[Al-Quran 50:6-8] Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and how it has no rifts? And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].

Showing posts with label kaaba. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kaaba. Show all posts

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Prostrate in Submission

Adam, Joseph, Earth 


Surah Yusuf (Joseph) 12:1-7


الٓرٰ​ تِلۡكَ اٰيٰتُ الۡكِتٰبِ الۡمُبِيۡن‏ ١ اِنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنٰهُ قُرۡءٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ‏ ٢ نَحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ اَحۡسَنَ الۡقَصَصِ بِمَاۤ اَوۡحَيۡنَاۤ اِلَيۡكَ هٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنَ ​ۖ  وَاِنۡ كُنۡتَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِهٖ لَمِنَ الۡغٰفِلِيۡنَ‏ ٣ اِذۡ قَالَ يُوۡسُفُ لِاَبِيۡهِ يٰۤاَبَتِ اِنِّىۡ رَاَيۡتُ اَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوۡكَبًا وَّالشَّمۡسَ وَالۡقَمَرَ رَاَيۡتُهُمۡ لِىۡ سٰجِدِيۡنَ‏ ٤ قَالَ يٰبُنَىَّ لَا تَقۡصُصۡ رُءۡيَاكَ عَلٰٓى اِخۡوَتِكَ فَيَكِيۡدُوۡا لَـكَ كَيۡدًا ؕ اِنَّ الشَّيۡطٰنَ لِلۡاِنۡسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِيۡنٌ‏ ٥ وَكَذٰلِكَ يَجۡتَبِيۡكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِنۡ تَاۡوِيۡلِ الۡاَحَادِيۡثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعۡمَتَهٗ عَلَيۡكَ وَعَلٰٓى اٰلِ يَعۡقُوۡبَ كَمَاۤ اَتَمَّهَا عَلٰٓى اَبَوَيۡكَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ وَاِسۡحٰقَ​ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيۡمٌ حَكِيۡمٌ‏  ٦ ۞ لَقَدۡ كَانَ فِىۡ يُوۡسُفَ وَاِخۡوَتِهٖۤ اٰيٰتٌ لِّـلسَّآٮِٕلِيۡنَ‏ ٧


Alif, Lām, Rā. These are the verses of the clear Book. Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’ān that you might understand. We relate to you, [O Muḥammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur’ān although you were, before it, among the unaware. [Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me." He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy. And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of narratives [i.e., events or dreams] and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise." Certainly were there in Joseph and his brothers signs for those who ask, [such as]

— Saheeh International


الۗرٰ یہ ایک روشن کتاب کی آیات ہیں

ہم نے اس کو نازل کیا ہے عربی قرآن بنا کر تاکہ تم لوگ اسے اچھی طرح سے سمجھ سکو

(اے نبی !) ہم آپ کو سنانے لگے ہیں بہترین بیان اس قرآن کے ساتھ جو ہم نے آپ کی طرف وحی کیا ہے اور یقیناً آپ اس سے پہلے (اس سے) ناواقف تھے

جب یوسف نے اپنے والد (یعقوب) سے کہا اباجان ! میں نے خواب میں دیکھا ہے گیارہ ستاروں اور سورج اور چاند کو میں نے ان کو دیکھا ہے کہ وہ مجھے سجدہ کر رہے ہیں

یعقوب نے فرمایا : اے میرے پیارے بیٹے ! اپنا یہ خواب اپنے بھائیوں کے سامنے بیان نہ کرنا ورنہ وہ تمہارے خلاف کوئی سازش کریں گے یقیناً شیطان تو انسان کا کھلا دشمن ہے

اور اسی طرح تمہارا رب تمہیں منتخب کرے گا اور تمہیں سکھائے گا تاویل الاحادیث میں سے (علم) اور اتمام فرمائے گا اپنی نعمت کا تجھ پر اور آل یعقوب پر جس طرح اس نے اس سے پہلے اپنی نعمت کا اتمام فرمایا تیرے آباء واجداد ابراہیم اور اسحاق ؑ پر یقیناً تیرا رب جاننے والا حکمت والا ہے

یقیناً یوسف اور آپ ؑ کے بھائیوں (کے قصے) میں (بہت سی) نشانیاں ہیں پوچھنے والوں کے لیے

— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)

[https://quran.com/12/1-7]


Joseph (Yusuf) is an individual, and so are his parents, and brothers, each one an individual person. Joseph sees a dream that the objects in the sky (eleven planets/stars, sun, moon) are prostrating to Him. This dream is realised years later when indeed Joseph is in power in the Egypt (Misr), and his parents and brothers come to him. 

