17. This refers to the pre-islamic Arabian practice of circumambulating around the Ka'bah in stark nakedness. The people of those day's thought that nakedness during circumambulation had been enjoined by God.
18. The simple and succinct Qur'anic statement that 'Allah never enjoins
any, indecency' (verse 29)stands as the overwhelming argument against many
false beliefs that were entertained by the people of Arabia. For a fuller appreciation
of this argument the following points should be kept in mind:
First, that the people of Arabia totally stripped themselves while performing
certain religious rites under the mistaken notion that it had been so enjoined.
But on the other hand they were agreed that nudity was a shameful thing so that
no Arab of any standing could ever approve of appearing naked in any respectable
assembly or market-place.
Second, notwithstanding their reservation about nudity, they strippeel themselves
totally while performing certain religious rites on the ground that religion
was from God. Hence there was nothing objectionable about performing a religious
act in a state of nakedness for God had so enjoined them regarding the performance
of that rite. Here the Qur'an confronts them with a clear question: How can
they believe that God could order them to do something which involves nakedness
and which they know to be inherently shameful? What is implied is that God could
not command them to commit indecency, and if their religion contained elements
of indecency then this is positive proof of its not being from God.