I understand ‘Kaba’ (I hope spelling it right) is very sacred for Muslims.
I also read that before it existed before Islam and used to contain Idols.
Is all that true?
What is it’s history?
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Originally posted by Andhra:
I understand 'Kaba' is very sacred for Muslims.
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Yes, but not as a symbol.
**
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I read that before it existed before Islam and used to contain Idols.**
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It was built by Ibrahim (alaihe salam) with his son Ismail (alaihe salam), which was few thousand years before Mohammad (sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was born. The word used in the Qur'an when Allah asked them to construct the Ka'abah is 'raise' so it is interpreted that it was already in existence even at the time of Ibrahim (alaihe salam).
When Ibrahim (alaihe salam) raised it, the area was uninhabited. He prayed to Allah that He should inhabit the area and make it a place for peace. It has subsequently been inhabited and has been a center of religious activity. Before Islam, the followers of Ibrahim (alaihe salam's) sunnah performed the tawaf of the Ka'abah and the ramee between the two hills. Then the people became pagan (idol worshippers), but performed the rituals in the same way, but naked.
When the Muslims came to Makkah, all pagan worship was discontinued.
Rabbeshrah lee sadree; wa yassirlee amree; yafqahoo qaulee.
I need to start a separate thread.. but let's see if we get any intelligent answers on this one.
If Abraham built Allah's house in Mecca Saudi Arabia., and all subsequent messengers followed his legacy,...
There was a time when Muslims prayed facing Jerusalem.
Why was that?
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Originally posted by PakistaniAbroad:
If Abraham built Allah's house in Mecca Saudi Arabia., and all subsequent messengers followed his legacy,...
There was a time when Muslims prayed facing Jerusalem.
Why was that?
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When Prophet (PBUH) went for Mairaaj, he was given the gift of 5 prayers. I guess, at that time, muslims started praying facing Jerusalem.
hindus circle the temple cloakwise
and muslims circle kabba anti-clockwise
is it true?
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Originally posted by rvikz:
hindus circle the temple cloakwise
and muslims circle kabba anti-clockwise
is it true?
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YES
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Originally posted by PakistaniAbroad:
**There was a time when Muslims prayed facing Jerusalem.
Why was that?**
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At the time of Prophet (SAWW) there was both Jerusalem (Al-Aqsa) and Mekkah (Ka'aba) which were sacred. Initially muslims were instructed to pray in the direction of Jerusalem, until Allah ordered in the Quran to change the direction.
Jerusalem is still very sacred to muslims. Many prominent prophets have lived in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa is a very sacred place for people of all faiths, jews, christians and muslims.
Regarding the question in the title of thread. From inside Ka'aba is just a square room, with prayer mats and some other islamic religious artifacts. This is from someone who once went inside. They open the Ka'aba once or twice a year for cleaning.
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Originally posted by Pristine:
** Regarding the question in the title of thread. From inside Ka'aba is just a square room, with prayer mats and some other islamic religious artifacts. This is from someone who once went inside. **
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There is nothing inside, now. As artifacts are symbolic, they have been dumped into the sea few years back. As some say that this is from Wahabiism, I appreciate the decision as it obviates the possibility of shirk.
Rabbeshrah lee sadree; wa yassirlee amree; yafqahoo qaulee.
My questions is a little unanswered.
WHY Jerusalem?
IF Saudi ARabia had Allahs House made by Adam, raised by Ibrahim and followed by all messengers.. why pray towards Jerusalem?
jerusalem was made by hazrat suleman AS. and the lattest religion from allah started from around the jerusalem (judaism and christianity) so untill a new order was not given, we followed the other people of the book...
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Originally posted by rvikz:
hindus circle the temple cloakwise
and muslims circle kabba anti-clockwise
is it true?
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But it has no relevance! Clockwise or anti-clockwise, the purpose is different.
Rabbeshrah lee sadree; wa yassirlee amree; yafqahoo qaulee.
So Thanday,
Solomon followed a different earlier religion in your opinion than Moses and Jesus and Muhammad???
The message of the Prophets was all the same. Its only the location and the building they made, on the orders of Allah, which were different.
