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Islam
By Syed Farouq M. Al-Huseini Trafford Publishing
Copyright © 2014 Syed Farouq M. Al-Huseini
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4907-2912-1
CHAPTER 1
The Glorious Ka'abah
House of God
There is this cubical shaped monument draped in black which we see in the middle of the great mosque (Al Haram) in Makkah ; There tens, hundreds or thousands of people go around it throughout the year according to the time of the day; morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night, midnight, before dawn and at dawn and so on, twenty four hours a day people are going around this glorious cubicle. As the number of people differs according to the time of the day, so also does it differs and varies during the times of the year and according to seasons. Not the seasons as people of the world knows it. It is not the cold season or hot season, it is not the summer or winter season, it is not the fall or spring seasons. These are the religious seasons, or occasions in Islam. Like the three months of Rajab, Sha'aban and Ramadan, which are the peak seasons for the Omra (small Hajj), or the two months of Dhu Al Qa'dah and Dhu Al Hijjah when it is the period for the Hajj or Great Pilgrimage. It has nothing to do with weather, like rain which is meager or very little during the year, or when it is sunshine which is 360 days of the year in the Arabian peninsula. It is mostly hot or very hot during most time of the year in Makkah. This small cubical building which is shrouded in black, is very great in its value to the Muslims, and regarded as the most sacred monument. It is called the Ka'abah and also known as the House of Allah or House of God. (Allah in Arabic language means God).
Does God live here?
I have a friend from Asia, he used to work and live here in Saudi Arabia for many years, so he was fortunate enough to come to and visit Makkah many times during his stay here. He told me that in one of his visits to Masjid Al Haraam or the Grand Mosque in Makkah, and while he was sitting in front of the Ka'abah facing its door, watching and observing the pilgrims going around it, an old man from his country came and sat beside him and naively asked him, "Brother , does God live here, in this house?" pointing towards the Ka'abah (the small cubical building).
This is an example of how people can be naïve or ignorant even in their own religion. They do not even think to ask themselves how God who created the universe and everything in it would be living in such a small place. God is not an idol or deity or statue humans build and put inside a place. God is Great, and He is far greater from this understanding and comprehension. He is the creator and we are His creatures. And He cannot be bound and limited in this place or in any other place.
This ignorance about the most sacred, glorified and revered symbol and monument of Islam, gave me the urge to explain its beginning and emergence unto the world in a simple way and language, that along with scholars, every one else would understand. I am sure there are millions of people who are curious to know what is Ka'abah?, why it is called The House of God, why and when was it built?, who built it?, and what is inside it?, what was it built for and so many other questions.
Where to find God?
There is nothing which could be compared to God. To start with, no one has seen God, so that we can say where He might be in a definitive space or place beyond our comprehension as human beings. God is with us in our listening, hearing, sighting, and has knowledge of every thing we say and do or even think about.
God lives in our hearts and in our minds and souls. He is everywhere we can see, and everywhere our sight can reach, or cannot reach. He is everywhere and nothing can encompass Him. He is not limited to any place, He is limitless and He is The Greatest. No one can define God. Because no one could see or imagine how He looks like. But we all know that He does exist, and He is on His throne in Heavens.
How did we know God does Exists?
He gave us humans the mind to think, and through it we know, that God does exist. If we think about all the things mentioned above, and if we look around us we would know that all these things did not become by itself (or like some people who would refer to it as created by "nature"; what nature? they should ask themselves.) God has created us all and everything else.
Also we know for sure of God's existence through the Prophets and Messengers whom He chose to send to all humans. Among the many great Messengers and Prophets, He has chosen and sent are; Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and the last one Mohammad (peace be upon all of them), to tell us about God and to teach us human beings how to worship Him.
Why House of God?
The question some people may ask, why did ALLAH (God) wanted a House to be built for.
The Ka'abah is not built for God to live in. It is the first house ever built on this planet and a place which people will be united around to pray, worship and remember Him all the time in unified and a uniform way. Facing this house in our prayers symbolizes His Oneness.
The place where this House, the Ka'abah is built was chosen since the existence of this world, and long before humans came into being. In the belief of Muslims, the place where The Ka'abah was built, is the center of this world and the universe.
In all parts of this world, people built thousands of houses of God. In form of temples, churches, and mosques to worship God in it. Unlike other places of worship there is the most important and common ground The Ka'abah, and all the Muslim Mosques around the world is that:
1. There is the unity of belief in the oneness of God. There are no deities, idols or statues erected or placed and worshipped or glorified in these houses of worship built in Islam, the mosques and The Ka'abah.
