Through the abovementioned verse...

Through the abovementioned verse, the Qur’an points to only three essential elements of a prayer, which, in turn, are: standing, bowing, and prostration, because the rest of them are counted in the shade. Yet, some of the commentators have rendered the Qur’anic word /qa’imin/, here, into ‘the dwellers of Mecca’.

But regarding the rites of circumambulation, bowing, and prostration which have been mentioned before and after it, there is no doubt that the word ‘standing’, here, is in the sense of’ standing in prayer, and many of the Shi‘ah and Sunni commentators, have chosen this meaning, or they have narrated it as an interpretation for it.[^1] It should also be noted that the Arabic word /rukka‘a/ is the plural form of /raki‘/ (the one who bows), and the word /sujud/ is the plural form of /sajid/ (the one who prostrates), and that there has not been mentioned any linking letter, like /wa/, between them and it has been stated in the form of explanation, is because of nearness of these two worships to each other.

Surah Al-Hajj – Verse 27 وَأَذّ‌ِن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجّ‌ِ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالاً وَعَلَي كُلّ‌ِ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلّ‌ِ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ 27. “And proclaim among men the pilgrimage; they will come to you on foot and (mounted) on every lean beast, coming from every remote path.” The present efforts of the saints of Allah will surely affect on behaviour of the coming generations.

After the time when the Sacred House of Ka‘bah was prepared for the worshippers, Allah commanded Abraham as follows: “And proclaim among men the pilgrimage; they will come to you on foot and (mounted) on every lean beast, coming from every remote path.” The Qur’anic word /’aŏŏin/ is derived from /’aŏan/ meaning ‘proclaim’, and the Arabic word /rijal/ is the plural form of /rajil/ in the sense of ‘on foot’.

The Arabic term /damir/ means ‘a thin animal’; and the term /fajj/ originally means ‘the distance between two mountains, and later it has been applied to vast roads, while the word /‘amiq/ here means ‘far’. The narration which has been cited on the commentary of Ali-ibn-’Ibrahim indicates: “When Abraham (as) received such a commandment, he said: “O’ Allah!

My voice does not reach the people.” But Allah told him: “You do proclaim and I will convey it to them (their ears).” Then Abraham went up over the station (Maqam) and put his finger upon his ear and shouted loudly towards the East and the West, saying: “O people!