In Surah alHajj, we read: 

Surah alHajj (The Pilgrimage) 22:65-68


 اَلَمۡ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ سَخَّرَ لَـكُمۡ مَّا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ وَالۡـفُلۡكَ تَجۡرِىۡ فِى الۡبَحۡرِ بِاَمۡرِهٖ ؕ وَيُمۡسِكُ السَّمَآءَ اَنۡ تَقَعَ عَلَى الۡاَرۡضِ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِهٖ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوۡفٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ‏ ٦٥ وَهُوَ الَّذِىۡۤ اَحۡيَاكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُمِيۡتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيۡكُمۡ​ ؕ اِنَّ الۡاِنۡسَانَ لَـكَفُوۡرٌ‏ ٦٦ لِّـكُلِّ اُمَّةٍ جَعَلۡنَا مَنۡسَكًا هُمۡ نَاسِكُوۡهُ​ فَلَا يُنَازِعُنَّكَ فِى الۡاَمۡرِ​ وَادۡعُ اِلٰى رَبِّكَ​ ؕ اِنَّكَ لَعَلٰى هُدًى مُّسۡتَقِيۡمٍ‏ ٦٧ 

Do you not see that Allāh has subjected to you whatever is on the earth and the ships which run through the sea by His command? And He restrains the sky from falling upon the earth, unless by His permission. Indeed Allāh, to the people, is Kind and Merciful. And He is the one who gave you life; then He causes you to die and then will [again] give you life. Indeed, mankind is ungrateful. For every [religious] community We have appointed rites which they perform. So, [O Muḥammad], let them [i.e., the disbelievers] not contend with you over the matter but invite [them] to your Lord. Indeed, you are upon straight guidance. And if they dispute with you, then say, "Allāh is most knowing of what you do.

— Saheeh International

کیا تم نے دیکھا نہیں کہ اللہ نے زمین کی سب چیزوں کو تمہارے لیے مسخرّ کردیا ہے اور کشتی کو جو چلتی ہے سمندر میں اس کے حکم سے اور وہ تھامے ہوئے ہے آسمان کو کہ وہ گر نہ جائے زمین پر مگر اس کے حکم سے یقیناً اللہ انسانوں کے ساتھ بہت ہی شفیق ہے بہت مہربان ہے

اور وہی ہے جس نے تمہیں زندہ کیا پھر وہ تمہیں موت دے گا پھر تمہیں زندہ کرے گا یقیناً انسان بڑا ہی نا شکرا ہے

ہم نے ہر امتّ کے لیے قربانی (اور عبادت) کے طریقے مقرر کردیے ہیں جن کی وہ پیروی کرتے ہیں تو انہیں آپ ﷺ سے اس معاملے میں جھگڑنا نہیں چاہیے اور آپ ﷺ اپنے رب کی طرف بلاتے رہیے۔ یقیناً آپ ﷺ ہدایت کے سیدھے راستے پر ہیں

اور اگر یہ لوگ آپ ﷺ سے جھگڑیں تو آپ ﷺ کہیے کہ اللہ بہتر جانتا ہے جو تم کر رہے ہو

— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)

[https://quran.com/22/65-68]

All angels were commanded to prostrate to Adam. All except Iblis prostrated. 

Allah has subjected everything that is on Earth for humans. 

Allah also restrains the sky from falling upon the Earth. 

The Hajj is a rite announced by Abraham (Ibrahim alahisalam) and has been going on since then. 

Among the rites is the circumambulation of the cube-shaped Kaaba. 

Pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba seven times. 

Pilgrims circumambulate it in anti-clockwise direction. 

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As studied in a previous post, the Micro Shape of the Earth, the smallest geometrical shape a rock breaks into is a cube. 

