Which Ayah Was Revealed Inside the Ka'bah?
ما هي الآية التي نزلت في جوف الكعبة؟
The ayah is: (Indeed, Allah commands you to return trusts to their rightful owners.) [An-Nisa’ 4:58]
الآية هي: (إن الله يأمركم أن تؤدوا الأمانات إلى أهلها) [النساء 4: 58]
1. Revealed on the Day of the Conquest | نزولها يوم فتح مكة
When Makkah was conquered, the Prophet entered it while 360 idols stood around the House, striking them with a stick in his hand and saying: Truth has come and falsehood has vanished; indeed, falsehood is bound to vanish (Sahih al-Bukhari 4720). Ibn Kathir notes that many commentators say this ayah was revealed about Uthman ibn Talhah, the keeper of the Ka'bah, after the Prophet took its key from him. Read more about that day in the conquest of Makkah and its message of mercy.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ (سورة النساء: 58)
لما فتح الله مكة دخلها النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وحول البيت ستون وثلاثمائة نصب، فجعل يطعنها بعود في يده ويقول: (جاء الحق وزهق الباطل إن الباطل كان زهوقا) (صحيح البخاري 4720). وذكر ابن كثير أن كثيرا من المفسرين على أن هذه الآية نزلت في شأن عثمان بن طلحة حاجب الكعبة، لما أخذ منه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم مفتاحها.
2. The Key Returned to Uthman ibn Talhah | رد المفتاح إلى عثمان بن طلحة
Ibn Kathir cites the report of Ibn Jurayj: the Prophet took the key from Uthman ibn Talhah, entered the House with it on the day of the conquest, then came out reciting this ayah, called Uthman, and handed the key back to him. Umar ibn al-Khattab said he had never heard him recite it before. Returning the key is a trust given back to its rightful owner, the meaning explained in the definition of trustworthiness (amanah).
نقل ابن كثير عن ابن جريج أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قبض مفتاح الكعبة من عثمان بن طلحة فدخل به البيت يوم الفتح، ثم خرج وهو يتلو هذه الآية، فدعا عثمان فدفع إليه المفتاح، وقال عمر بن الخطاب: ما سمعته يتلوها قبل ذلك.
3. Justice Between All People | العدل بين الناس كافة
The same ayah joins the command to fulfil trusts with the command of justice: when you judge between people, judge with justice. Allah commands justice even toward those one dislikes: do not let hatred of a people lead you away from justice; be just, that is nearer to righteousness (Al-Ma'idah 5:8).
وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ (سورة المائدة: 8)
قرنت الآية الأمر بأداء الأمانات بالأمر بالعدل: (وإذا حكمتم بين الناس أن تحكموا بالعدل) (النساء 4: 58)، وأمر الله بالعدل حتى مع من يبغضه الإنسان: (ولا يجرمنكم شنآن قوم على ألا تعدلوا اعدلوا هو أقرب للتقوى) (المائدة 5: 8).
4. A House Purified for Worship | تطهير البيت للطائفين
Allah had charged Ibrahim and Isma'il to purify His House for those who circle it, those who stay there, and those who bow and prostrate (Al-Baqarah 2:125), and on the day of the conquest the House was cleared of its idols. Read who built it in who raised the foundations of the Ka’bah.
وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ (سورة البقرة: 125)
وكان الله قد عهد إلى إبراهيم وإسماعيل عليهما السلام أن يطهرا بيته للطائفين والعاكفين والركع السجود (البقرة 2: 125)، ويوم الفتح طهر البيت من الأصنام.
5. The Lesson Lies in the General Wording | العبرة بعموم اللفظ
Although the occasion was the key of the Ka'bah, scholars apply the rule that the lesson lies in the general wording, not in the particular occasion. Ibn Kathir explains that the ayah covers every trust a person owes: the rights of Allah over His servants, such as prayer, zakat and fasting, and the rights people have over one another, such as deposits left in their care.
ومع أن سبب النزول مفتاح الكعبة، فالعبرة بعموم اللفظ لا بخصوص السبب، وقد بين ابن كثير أن الآية تعم جميع الأمانات الواجبة على الإنسان: من حقوق الله على عباده كالصلوات والزكوات والصيام، ومن حقوق العباد بعضهم على بعض كالودائع.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Which ayah was revealed inside the Ka’bah?
An-Nisa 4:58: Indeed, Allah commands you to return trusts to their rightful owners.
When was this ayah revealed?
According to the reports Ibn Kathir cites, on the day of the conquest of Makkah, when the Prophet entered the Ka’bah.
Who received the key of the Ka’bah?
Uthman ibn Talhah, its keeper, to whom the Prophet handed the key back.
Does the ayah apply only to the key of the Ka’bah?
No. The lesson lies in its general wording, which covers every trust owed to Allah and to people.