جَعَلْنَ الْقَنَانَ عَنْ يَمِينٍ وَحَزْنَهُ وَكَمْ بِالْقَنَانِ مِنْ مُحِلٍّ وَمُحْرِمِ
They left al-Qanān and its rugged terrain to their right; how many people in differing states of permissibility and sanctity pass through al-Qanān.
The route is fixed by al-Qanān and its ḥazn, hard rocky ground. ʿAn yamīn tells us which side of the caravan the landmark lies on. Kam is exclamatory here, conveying the many different people who have passed the same place.
For muḥill and muḥrim, the commentary allows readings connected with permitted and sacred states or times, as well as a contrast in status. The key is to recognize a deliberate contrast rather than impose a single unqualified historical identification.