The Quran

Preface

رَبَّنا إِنّي أَسكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتي بِوادٍ غَيرِ ذي زَرعٍ عِندَ بَيتِكَ المُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنا لِيُقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ فَاجعَل أَفئِدَةً مِنَ النّاسِ تَهوي إِلَيهِم وَارزُقهُم مِنَ الثَّمَراتِ لَعَلَّهُم يَشكُرونَ

Yusuf Ali

“O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation,¹ by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with Fruits:² so that they may give thanks.

The Meccan valley is enclosed by hills on all sides, unlike Medīna, which has level cultivated plains. But just because of its natural isolation, it is fitted to be a centre for prayer and praise.
Cf. 2:126, and n. 128. (The “Fruits” are there explained). The righteous, though they have to have sustenance, both in a literal and figurative sense, require also the love and sympathy of their fellow-men.