Surah 42. Ash-Shura, Ayah 7

Cf. 14:4 - "never have We sent forth any apostle otherwise than [with a message] in his own people's tongue"; see also note [72] on the first sentence of 13:37 .

I.e., all mankind (Tabari, Baghawi, Razi). As regards the designation of Mecca as "the foremost of all cities", see note [75] on the identical phrase in 6:92 .

 “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.

 “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.

The point of the Qur-an being in Arabic is that it is plain and intelligible to the people through whom and among whom it was promulgated; see next clause.

The City of Makkah. See n. 913 to vi. 92. This is undoubtedly a Makkan verse. Even apart from the Qibla, Makkah is the centre of Islam, and "all around her" is the whole world.

The contrast is again emphasised, as explained in the Summary.