As we look into the sky, all humans can see sun, moon, planets, and stars move across the sky. Apparently, the sky seems to be going around the Earth. 

We know that almost all objects in the sky are moving around something. That is they are in orbit, revolving around some other object. Many objects are also spinning around their own axis. Almost all of them rotate and revolve in anti-clockwise direction. 

To quote from https://www.spaceacademy.net.au/library/notes/anticlok.htm [as on November 6, 2025]

THE ANTICLOCKWISE SOLAR SYSTEM

If we could stand outside the solar system and look down upon it from above the north pole of the Sun (or the Earth), we would see that nearly all the bodies in the solar system have motions that are anticlockwise.

The Sun rotates on its axis in an anticlockwise direction. The Earth also rotates on its axis in an anticlockwise direction. And the Earth revolves around the Sun in an anticlockwise direction. All the other major planets, and most of the minor planets (asteroids) also orbit the Sun in an anticlockwise direction. (A few comets orbit in the opposite, or clockwise, direction).

Most of the planets rotate about their own axes in an anticlockwise direction. This is called prograde rotation. Venus and Neptune are exceptions. Venus has a very slow clockwise rotation (termed retrograde), and Uranus, although it rotates every 15.5 hours, has its equator inclined at almost a right angle to its orbital plane. It is thus difficult to know whether to describe the rotation of Uranus as prograde with an equatorial inclination of 98o or retrograde with an inclination of 82o.


Allah has created humans to worship him, prostrating to Him alone. 

While we must live on Earth in this dunya, Allah has appointed the Kaaba as a Qibla. 

Allah states that the Kaaba is His House (Q2:125, Q20:26). 

Everything on Earth and in the Sky prostates to and worships Allah: 

Surah alHajj (The Pilgrimage) 22:18


أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ وَٱلنُّجُومُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ وَٱلدَّوَآبُّ وَكَثِيرٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۗ وَمَن يُهِنِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن مُّكْرِمٍ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۩ ١٨

Do you not see [i.e., know] that to Allāh prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people? But upon many the punishment has been justified. And he whom Allāh humiliates - for him there is no bestower of honor. Indeed, Allāh does what He wills.

— Saheeh International

کیا تم نے دیکھا نہیں کہ اللہ کے سامنے سر بسجود ہیں جو آسمانوں میں ہیں اور جو زمین میں ہیں اور سورج چاند ستارے پہاڑ درخت اور چوپائے اور لوگوں میں سے بھی بہت سارے اور بہت سے (انسان) ایسے ہیں جو عذاب کے مستحق ہوجاتے ہیں اور جس کو اللہ ہی رسوا کر دے پھر اسے عزت دینے والا کوئی نہیں یقیناً اللہ کرتا ہے جو چاہتا ہے

— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)

[https://quran.com/22/18]


The symbolism of the Hajj is certainly something to reflect upon. 


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Related Posts 

Ancient (الۡعَتِيۡقِ) 

The Ancient House 

Micro Shape of the Earth 

Adam and Joseph 

    Q2 30-39 || Q12 

    Q3 33-34, 59-60 || Q12 

    Q7 10-36 || Q12 

    Q15 23-50 || Q12 

    Q18 50-51 || Q12 

    Q20 115-124 || Q12 

    Q38 71-88 || Q12 






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Friday, September 30, 2022

The Possessors of The Stone & Hijr-e-Ismail

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To the right of the door of The Kaaba, in the east corner of the Ancient House, there is a black stone, the ٱلْحَجَرُ ٱلْأَسْوَد, which is venerated by the Muslims the world over. Many pilgrims try to kiss it, as it was kissed by our dear Prophet Muhammad ﷺ .  Some believe it was sent down from heaven at the time of Adam عليه السلام, while others link it with Ibrahim  عليه السلام, and some state that this was the stone that greeted Prophet Muhammad ﷺ before his prophethood.  


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Pilgrimage to the Ancient House was announced by Prophet Ibrahim  عليه السلام to the world: 

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds.
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.

