912 Mubarak blessed, as having received Allah's blessing; bringer of blessings to others, as having been blessed by Allah. Allah's highest blessing is the Guidance and Light which the Book brings to us, and which brings us nearer to Him. 913 Mother of Cities: Makkah, now the Qiblah and Centre of Islam. If this verse was (like the greater part of the Chapter) revealed in Makkah before the Hijrah, and before Makkah was made the Qiblah of Islam, Makkah was nonetheless the Mother of Cities, being traditionally associated with Abraham and with Adam and Eve (see
2:125, and n. 217 to
2:197). All round Makkah: would mean, the whole world if we look upon Makkah as the Centre. 914 An earnest study of the Qur'an is true worship; so is Prayer, and so are all deeds of goodness and charity.