Surah 22. Al-Hajj, Ayah 25

According to Ibn 'Abbas as quoted by Ibn Hisham, this verse was revealed towards the end of the year 6 H., when the pagan Quraysh refused the Prophet and his followers, who had come on pilgrimage from Medina, the right of entry into Mecca, and thus into the sanctuary of the Ka'bah (the "Inviolable House of Worship"). But whether or not this claim is correct - and we have no definite historical evidence in either sense - the purport of the above verse is not restricted to any historical situation but relates to every attempt at preventing believers, be it physically or through intellectual seduction, from going on pilgrimage to this symbolic centre of their faith, or at destroying its sanctity in their eyes.

This connects with the allusion, in the preceding verse, to "the way that leads to the One unto whom all praise is due".

Lit., "who aim therein at a deviation from the right course (ilhad)" - a term which circumscribes every perversion of religious tenets.

 The Sacred Mosque is in Mecca.

 Generally, intending to do wrong does not necessitate a punishment, unless the person acts upon it. But the Sacred Mosque is unique in that intending to sin in it is sufficient to bring punishment from Allah, unless the person repents.

All these were enormities of which the Pagan clique in power in Makkah before and during the Hijrat were guilty.