[Al-Quran 3:96-97, Translation: Sahih International] 


The Kaaba is the Qibla of the Muslims. All over the world, Muslims perform their contact prayers facing towards The Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia . Pilgrims circumambulate The Kaaba seven times. The pilgrimage to The Ancient House is also mentioned in Surah alHajj (The Pilgrimage) as: 


وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ
لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ
ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُوا نُذُورَهُمْ وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَاتِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ وَأُحِلَّتْ لَكُمُ الْأَنْعَامُ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الْأَوْثَانِ وَاجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ
حُنَفَاءَ لِلَّهِ غَيْرَ مُشْرِكِينَ بِهِ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّيْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِي بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ
لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَا إِلَى الْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ

And when We assigned* to Ibrahim (the) site (of) the House, "That (do) not associate with Me anything and purify My House for those who circumambulate and those who stand and those who bow, (and) those who prostrate.
And proclaim to [the] mankind [of] the Pilgrimage; they will come to you (on) foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every mountain highway distant.
That they may witness benefits for them, and mention (the) name (of) Allah on days known over what He has provided them of (the) beast (of) cattle. So eat of them and feed the miserable, the poor.
Then let them their prescribed duties and fulfil their vows, and circumambulate the House [the] Ancient."
That and whoever honors (the) sacred rites (of) Allah, then it (is) best for him near his Lord. And are made lawful to you the cattle except what is recited to you. So avoid the abomination of the idols and avoid (the) word false.
Being upright to Allah, not associating partners with Him. And whoever associates partners with Allah then (it is) as though he had fallen from the sky and (had) snatched him the birds, or had blown him the wind to a place far off.
That, and whoever honors (the) Symbols (of) Allah then indeed, it (is) from (the) piety (of) the hearts.
For you therein (are) benefits for a term appointed; then their place of sacrifice (is) at the House the Ancient.
[Al-Quran 22:26-33]  
Note: I think * should be translated as: drew Abraham to the location of The House... Please read The Ancient House 

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Surah Fajr begins with a series of oaths, and then states:

هَلْ فِي ذَٰلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِّذِي حِجْرٍ

Is there [not] in [all] that an oath [sufficient] for one of حِجْرٍ? 
[Al-Quran 89:5, Translation: Sahih International; edited] 

As discussed in two previous posts (1) (2), and for the purpose of this post, I understand the term لِّذِي حِجْرٍ to mean those who possess a stone. 

However, the word حِجْرٍ also means a boundary, a partition: 

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

Such a partition is clearly visible near the north-west wall of the Kaaba, but not connected to it. It is popularly known as Hateem. It is also known by the name Hijr-e-Ismail (حجر إسماعيل).  People can pray inside the Hijr-e-Ismail, but Tawwaf (circumambulation) is always performed outside this partition. 

The Arab Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a descendant of Prophet Ismail  عليه السلام , the elder son of Prophet Ibrahim  عليه السلام . Surah al-Furqan mentions a forbidden partition (حِجْرًا مَحْجُورًا). The surah begins with the ayat: 

تَبٰـرَكَ الَّذِىۡ نَزَّلَ الۡـفُرۡقَانَ عَلٰى عَبۡدِهٖ لِيَكُوۡنَ لِلۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ نَذِيۡرَا ۙ‏
Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His Servant that he may be to the worlds a warner -

[Al-Quran 25:1, Translation: Saheeh International] 

... 

After the Oaths, ... 

Surah alFajr begins with a series of oaths, and then states:

هَلْ فِي ذَٰلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِّذِي حِجْرٍ

Is there [not] in [all] that an oath [sufficient] for one of حِجْرٍ? 
[Al-Quran 89:5, Translation: Sahih International; edited] 

Surah alFajr then goes on to mention the mighty ancient nations who built amazing buildings, who transgressed in the lands, and caused much corruption. They were destroyed due to their sins. 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is building great buildings all across the land. Alongside, many laws are also being changed to make the society and culture more liberal. It is generally moving away from the fundamentalist observance of religion towards the secularist ideals. Also worrying is the inclination of some rich Arabs towards atheism and paganism, especially Hinduism.  

