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'''Balad al-Amin''' (The Secure City) is one of the Quranic names for [[Mecca]], which God swears by in [[Surah al-Tin]]. According to some Quranic verses, [[Abraham (a)|Prophet Ibrahim (a)]] prayed to God to make [[Mecca]] a secure city. Some narrations attribute the security of Mecca to his supplication, while others consider it to have been secure since the beginning of creation. | '''Balad al-Amin''' (The Secure City) is one of the Quranic names for [[Mecca]], which God swears by in [[Surah al-Tin]]. According to some Quranic verses, [[Abraham (a)|Prophet Ibrahim (a)]] prayed to God to make [[Mecca]] a secure city. Some narrations attribute the security of Mecca to his supplication, while others consider it to have been secure since the beginning of creation. | ||
Scholars differ in interpreting the meaning of the security of the Haram. Some consider it to be a creational security, meaning protection from natural disasters and safety from killing and hostility. Others view the security of the Haram as legislative, referring to the sanctity and inviolability of Mecca through specific rulings, such as the prohibition of harming pilgrims, animals, cutting trees, and other acts, which ensure the safety of plants, animals, and humans. Some Shia narrations also interpret "Balad al- | Scholars differ in interpreting the meaning of the security of the Haram. Some consider it to be a creational security, meaning protection from natural disasters and safety from killing and hostility. Others view the security of the Haram as legislative, referring to the sanctity and inviolability of Mecca through specific rulings, such as the prohibition of harming pilgrims, animals, cutting trees, and other acts, which ensure the safety of plants, animals, and humans. Some Shia narrations also interpret "Balad al-Amin" as referring to the [[Prophet(s)]] and the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]], as faith in them ensures safety from misguidance. | ||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
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In other Quranic verses, it is mentioned that [[Ibrahim (a)]] prayed to God to make Mecca a secure city. Two verses, with slight differences in wording, refer to this supplication. Some narrations attribute the security of Mecca to this prayer,<ref>Tafsīr Ibn Abī Ḥātim, vol. 1, p. 229; Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, vol. 1, pp. 297–299; Al-Durr al-Manthūr, vol. 1, p. 121.</ref> while others consider its security to have existed since the creation of the heavens and the earth:<ref>Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 5, p. 98; Al-Kāfī, vol. 4, pp. 225–226; Al-Tafsīr al-Kabīr, vol. 4, p. 49.</ref> | In other Quranic verses, it is mentioned that [[Ibrahim (a)]] prayed to God to make Mecca a secure city. Two verses, with slight differences in wording, refer to this supplication. Some narrations attribute the security of Mecca to this prayer,<ref>Tafsīr Ibn Abī Ḥātim, vol. 1, p. 229; Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, vol. 1, pp. 297–299; Al-Durr al-Manthūr, vol. 1, p. 121.</ref> while others consider its security to have existed since the creation of the heavens and the earth:<ref>Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 5, p. 98; Al-Kāfī, vol. 4, pp. 225–226; Al-Tafsīr al-Kabīr, vol. 4, p. 49.</ref> | ||
* {{verse|وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ|And [remember] when Ibrāhīm said, “My Lord, make this city [Mecca] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.”}} ( | * {{verse|وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ|And [remember] when Ibrāhīm said, “My Lord, make this city [Mecca] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.”}} (Quran, 14:35) | ||
* {{verse|وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ قَالَ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَى عَذَابِ النَّارِ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ|And [remember] when Ibrāhīm said, “My Lord, make this city secure and provide its people with fruits—those among them who believe in God and the Last Day.” He [God] said, “And whoever disbelieves, I will grant him enjoyment for a little while, then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination.”}} ( | * {{verse|وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ قَالَ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَى عَذَابِ النَّارِ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ|And [remember] when Ibrāhīm said, “My Lord, make this city secure and provide its people with fruits—those among them who believe in God and the Last Day.” He [God] said, “And whoever disbelieves, I will grant him enjoyment for a little while, then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination.”}} (Quran, 2:126) | ||
===Related Concepts in the Quran=== | ===Related Concepts in the Quran=== | ||
