Re: Valentines day? - History and Islamic Perspective
Of course tawaf has its roots in paganism, as does the throw, the run and the kissing of the stone. Proof? It was done before the advent of Islam.
But it's not as if those are the only pagan rituals that were incorporated or updated for Islam. Others include the crescent moon symbol, praying 5 times a day, ramadan and other observances based on the moon, animal offerings, etc.
You really have no idea what Islam is, do you?
Often people confuse the Tawaf with "pagan worship". That is not true. Muslims do not worship the rock, Kaaba is a direction. A direction to pray to. That's all there is to it. There are no offerings made to it like there were in the early days of pagan arabia.
The Kaaba was built by Abraham and Ishmael on the command of Allah so that people may worship in the direction from all over the world. If it was paganism, then every muslim would have a mini Kaaba in their households and worship it like Pagans of today do. It was the Pagans that took hold of Kaaba and filled it with idols. The first thing Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did was break those idols because they are not worthy of being in such a holy place. So No! Muslims don't "worship" kaaba. We simple face it as a direction, or do tawaf around it as a direction, not an object of worship.
Islam removed the thick curtains of ignorance of the previous times and show people the right way, the ONLY way to a better living. Islam single handedly enforced (historically speaking, reinforced because there were prophets before whose message was ignored), the act of Charity, the worship One and Only worthy of worship ALLAH and not idols or made-made statues that can do no good to anyone.
Let me at this point, relate to you a story of Prophet Abraham (May Allah be pleased with him). His parents were pagans and they would not change their ways. One day he broke all the idols and hung the axe on the shoulder of the biggest idol of them all. When questioned, he told them to question the big idol, he has the axe on his shoulder, he must have done it to them. He's mighty.
Their answer was 'How can it do anything, it cannot even speak or move, how can it do anything'.....the silence that followed this answer was the realization of their ignorance because they'd just answered their own wrong.
Now moving on, if you really want to question the way of Islam, how about you study it. Read Quran. If you want, i can get you one online, with translation in English for your understanding.
Okay? Now...please don't defame Islam or any other religion because when you assume you make an....well u know how that goes.
