Quraysh: (3) So let them worship the Lord of this [House]...

The Almighty's saying: {So let them worship the Lord of this House}

Know that beneficence (blessing/favor) is of two types:

1. The warding off of harm.
2. The bringing of benefit.

The first type (warding off harm) is more important and primary. This is why they say that warding off harm from oneself is obligatory, whereas bringing benefit is not obligatory. For this reason, the Exalted One mentioned the blessing of warding off harm in Surat al-Fīl (The Elephant) and the blessing of bringing benefit in this Sūrah.

Since it has been established that beneficence must be met with gratitude and servitude, it is inevitable that He followed the mention of the blessing with a call to servitude, saying: {So let them worship}.

Herein lie several issues:

We have previously mentioned that worship (ʿibādah) is the utmost degree of humility and submission to the worshipped being.

Some scholars said that the meaning here is: "So let them affirm the Oneness of the Lord of this House," because He is the one who protected the House, not the idols. Furthermore, Monotheism (Tawḥīd) is the key to all acts of worship.

Others said that the intended meaning is the acts of worship involving the limbs (physical actions).

The soundest view is to take the term in its general sense, encompassing all types of worship, unless evidence dictates otherwise.

Another interpretation of the verse is that {So let them worship} means: "Let them abandon their winter and summer journeys and occupy themselves with the worship of the Lord of this House, for He is the one who fed them against hunger and secured them from fear."

Perhaps the specification of the term "Lord" (Rabb) serves to affirm what they said to Abraha: "The House has a Lord who will protect it." They did not rely on the idols for this protection. Therefore, their admission necessitates that they worship none other than Him. It is as if He is saying: "Since you relied upon Me for protection, then direct your worship and service to Me."

The reference to the House (al-Bayt) in this context signifies its veneration. The Exalted is sometimes attributed to the servant, saying: "O My servants" (ʿibādī). At other times, He attributes Himself to the servant, saying: "And your God is..." (referring to the singular God for the plural people).

In this verse, He sometimes attributes Himself to the House, saying: {So let them worship the Lord of this House}, and at other times, He attributes the House to Himself, saying: {Purify My House} (Ṭahhir Baytī).