Surah 6. Al-An'am, Ayah 92

See surah {3}, note [3].

"The foremost of all cities" (lit., "the mother of all towns") is an epithet applied in the Qur'an to Mecca because it is the place where the first temple ever dedicated to the One God was built cf. 3:96 and subsequently became the qiblah (direction of prayer) of all believers. The expression "all who dwell around it" denotes all mankind (Tabari, on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas; Razi).

 “The Mother of Cities” is an honorary title given to the city of Mecca because of its great religious significance as the home of Allah’s first house of worship ever built on earth, and perhaps because of its central location as well.

Mubarak: blessed, as having received God's blessing; bringer of blessings to others, as having been blessed by God. God's highest blessing is the Guidance and Light which the Book brings to us, and which brings us nearer to Him.

Mother of Cities: Mecca, now the Qibla and Centre of Islam. If this verse was (like the greater part of the Chapter) revealed in Mecca before the Hijrat, and before Mecca was made the Qibla of Islam, Mecca was nonetheless the Mother of Cities, being traditionally associated with Abraham and with Adam and Eve (see ii. 125, and n. 217 to ii. 197). All round Mecca: would mean, the whole world if we look upon Mecca as the centre.

An earnest study of the Qur-an is true worship; so is Prayer, and so are all deeds of goodness and charity.