Swearing by the Sanctity of Makkah and Other Things that Man was created in Hardship Allah says, لَاا أُقْسِمُ بِهَذَا الْبَلَدِNay! I swear by this city;Here Allah has sworn by Makkah, the Mother of the Towns, addressing its resident (during the non-sacred months,) free in this city in order to draw his attention to the significance of its sanctity when its people are in the state of sanctity.Khusayf reported from Mujahid;لَا أُقْسِمُ بِهَـذَا الْبَلَدِNay! I swear by this city;"The word "La" (Nay) refers to the refutation against them (Quraish). I swear by this city."Shabib bin Bishr narrated from Ikrimah, from Ibn Abbas that he said,لَا أُقْسِمُ بِهَـذَا الْبَلَدِNay! I swear by this city;"This means Makkah."Concerning the Ayah: وَأَنتَ حِلٌّ بِهَذَا الْبَلَدِ