The Station of Ibrahim
Allah's statement,
﴿έφνεφ ΑσΗνσάΚρ ΘσνψφάδσάΚρ﴾
(In it are manifest signs) ﴿3:97﴾, means, clear signs that Ibrahim built the Ka`bah and that Allah has honored and blessed it. Allah then said,
﴿γψσήσΗγφ ΕφΘϊΡσεφνγσ﴾
(the Maqam (station) of Ibrahim) When the building ﴿the Ka`bah﴾ was raised, Ibrahim stood on; the Maqam so that he could raise the walls higher, while his son Isma`il was handing the stones to him. We should mention that the Maqam used to be situated right next to the House. Later, and during his reign, `Umar bin Al-Khattab moved the Maqam farther to the east, so that those who go around the House in Tawaf are able to perform it easily, without disturbing those who pray next to the Maqam after finishing their Tawaf. Allah commanded us to pray next to the Maqam;
﴿ζσΗΚψσΞφΠυζΗϊ γφδ γψσήσΗγφ ΕφΘϊΡσεφνγσ γυΥσαψπμ﴾
(And take you (people) the Maqam (station) of Ibrahim as a place of prayer) ﴿2:125﴾.
We mentioned the Hadiths about this subject before, and all the thanks are due to Allah. Al-`Awfi said that, Ibn `Abbas commented on Allah's statement,
﴿έφνεφ ΑσΗνσάΚρ ΘσνψφάδσάΚρ γψσήσΗγυ ΕφΘϊΡσεφνγσ﴾
(In it are manifest signs, the Maqam of Ibrahim;)
"Such as the Maqam and Al-Mash`ar ﴿Al-Haram﴾.'' Mujahid said, "The impression of Ibrahim's feet remains on the Maqam as a clear sign.'' It was reported that `Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi, Muqatil bin Hayyan and others said similarly.