Before Prophet Muhammad (SAWW), the two biggest religions were Judaism (Jews) and Christinity. The prophets were Hazrat Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus) (AS) respectively. And both of them were from the area around Jerusalem. So, muslims initially started praying towards Jerusalem, since that was the most sacred place.
However, Ka'aba and Mekkah had its own importance way before Islam. People from all over Arabia used to come and visit Ka'aba and offered gold and silver to the hundreds of gods and idols placed inside. It was a very lucrative phenomenon for the guardians of Ka'aba, Quraish, the family of Prophet Muhammad (SAWW), and that is why they were the fiercest opposition to the new religion, Islam. They feared their whole business will go away.
[This message has been edited by Pristine (edited November 30, 2001).]
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Originally posted by PakistaniAbroad:
**My questions is a little unanswered.
WHY Jerusalem?
IF Saudi ARabia had Allahs House made by Adam, raised by Ibrahim and followed by all messengers.. why pray towards Jerusalem?**
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So what is your point now? Was Prophet (PBUH) doing something wrong (Nauzu billah) when he was offering prayers facing Jerusalem ?
Let's focus.
Allah sent Adam to earth. He CONSTRUCTED a House of Allah.
Ibrahim raised it with his son's help and Allah gave him a religion. He prayed for this House to become the focal point for his later generations and make this religion the religion for ALL those that came after him.
Subsequently ALL prophets who followed preached the SAME religion... and obviously in doing it were enjoined with praying. They all prayed towards the House of Allah, based on Ibrahim's request to Allah.
Sons of Ishmael and Issac were sons of Ibrahim. Moses was from Issac's and Prophet Muhammad from Ishmael's family.
So how come initially their generations were 'praying' towards a different location?
No.
Do christians and jews "face" towards a specific location while praying? Muslims do.
once again..even if only Muslims pray towards a direction, why was it Jerusalem instead of the age-old House of Allah?
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Originally posted by PakistaniAbroad:
once again..even if only Muslims pray towards a direction, why was it Jerusalem instead of the age-old House of Allah?**
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Ibrahim says; salaams to all,
when man corrupt things beyond redemption than Allah (swt) removes what he has given (entrusted) to one set of people and gives it to another who is most deserving. That is why the Qibla was changed from Makkah to Jerusalem and back to Makkah again ( once the idols in the kaabah had been destroyed and the TRUTH was reestablished by the Prohet Muhammad (pbuh) after the isralites failed in their trust
was salaam
Ibrahim
[This message has been edited by Ibrahim (edited November 30, 2001).]
The Kaaba (or Caaba), a windowless cube-shaped building in the courtyard of the mosque, is believed to have been built by the Hebrew patriarch Abraham. In the southeastern corner of the Kaaba is the Black Stone, supposedly given to Abraham by the angel Gabriel. Also within the precincts of the mosque is the sacred well, called the Zamzam (Zemzem), which was reputedly used by Hagar, mother of Abraham's son Ishmael. The city is first mentioned by the Alexandrian geographer Ptolemy, who in the 2nd century AD called it Macoraba.
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The city is first mentioned by the Alexandrian geographer Ptolemy, who in the 2nd century AD called it Macoraba
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Very interesting fact. And if this name is to be taken as Mecca, then it still is the only reference to the city other than the Islamic references which come much later.
Mecca occurs in the Continuatio Byzantia Arabica, which is a source dating from early in the reign of the caliph Hisham, who ruled between 724-743 A.D. (Crone-Cook 1977:22, 171).
Qur'an however refers to 'Ka'ba' as BAKA
(Al-Imran 3:96) "Surely the first House founded for all mankind is bi **Baka* ta*, abounding in blessings and a guidance for all peoples."
And Allah also mentions a city Mecca by it's name
(Al-Fath 48:24)And He it is Who has withheld their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makka ta, after He had made you victors over them. And Allâh is Ever the All-Seer of what you do.
Bible historians have always criticized the authenticity of the whole Muslim religion and Qur'an because 'Mecca' in Saudi Arabia does not appear as a 'center of trade' or in any trade route immediately before and during the times of the Prophet.
Points to ponder
[This message has been edited by PakistaniAbroad (edited November 30, 2001).]