As their society is opening up, the news and images coming out of modern KSA are alarming. Though such liberalism has been practiced since many years in other Muslim-majority countries, the Muslim world generally looked up to KSA as the practical example of the implementation of the Shariah, and its effectiveness in maintaining law and order, and the morality of the society.   


The Cube vs The Pyramid: There are pyramidical structures found all over the world. Ancient ruins of mighty pyramid-shaped buildings stand to this day. It is believed that they were temples dedicated to the worship of polytheistic deities. Modern hindu and buddhist temples also generally employ pyramidical structures and domes. Among the reasons, as explained on the internet, for such architecture is to focus the electromagnetic energy in the centre onto the statue of their deity, its resonant effect on the body of the chanter, and a distribution of pressure on the broader part of the dome to create a sense of calm. 

On the contrary, the cube of The Kaaba is located under the open sky. Muslims do not worship The Kaaba as a deity, rather they believe it to be sacred because Allah has declared it sacred and called it My House. In Surah al-Quraysh we read:

فَلْيَعْبُدُوا رَبَّ هَٰذَا الْبَيْتِ

So let them worship (the) Lord (of) this House,
[Al-Quran 106:3]


The Right Religion: Surah al-Baqarah (The Heifer), Q2:149,  commands us to face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, while Surah ar-Rum (The Romans), Q30:43, urges us face the right religion. It goes on to warn:


فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ الْقَيِّمِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصَّدَّعُونَ


مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ

لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

So set your face to the religion right, before [that] comes a Day not (can be) averted [it] from Allah. That Day, they will be divided.
Whoever disbelieves, then against him (is) his disbelief. And whoever does righteousness, then for themselves they are preparing, 
That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds (out) of His Bounty. Indeed, He (does) not like the disbelievers.
[Al-Quran 30:44-45]


....


Image credits

The Black Stone in The Kaaba Wall 

Screen shot from Twitter 

Hateem / Hijr-e-Ismail 




Last updated on: May 7, 2023


Thursday, January 3, 2019

The Ancient House

Abstract 
The Quran on the Kaaba located in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam in Mecca, Saudia Arabia.   


Full Text 

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِنَّهُ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

And from wherever you start forth, [so] turn your face (in the) direction (of) Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. And indeed, it (is) surely the truth from your Lord. And not (is) Allah unaware of what you do.
[Al-Quran 2:149]

Attribution: 


The Qibla: Muslims all over the world pray facing towards the Holy Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the centre of which is located the Kaaba, the cube-shaped House of God. 


وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُم بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ النَّارِ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]."

And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure city country and provide its people with fruits - whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day." [ Allah ] said. "And whoever disbelieves - I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination."

And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.

Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise."

And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself. And We had chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous.
[Al-Quran 2:125-130, Translation: Sahih International (edited in italics) ]


Purify My House: From these ayaat, it seems the House already existed but it was appointed the centre of pilgrimage when Abraham and Ismael raised its foundations and purified the House. Similarly, Messenger Muhammad ﷺ purified the House when he conquered Mecca, and retaught the rites of pilgrimage.  


Raise the Foundation: Raising the foundations of an existing house is a common practice, especially in areas prone to flooding. The house is temporarily raised, separating it from its existing foundation; the foundation is then raised and the house replaced on the newly-built foundation. 


Drawing Attribution:
By Original uploader was Mbenoist (M. Benoist) at fr.wikipedia - Transferred from fr.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1546885


Standing Place of Abraham: The standing place of Abraham, the Maqam-e-Ibrahim, marked number 7 in the drawing above, is at a certain distance from the Kaaba itself. When Abraham and Ishmael were raising the foundation, they were asking Allah to accept this service, and were invoking Allah's  attributes: السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ (The All-Hearing, The All-Knowing). I think that perhaps Abraham was raising the foundations through prayer: using acoustic technology, which was known in the ancient world, and invoking Allah to accept their prayer, as Allah hears everything, knows everything, as He is the One who built the skies and the earth and everything else (Q20:50), and when He intends a thing, He says to it Be, and it becomes (Q36:82).  


