Surah Al-Imran, ayah 96: "Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds." Read it in Arabic with transliteration and the Sahih International translation, with the ayah before and after it, and listen to it recited.
قُلْ صَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ فَٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًۭا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿٩٥﴾
Qul sadaqal laah; fattabi'oo Millata Ibraaheema Haneefanw wa maa kaana minal mush rikeen
Say, "Allah has told the truth. So follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of the polytheists."
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٩٦﴾
Inna awwala Baitinw wudi'a linnaasi lallazee bi Bakkata mubaarakanw wa hudal lil 'aalameen
Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds.
فِيهِ ءَايَٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَٰتٌۭ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلْبَيْتِ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًۭا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٩٧﴾
Feehi Aayaatum baiyinaatum Maqaamu Ibraaheema wa man dakhalahoo kaana aaminaa; wa lillaahi 'alan naasi Hijjul Baiti manis tataa'a ilaihi sabeelaa; wa man kafara fa innal laaha ghaniyyun 'anil 'aalameen
In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.
Arabic: Tanzil, Uthmani script. English: Sahih International. Audio: EveryAyah. Transliteration is a learning aid; read from the Arabic when you can.
Meaning and lessons
Allah says the first House of worship set up for mankind was the one at Bakkah, Makkah, blessed and a guidance for the worlds. Ibn Kathir cites Abu Dharr, who asked the Prophet ﷺ which mosque was built first on earth. He said: al-Masjid al-Haram. Then which? Al-Masjid al-Aqsa. How long between them? Forty years (Sahih al-Bukhari 3366; Sahih Muslim 520).
Bakkah is one of the names of Makkah. Ibn Kathir mentions explanations that people crowd and press together there, and that it humbles tyrants. The next ayah (3:97) speaks of the clear signs there, the station of Ibrahim, the safety of whoever enters it, and the duty of Hajj for whoever is able.
Summarised in our own words from Tafsir Ibn Kathir, on Quran 3:96. Translation of the ayah: Sahih International.
Ayah 96 of Surah Al-Imran (آلِ عِمۡرَانَ), "The Family of Imraan", surah 3 of the Quran, a Medinan surah of 200 ayat revealed in Madinah. It is in juz 4 (para 4), hizb 7, on page 62 of the standard Madinah mushaf. People search for it as 3/96, 3 96 or Quran 3 96.
Questions
Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds. (Sahih International)
Allah says the first House of worship set up for mankind was the one at Bakkah, Makkah, blessed and a guidance for the worlds. Ibn Kathir cites Abu Dharr, who asked the Prophet ﷺ which mosque was built first on earth. He said: al-Masjid al-Haram. Then which? Al-Masjid al-Aqsa. How long between them? Forty years (Sahih al-Bukhari 3366; Sahih Muslim 520).
It is in Surah Al-Imran, surah 3 of the Quran, in juz 4 (para 4), on page 62 of the Madinah mushaf.
The ayah before, 3:95, says: "Say, "Allah has told the truth. So follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of the polytheists."" The ayah after, 3:97, says: "In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds."