Al-Baqarah 2:127

<h2>The Command to purify the House</h2><p>Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that,</p><p>وَعَهِدْنَآ إِلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـعِيلَ</p><p>(And We gave Our 'Ahd (command) to Ibrahim and Isma`il) means, "Allah ordered them to purify it from all filth and impurities, of which none should ever touch it." Also, Ibn Jurayj said, "I said to `Ata', `What is Allah's `Ahd' He said, `His command."' Also, Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Ibn `Abbas commented on the Ayah,</p><p>أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَالْعَـكِفِينَ</p><p>(that they should purify My House (the Ka`bah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I`tikaf)) "Purify it from the idols." Further, Mujahid and Sa`id bin Jubayr said that,</p><p>طَهِّرَا بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ</p><p>(purify My House for those who are circumambulating it) means, "From the idols, sexual activity, false witness and sins of all kinds."</p><p>Allah said,</p><p>لِلطَّآئِفِينَ</p><p>(for those who are performing Tawaf (circumambulating) it).</p><p>The Tawaf around the House is a well-established ritual, Sa`id bin Jubayr said that,</p><p>لِلطَّآئِفِينَ</p><p>(for those who are circumambulating it) means, strangers (he means who do not live in Makkah), while;</p><p>وَالْعَـكِفِينَ</p><p>(or staying (I`tikaf)) is about those who live in the area of the Sacred House. Also, Qatadah and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that I`tikaf is in reference to those who live in the area of the House, just as Sa`id …

And when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the foundations of the House, (Abraham prayed): Our Lord! Accept from us (this duty). Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer, the Knower.

And remember Abraham and Isma'il raised the foundations of the House (With this prayer): "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-knowing.

And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) and (his son) Isma'il (Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah), (saying), "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower."

As Abraham raises the foundations of the House, together with Ishmael, “Our Lord, accept it from us, You are the Hearer, the Knower.