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Other verses in the Quran also refer to concepts similar to "Balad al-Amin." For example, verses that mention the "Secure Haram," which, according to commentators, refers to Mecca and its surroundings:<ref>Al-Mīzān, vol. 16, p. 150.</ref> | Other verses in the Quran also refer to concepts similar to "Balad al-Amin." For example, verses that mention the "Secure Haram," which, according to commentators, refers to Mecca and its surroundings:<ref>Al-Mīzān, vol. 16, p. 150.</ref> | ||
* {{verse|...وَلَمْ نُمَكِّنْ لَهُمْ حَرَمًا آمِنًا يُجْبَى إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رِزْقًا مِنْ لَدُنَّا وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ|...And We did not make for them a secure Haram to which the fruits of everything are brought as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.}} ( | * {{verse|...وَلَمْ نُمَكِّنْ لَهُمْ حَرَمًا آمِنًا يُجْبَى إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رِزْقًا مِنْ لَدُنَّا وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ|...And We did not make for them a secure Haram to which the fruits of everything are brought as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.}} (Quran, 28:57) | ||
* {{verse|أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَمًا آمِنًا وَيُتَخَطَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْ|Have they not seen that We made [Mecca] a secure Haram, while people are snatched away from around them?}} ( | * {{verse|أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَمًا آمِنًا وَيُتَخَطَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْ|Have they not seen that We made [Mecca] a secure Haram, while people are snatched away from around them?}} (Quran, 29:67) | ||
===Safety for Those Entering Mecca=== | ===Safety for Those Entering Mecca=== | ||
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Another verse in the Quran, after mentioning the concept of the [[House of God]], states that whoever enters Mecca will be secure:<ref>Al-Mīzān, vol. 3, p. 351.</ref> | Another verse in the Quran, after mentioning the concept of the [[House of God]], states that whoever enters Mecca will be secure:<ref>Al-Mīzān, vol. 3, p. 351.</ref> | ||
{{Verse|فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ|In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Ibrāhīm. And whoever enters it will be secure. And [due] to God from the people is a pilgrimage to the House—for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves—then indeed, God is free from need of the worlds.}} ( | {{Verse|فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ|In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Ibrāhīm. And whoever enters it will be secure. And [due] to God from the people is a pilgrimage to the House—for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves—then indeed, God is free from need of the worlds.}} (Quran, 3:97) | ||
==The Meaning of Security== | ==The Meaning of Security== | ||
Scholars differ regarding the meaning and implications of the security mentioned in the Quranic concept of the "Secure City." Some consider it to be | Scholars differ regarding the meaning and implications of the security mentioned in the Quranic concept of the "Secure City." Some consider it to be creational, while others view it as legislative: | ||
===Creational Security=== | ===Creational Security=== | ||
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===Interpretation of Balad al-Amin as the Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt=== | ===Interpretation of Balad al-Amin as the Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt=== | ||
In some Shia narrations, "Balad al-Amin" is interpreted as referring to the [[Prophet (s)]]<ref>Al-Burhān, vol. 5, p. 693; Kanz al-Daqāʾiq, vol. 14, p. 341; Bayān al-Saʿāda, vol. 4, p. 264.</ref> and the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]],<ref>Tafsīr al-Qummī, vol. 2, p. 430; Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 24, pp. 105–108.</ref> as faith in them ensures safety from misguidance in this world and punishment in the Hereafter.<ref>Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 24, p. 107.</ref> Some narrations also state that entering Mecca with recognition of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) ensures safety in this world and the Hereafter.<ref>Al-Kāfī, vol. 4, p. 545.</ref> | In some Shia narrations, "Balad al-Amin" is interpreted as referring to the [[Prophet (s)]]<ref>Al-Burhān, vol. 5, p. 693; Kanz al-Daqāʾiq, vol. 14, p. 341; Bayān al-Saʿāda, vol. 4, p. 264.</ref> and the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]],<ref>Tafsīr al-Qummī, vol. 2, p. 430; Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 24, pp. 105–108.</ref> as faith in them ensures safety from misguidance in this world and punishment in the Hereafter.<ref>Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 24, p. 107.</ref> Some narrations also state that entering Mecca with recognition of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) ensures safety in this world and the Hereafter.<ref>Al-Kāfī, vol. 4, p. 545.</ref> | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
{{Notes}} | {{Notes}} | ||