, it is pointed out that it is a blessing and a means of honor for Arabs, making it necessary for them to thank Allah for it. As a matter of fact, the Kaaba has functioned as a place of hajj and visiting throughout its entire known history since Abraham, and it has provided material and spiritual benefits for the Arabs, especially the Makkans. Therefore, special importance has been attached to the safety of the people there, and even all living beings; those two aspects, that is, visiting the Kaaba as a hajj site and protecting its security, were strictly observed even by the pagan Arabs. A rebel who took refuge in the Kaaba was not touched even at that time.

According to a hadith, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) stated the following on the day he conquered Makkah:

«Verily, this city (Makkah) has been rendered respectable (haram) by Allah since the day He created the heavens and the earth. Therefore, it is haram (respectable) until the Day of Judgment, by the grace of Allah. Indeed, it was not made lawful for anyone to fight in this land before me. Yes, it is haram until the Day of Judgment for the sake of Allah. Its thorny bushes must not be cut, its preys must not be chased, and its fallen things must not be picked up except by one who will announce it publicly;… its grass must not be picked up either.» (Bukhari, Ilm 37, Hajj 43; Tirmidhi, Hajj 1, Diyat: 13; Ibn Majah, Manasik 103; Ahmad 1/253, 259, 315; 3/199, 6/385)

The reasons for Makkah’s being such a safe town can be summarized as follows:

1. Although the Kaaba and its surroundings were in an arid valley, the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his descendants were provided with nice sustenance there.

2. Although there were many tribal wars around the Kaaba, there was generally no war in the haram area.

3. It is the birthplace of the Prophet (pbuh).

4. “But Allah was not going to send them a penalty whilst thou wast amongst them; nor was He going to send it whilst they could ask for pardon.” (al-Anfal, 8/33) In accordance with this divine promise, this land assumed the quality of security because it was guaranteed that its people would not be punished as long as the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was among them and as long as they sought forgiveness from Allah.

5. The conquest of the Kaaba by our Prophet (pbuh) without shedding any blood also confirms the verse above.

6. Issues such as the Kaaba’s survival to the present day though it was the first temple to be built in the world, its being saved from the army of the Abraha as stated in the chapter of al-Fil, and the prohibition of war in the sacred months indicate that the Kaaba is a safe place. The occurrence of some events in history did not prevent Makkah from being a safe town.

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