Commentary
After giving the Prophet ŝall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam the good news of his success in this world and in the Hereafter, Allaah has commanded him to “perform worship and sacrifice for your Lord alone”. Usually the Qur-aan mentions Ŝalaah with Zakaah, but here it is mentioned with sacrifice because the Holy Ka‘bah was and is the centre to perform Ŝalaah and sacrifice for Allaah, and because the Millah of Ibraaheem ‘alayhissalaam is described in the Qur-aan as:
“My rites of worship and my rites of sacrifice and my living and my dying are for Allaah, the Lord of the universe.” (Al-An‘aam 6:162)
The Makkans had transgressed from Islam, the religion of Ibraaheem ‘alayhissalaam, and defeated the purposes for which the Holy Ka‘bah was constructed by including entities other than Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala in their worship and sacrifice. It is now the Prophet ŝall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s mission to restore the sanctity of the Holy Ka‘bah and to ensure that all rites of worship and sacrifice are performed for Allaah alone. Thus the second verse of this Soorah states that his success is conditional on the success of this mission. If he continues to keep this goal the sole mission of his life, his adversaries and opponents will be the ones who will be cut-off from their community and their posterity despite the glory, respect, connections, popularity and status they currently enjoy.
This was a prediction of the success of the Prophet ŝall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s mission, his victory over his opponents and his becoming the legitimate caretaker of the House of Allaah, such that no one in future would like to show any relationship with his adversaries in any way, shape or form. It was given at a time when no Arab could have ever envisioned it. Then within two decades, its truth started becoming evident.
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