2. All Mosques throughout the world are built to face towards the Ka'abah, or towards Makkah in which there is the Grand Mosque, and in the Grand Mosque is the Ka'abah. The direction it faces towards the Ka'abah is called the Qiblah for the Muslims.
No matter where the mosques are, whether from Tokyo to Timbuktu, Washington to Zimbabwe, Australia and New Zealand to Tashkent, Muslims bow down and worship God, facing the Ka'abah in Makkah. This is the sign of unity of their belief and the uniformity of their prayers and worship.
CHAPTER 2
Makkah and the Ka'abah
Brief History of Makkah and the Ka'abah:
The Ka'abah is the great monument of Islam which was originally re-built about four thousand years ago by the Messenger of Allah Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismaeel (Ishmael). Makkah is the city which was built around the Ka'abah since that long period and grew up to become one of the oldest cities of the world, and the most sacred city in Islam.
Messenger of Allah, Prophet Ibrahim, came from Babil in Iraq and passing through Syria and Palestine came to this place called Makkah or Bakkah in the ancient time. It was a valley near the passage where Bedouin tribes and Arab caravans used to pass by during their travel. They would camp here and put-up tents to rest before continuing their journey. At that time it was a barren place, and was surrounded by hills and low mountains. There was nothing in it, and nobody was living there.
He brought with him his second wife Hajar and their baby son Ismaeel. He was going to leave them there. This was the will of God. From this barren place a new nation was to grow out of the heirs and descendents of Ibrahim and his son Ismaeel. From this nation there would shine throughout the world the light of Islam in the days to come, and which was revealed in history later on, as the Islamic religion, which started and spread from this region.
Prophet Ibrahim left his wife and child in this barren place alone and without anything with them, except for some food and little water. When he was far away and out of their sight, and at the corner of a hill, he turned around and facing the direction of the place where he left his helpless wife and child, (and where eventually the Kaabah was going to be built later), Prophet Ibrahim pleaded and prayed to God." As mentioned in the Qur'an, thus:
Ibrahim said: 'Lord' make this a land of safety. Preserve me and my descendants from serving idols. Lord, many have they led astray. He that follows me shall become my brother, but if anyone turns against me, you are surely forgiving and merciful.
'Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a barren valley near Your sacred House, so that they may establish (Prayers) true worship. And so incline the hearts of some people to yearn towards them (like them with kindness), and provide them with the fruits (produce or bounty), so that they may give thanks. 'Lord, You have knowledge of all that we hide and all that we reveal: nothing in heaven or earth is hidden from God. (Ibrahim:37) (*1 Makkah).
Striving Between the Two Hills {AL Safa and AL Marwa}
After the departure of Prophet Ibrahim, and seeing herself and her baby son (Ismaeel) alone in this wilderness, his wife Hajar was anxious and afraid. Besides, the dates or the little food and water which was with them was going to finish. She didn't know what to do or expect. In her bewilderment, she hurried towards a nearby small hill called Al Safa. She climbed the hill and looked around and beyond to see if she can find any human being or sign of water. There were none. She then descended and ran towards the opposite hill called AlMarwa, and climbed over it to look and find anyone beyond it on the other side of the hill, But nothing and no one was there either. So she again hurried back towards the first hill in hope of finding some help coming. This way she went seven times back and forth between these two hills, the Al Safa and Al Marwa. All these times she kept sight of her child, where she had left him with a feeling that help will come. Thus, since it was God's will which prophet Ibrahim obeyed and carried out, she was con dent that God will not leave them there without help. So, after the seventh shuttle running or striving between the two hills and while she was on the Marwa hill, she saw the help coming in the form of a miracle, an angel was standing by her child.
The Miracle of ZAM ZAM Spring Water:
While she was on the "Marwa" hill she saw an Angel standing beside her baby child. With his unnatural, divine power and force he dug on the ground, and there became a spring of water which started owing beside the child. She ran down towards her child and in her happiness and excitement she started shouting "Zam Zam"-"Zam- Zam" or "Stop-Stop". She was afraid that this spring will over flow on land. But the spring was confined in its place. She was thankful to God for this great gift in a desert and barren land. The spring-well was to become the cause for the building and growing of Makkah, as we will see how it attracted the Arabian tribes to come and settle beside it.
After the discovery or the presence of this spring well, she was still worried and anxious as the day was passing by and darkness was approaching as she and her baby were alone in this wilderness. God was kind, and in a short-while she was going to have the good company of a passing by tribe, which would alleviate her anxiety and fear.
