لِإِيلَافِ قُرَيْشٍ
SO THAT the Quraysh might remain secure, (1)
إِيلَافِهِمْ رِحْلَةَ الشِّتَاءِ وَالصَّيْفِ
secure in their winter and summer journeys. (2)
فَلْيَعْبُدُوا رَبَّ هَٰذَا الْبَيْتِ
Let them, therefore, worship the Sustainer of this Temple, (3)
الَّذِي أَطْعَمَهُمْ مِنْ جُوعٍ وَآمَنَهُمْ مِنْ خَوْفٍ
who has given them food against hunger, and made them safe from danger. (4)
- SO THAT the Quraysh might remain secure,1
- 1 Lit., "for the safeguarding of the Quraysh", i.e., as the custodians of the Kabah and the tribe in the midst of which the Last Prophet, Muhammad, was to appear. Thus, the "security of the Quraysh" is a metonym for the security of the Kabah, the focal point of the Faith based on the concept of God's oneness, for the sake of which the army of Abrahah was destroyed (see introductory note as well as preceding surah).
- For the covenants (of security and safeguard enjoyed) by the Quraysh,6276
- 6276 Quraysh were the noblest tribe of Arabia, the tribe to which belonged the Prophet himself. They had the custody of the Ka'bah, the central shrine of Arabia, and their possession of Makkah gave them a triple advantage: (1) they had a commanding influence over other tribes; (2) their central position facilitated trade and intercourse, which gave them both honour and profit; and (3) the Makkah territory being, by Arabian custom, inviolable from the ravages of war and private feuds, they had a secure position, free from fear of danger. This honour and advantage they owed to their position as servants of the sacred shrine of the Ka'bah. They owed it to Allah. Was it not therefore right and fitting that they should adore the One True God, and listen to His Message of Unity and Purity, brought by His Prophet? In those days of general insecurity, their prestige as custodians of Makkah enabled them to obtain Covenants of security and safeguard from the rulers of neighbouring countries on all sides-Syria, Persia, Yemen, and Abyssinia-protecting their trade journeys in all seasons.
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For the covenants (of security and safeguard enjoyed) by the Quraish,
— Abdullah Yusuf Ali -
For the taming of Qureysh.
— Marmaduke Pickthall -
For the protection of the Qureaish--
— M. Habib Shakir -
(It is a great Grace and Protection from Allah), for the taming of the Quraish,
— Taqiuddin Hilali and M. Mohsin Khan -
For the keeping of the Quraish
— Abdul-Majid Daryabadi -
For the custom of the Koraysh,
— Hasan Qaribullah and Ahmed Darwish -
For the composing of Quraish,
— Ayub Khan -
Thy Lord destroyed the Owners of the Elephant in order to attach the hearts of the Quraish --
— Sher Ali -
SO THAT the Quraysh might remain secure,
— Muhammad Asad -
For the composing of Koraish,
— Arthur Arberry -
Since the Quraysh became accustomed,{{1}}
— Abu'l Ala Maududi