A Secure Country: Q2:126 uses the word بَلَدًا which means country. Very few translations of this ayat read country, while most have translated this word as city, even though the Arabic words for city and smaller units are مدينة and قرية, both of which have been mentioned in other ayaat across the text. I think it is very important to literally translate every word, as each ayat is giving us a wealth of information, even if the meaning isn't readily clear. 

  

إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

Indeed, al-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah . So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs 'umrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.
[Al-Quran 2:158, Translation: Sahih International]

رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِي وَمَا نُعْلِنُ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ

Our Lord! Indeed, I [I] have settled (some) of my offsprings in a valley not with cultivation near Your Sacred House, our Lord! That they may establish the prayers. So make hearts of the men incline towards them, and provide them with the fruits so that they may be grateful.
Our Lord! Indeed, You You know what we conceal and what we proclaim. And not (is) hidden from Allah any thing in the earth and not in the heaven. 
[Al-Quran 14:37-38]

Location of The House: The House is located near al-Safa and al-Marwa, the two mountains in Mecca. This information should lay to rest the confusion between where is the true centre of pilgrimage that is associated with Abraham. Furthermore, Q14:37 also provides the information that the valley near the Sacred House was without cultivation. 
    


إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

Indeed, (the) First House set up for the mankind (is) the one which (is) at Bakkah, blessed and a guidance for the worlds. 
In it (are) signs clear, standing place of Ibrahim, and whoever enters it - is safe. And (due) to Allah upon the mankind (is) pilgrimage (of) the House (for one) who is able to [it] (find) a way. And whoever disbelieved then indeed, Allah (is) free from need of the universe. 
[Al-Quran 3:96-97]

Clear Signs: Perhaps the clearest sign is the cube-shaped Kaaba ... 

Whoever enters it is safe: On February3, 2021, Arab News reported that No COVID-19 cases reported among pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.  



يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحِلُّوا شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ وَلَا الشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ وَلَا الْهَدْيَ وَلَا الْقَلَائِدَ وَلَا آمِّينَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَانًا وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَاصْطَادُوا وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

O you who believe! (Do) not violate (the) rites (of) Allah, and not the sacred month and not the sacrificial animals and not the garlanded and not (those) coming (to) the Sacred House seeking Bounty of their Lord and good pleasure. And when you come out of Ihram then (you may) hunt. And let not incite you (the) hatred (for) a people as they stopped you from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam that you commit transgression. And help one another in [the] righteousness and [the] piety, but (do) not help one another in [the] sin and [the] transgression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah (is) severe (in) [the] punishment.
[Al-Quran 5:2]


جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الْكَعْبَةَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ قِيَامًا لِّلنَّاسِ وَالشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ وَالْهَدْيَ وَالْقَلَائِدَ ذَٰلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Allah has made the Kabah, the Sacred House, an establishment for mankind and the month(s) [the] sacred and the (animals) for offering and the garlands. That (is) so that you may know that Allah knows what (is) in the heavens and what (is) in the earth, and that Allah of every thing (is) All-Knowing. 
[Al-Quran 5:97]


سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

Glory to (God) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things ).
[Al-Quran 17:1, Translation: Yusuf Ali]


وَالْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ

Consider the long-enduring house [of worship]! [Translation: Muhammad Asad]
And by the long-standing, frequently visited house [Kaabah] [Translation: Mohammad Shafi]
[Al-Quran 52:4]


The Pilgrimage to The House: The pilgrimage to The House is a duty upon all mankind who are able to do so. The pilgrimage months and its rites are sacred, and must be observed scrupulously. Noteworthy is that Q5:2 mentions the Sacred House and the al-Masjid al-Haraam in the same ayat. Q5:97 informs us that the Kaaba and all that's appointed sacred for pilgrimage is so that we may know that Allah knows everything in the Heavens and Earth. Q17:1 mentions the travel from the al-Masjid al-Haraam to the farthest mosque, and Q52:4 takes oath by al-Bait al-Mamoor. From hadith sources, Muslims believe that the al-Bait al-Mamoor is located in the seventh sky/heaven. It is being continuously circuited by angels, such that they are able to perform pilgrimage to it only once, and a new set of angels visit it on a daily basis. Its believed to be cube-shaped as well, and the Kaaba at Mecca is supposed to be a copy of it. What is interesting is that the word al-Mamoor is from the root ع م ر which shares the root with words meaning maintain, age, build, life and Umrah.   
  


وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلَّا يُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُوا أَوْلِيَاءَهُ إِنْ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِندَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةً فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ

But what (is) for them that not (should) Allah punish them while they hinder (people) from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, while not they are its guardians? Not (can be) its guardians except the ones who fear Allah, but most of them (do) not know.
And not was their prayer at the House except whistling and clapping. So taste the punishment because you used to disbelieve.
[Al-Quran 8:34-35]

Reclaiming The Kaaba: In Surah al-Anfal, the polytheistic Meccans and their prayer is criticised. This surah is followed by Surah at-Taubah which begins with a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger to the Meccans who had declined the messages for over two decades! 



وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ

لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ

ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُوا نُذُورَهُمْ وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ

ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَاتِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ وَأُحِلَّتْ لَكُمُ الْأَنْعَامُ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الْأَوْثَانِ وَاجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ

حُنَفَاءَ لِلَّهِ غَيْرَ مُشْرِكِينَ بِهِ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّيْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِي بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ

ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ

لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَا إِلَى الْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِّيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ فَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُوا وَبَشِّرِ الْمُخْبِتِينَ

We showed Abraham drew Abraham to or settled Abraham at the location of the House: 'Do not associate anything with Me; and purify My House for those who circle around, and those who stand to pray, and those who kneel and prostrate.'
And announce the pilgrimage to humanity. They will come to you on foot, and on every transport. They will come from every distant point.
That they may witness the benefits for themselves, and celebrate the name of God during the appointed days, for providing them with the animal livestock. So eat from it, and feed the unfortunate poor.
Then let them perform their acts of cleansing, and fulfill their vows, and circle around the Ancient House.
All that. Whoever venerates the sanctities of God—it is good for him with his Lord. All livestock are permitted to you, except what is recited to you. So stay away from the abomination of idols, and stay away from perjury.
Being true to God, without associating anything with Him. Whoever associates anything with God—it is as though he has fallen from the sky, and is snatched by the birds, or is swept away by the wind to a distant abyss.
So it is. Whoever venerates the sacraments of God—it is from the piety of the hearts.
In them are benefits for you until a certain time. Then their place is by the Ancient House.
We have appointed a rite for every nation, that they may commemorate God's name over the livestock He has provided for them. Your God is One God, so to Him submit, and announce good news to the humble.
[Al-Quran 22:26-34, Translation: Talal A. Itani, edited in italics]



The Cube vs The Pyramid: There are pyramidical structures found all over the world. Ancient ruins of mighty pyramid-shaped buildings stand to this day. It is believed that they were temples dedicated to the worship of polytheistic deities. Modern hindu and buddhist temples also generally employ pyramidical structures and domes. Among the reasons, as explained on the internet, for such architecture is to focus the electromagnetic energy in the centre onto the statue of their deity, its resonant effect on the body of the chanter, and a distribution of pressure on the broader part of the dome to create a sense of calm. 

On the contrary, the cube of The Kaaba is located under the open sky. Muslims do not worship The Kaaba as a deity, rather they believe it to be sacred because Allah has declared it sacred and called it My House. In Surah al-Quraysh we read:

فَلْيَعْبُدُوا رَبَّ هَٰذَا الْبَيْتِ

So let them worship (the) Lord (of) this House,
[Al-Quran 106:3]


The Right Religion: Surah al-Baqarah (The Heifer), Q2:149,  commands us to face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, while Surah ar-Rum (The Romans), Q30:43, urges us face the right religion. It goes on to warn:


فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ الْقَيِّمِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصَّدَّعُونَ


مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ

لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

So set your face to the religion right, before [that] comes a Day not (can be) averted [it] from Allah. That Day, they will be divided.
Whoever disbelieves, then against him (is) his disbelief. And whoever does righteousness, then for themselves they are preparing, 
That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds (out) of His Bounty. Indeed, He (does) not like the disbelievers.
[Al-Quran 30:44-45]



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Last updated on: April 15, 2021