Jorham Tribe
As the day draws bye, a Yemeni tribe called "Jorham" which was on its way from Yemen in the south traveling or migrating towards Syria and Palestine in the north was passing near the place of Makkah, when they noticed birds flying over the area. The leader and members of the tribe knew that birds y and hover over areas where people and water are available. So they veered towards this place. When they came close they found Hajar with her baby son, Ismaeel besides the new found water spring. They were very happy to find water in this area, and asked her permission to put up their camp there, beside them. She also was delighted to see these people in this wilderness, and she willingly agreed for and welcomed them to put up their camp. She thanked God for granting her and her child this spring of water and for sending these people to be with in their safe company.
The Beginning and Evolution of the City of Makkah
The afore mentioned was the start of the building of Makkah. God has willed this place where a new nation was to grow from. God has also granted the prayers of His Messenger, Prophet Ibrahim, when he asked and prayed to God before he departed this area leaving his wife Hajr and their son. He had prayed, then:
'Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a barren valley near your sacred House, so that they may establish (Prayers) true worship. And so incline the hearts of some people to yearn towards them (like them with kindness) and provide them with the fruits (produce or bounty), so that they may give thanks.
Lord, You have knowledge of all that we hide and all that we reveal: nothing in heaven or earth is hidden from God'. (Ibrahim:37).
After they decided to stay there, this tribe started to build their houses or homes around the area. They built a house for Hajar and her son Ismael, who started growing up among this "Jorham" tribe. Later on many more people and traveling caravans joined them and so Makkah started to grow up as a village, then a town, and in due time became a major city. Makkah was central or main hub for people and caravans, crossing the Arabian Peninsula, especially between North and South and vice versa. It became a very important city, and became a pilgrimage and trade center, as time passes by. In due time, Ismaeel also grew up to be a young man, and he married within this tribe.
Prophet Ibrahim visited Makkah several times as he was indeed in love with his son which he left many years ago. His wife Hajar the mother of his son Ismaeel in the meantime died. Ismaeel married twice. He divorced his first wife after she ill-treated his father, Prophet of Allah 'Ibrahim' when he came in one of his early visits to Makkah, while Ismaeel was away.
The Sacred Place
The place where the holy Ka'abah was built is a chosen place by God. It is designated for the purpose to worship Him. Allah mentioned in the Qur'an supplications offered by the Prophet Ibrahim, thus:
'Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a barren valley near your sacred House, so that they may observe true worship.
So the sanctity of this designated or chosen place was already made long before Prophet Ibrahim came and settled his family besides it, and later on, built the Ka'abah or (The House of God) on it. It was so, so that people would remember God's presence when they pray facing towards this house, The Ka'abah. The place was designated and chosen by Allah since the existence of this world.
The Ka'abah originally was built by Adam father of humanity (peace be upon him) when he was descended from heaven on this planet. It was rebuilt by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismaeel (peace be upon them) on its old foundation after it was wiped out and destroyed long time ago by the huge flood at the time of Noah (peace be upon him). And it is thus mentioned:
And as Ibrahim and Ismaeel raised the foundations of the house(while praying) Our Lord accept from us (this service) Though Art The All Hearing All Knowing. (2:127) The Cow.
The Building of The Ka'abah
In one of his visits to Makkah to see his son Ismael, Prophet Ibrahim was commanded to build a house or a building where people would pray and worship God. He was shown the place where this building was to be erected or built. It was the same place where he left his wife and son on his first visit, and it is the place beside the Zam Zam spring. He told his son about this dream, and Ismaeel readily agreed to help his father. So Prophet Ibrahim and his son started to build the Ka'abah. Ismaeel carries and brings the bricks or stones and Prophet Ibrahim performs the construction and raises the building walls. During the construction Arch Angel Jebrael (Gabriel) brought them a white rectangular stone and indicated to them a place in the corner of the house where it was to be placed. The stone was white as marble, and it was a heavenly gift from God for this house.
After mission accomplished, and the house of prayer was completed and built, God commanded his messenger Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him and upon all the Prophets) to call on people to come for Hajj, which he did, announcing this call in the valley. It is mentioned in the Qur'an, thus:
26. When we designated for Ibrahim the site of the Sacred Mosque We said: 'Worship none besides Me. Keep My House clean for those who walk around it, and those who stand upright or kneel in worship.'
27. Announce to all mankind to make the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on the backs of swift camels from every distant quarter.
28. They will come to avail themselves of many a benefit, and to pronounce on the appointed days the name of God over the cattle which He has given them for food. Eat of their flesh, and feed the poor and the unfortunate.
29. Then let the pilgrims spruce themselves, make their vows, and circle the Ancient House. Such is God's commandment. He that reveres the sacred rites of God shall fare better in the sight of His Lord. (Surat Al-Hajj - 26,27,28,29)
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Islam by Syed Farouq M. Al-Huseini. Copyright © 2014 Syed Farouq M. Al-Huseini. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing.
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