Muslims Look At Kabah and Do The Worship. Is This Another Form Of Idol Worship ?
December 6th, 2009 | 
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Question : “Muslims look at Kaabah and do the worship. Is this another form of Idol worship ?”
Answer : “We have rendered the shrine (the Ka`aba) a focal point for the people, and a safe sanctuary. You may use Abraham’s shrine as a prayer house. We commissioned Abraham and Ismail: “You shall purify My house for those who visit, those who live there, and those who bow and prostrate.” [Holy Quran; 2:125]
Kaabah is a creation, there is no denial in that. Then why do muslims face Kaabah and pray ?
Kaaba, also known as, Ka’bah, Kabah and Caaba is the center of the holiest place of worship in Islam (Submission in English), i.e. the Sacred Mosque of Mecca, Al Masjid Al-Haram. Its name is an Arabic word that means a home or a room that looks like a cube. It is a cube shaped stone structure built in the middle of the Sacred Mosque.
The Kaaba is the first house built for the worship of God. It is in Macca.The Kaaba was built by prophet Abraham as a landmark for the House of God, for the sole purpose of worshipping of God alone.
“As Abraham raised the foundations of the shrine, together with Ismail (they prayed): “Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Omniscient. ” [Quran; 2:127]
The Kaabah is used as a focal point for prayer, to unify the muslims in their prayer. Not as an object of worship.
It was the FIRST house of worship built:
“Verily, the first house (of worship) appointed for mankind was that in Bakka (Mecca), full of blessing, and guidance for all people.” Qur’an 3:96
Kaabah gives a communal direction that unifies the worshippers around the world. The concept is a symbolic representation of One God and One nation, and there is not all any idea or belief of worship in it. If there is any, then the person who does this will go out of Islam
Allah knows best.
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// Kaabah gives a communal direction that unifies the worshippers around the world. The concept is a symbolic representation of One God and One nation, and there is not all any idea or belief of worship in it. If there is any, then the person who does this will go out of Islam //
for nearly every answer regarding god’s teachings..u have used some “surah’s” (quotes) from Quran…. but why u didn’t quoted any surah for this reply ??
Hello Annonymous -
Thank you for your comment.
All the answers in islamforsalvation start with a Quranic verse. Thanks for pointing out that this article didn’t begin with one.
I have now added the below Quranic verse to the start of the article.
“We have rendered the shrine (the Ka`aba) a focal point for the people, and a safe sanctuary. You may use Abraham’s shrine as a prayer house. We commissioned Abraham and Ismail: “You shall purify My house for those who visit, those who live there, and those who bow and prostrate.” [Holy Quran; 2:125]
please guide me sir that why “Kaaba” is not open for persons fronm other faiths ??
Hi Anonymous -
The city of Makkah, the holy city where Kaaba resides is not open for the people of other faiths.
By Law, Non-Muslims are disallowed in the Holy cities of Madinah and Makkah. There are many people who raise objection to this and hence try to spread misconceptions. The following points will serve to understand the possible reasoning behind such a restriction.
All citizens are not permitted in the cantonment area
If you are a citizen of US, UK or India, you are not permitted to enter certain restricted areas like the cantonment. In every country there are certain areas where a common citizen of that country cannot enter. Only a citizen who is enrolled in the military or those who are connected with the defense of the country are allowed in the cantonment area. Similarly Islam is a Universal Religion for the entire world and for all human beings. The cantonment areas of Islam are the two holy cites of Makkah and Madinah. Here only those who believe in Islam and are involved in the defense of Islam i.e. the Muslims are allowed.
It would be illogical for a common citizen to object against the restriction on entering a cantonment area. Similarly it is not appropriate for non-Muslims to object against the restriction on non-Muslims against entering Makkah and Madinah.
Visa to enter Makkah and Madinah
Whenever a person travels to a foreign country he has to first apply for a visa i.e. the permission to enter that country. Every country has its own rules, regulations and requirements for issuing a visa. Unless their critera are satisfied they will not issue a visa.
One of the countries which is very strict in issuing a visa is the United States of America, especially when issuing visas to citizens of the third world. They have several conditions and requirements to be fulfilled before they issue a visa.
Only if I agree with their requirements and conditions will I be permitted to enter the country.
The Visa – The primary condition required for any human being to enter Makkah or Madina is to say with his lips, “La ila ha illallah Muhammed ur Rasulullah” meaning that ‘there is no God but Allah and Muhammed (pbuh) is His Messenger.’
Allah knows best!
Sir, first of all i would like to thank you for the answer.
For the above answer, i would like to say that i don’t feel your answer is up to mark.
Drawing parrellism with “military” rules and “Visa” norms is something i don’t feel is correct way of answering and also is not the correct answer.
I just want to ask you a few questions on your above answers, that:
a) Since u’ve equated the “makkah” with a cantonment area then i would like to tell u sir that there are many people who enter into cantonment areas apart from the soldiers because the military is a part of society and they have liasions as well as work for which many non-military persons/personnels too enter in the “restricted” cantonment areas, hence i won’t accept your reasoning stated above.
b) as u’ve mentioned the point of issuing visa’s as your another justification for ansering my query, i would like to say that, this too is not a valid point because if u r good and have a clean record then no government will disallow you from entering their borders also if u r going there for as tourists, i believe every country will call you with open arms.
Again the lines which you’ve mentioned while answering my question that every individual will have to say for entering into Kaaba/Makkah; i would like to ask; why should a person say these lines ?
for instance: iam searching for the truth and hence i want to visit all the religious places so that i can have the first hand experience of every religion, and then i would like to adopt a religion which i feel is correct in every sense…. but here in this case if i have to say these lines before searching my truth then it is not the correct thing. It just proves that either Islam is not open for its revaluation or they are afraid of people finding their faults because i feel only negative forces are practiced and preached behind such a veil, making it close for every individual other than the followers….
Hi Anonymous -
I would like to tell you that I have not equated makkah with contonment area. It is an analogy used to show that there are areas in the world where every citizen of that country (or world) are not allowed to pass through. When coming to entering a prohibited area, there are many examples I would like to bring to your notice.
a) In an airport - only passengers with a valid boarding pass are allowed to pass through. This does not mean, employees and security officers cannot enter that area.
b) We don’t allow outsiders to enter the house - especially when our wife or sister is inside the house. We might not entertain guests to our house after 9 PM evening. But, if there is an emergency in the house, and we want to bring in a medical doctor. We would definitely do this to save the life of our loved ones.
Every place, has certain rules regarding who should be allowed to enter that area. Regarding entering mecca, it is the purity of faith which decides the person to enter it or not.
“O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean [of faith], so let them not approach al-Masjid al-Haram after this, their [final] year. .” [Holy Quran 9:28]
The question here is not about clean record. It is about permissibility. Bringing back my airport scenario, even if a person has a clean record and everything is fine, he won’t be allowed to enter beyond a point - if he don’t have a valid flight ticket. It is important to know that, it is not about calling a person with open arms. It is about the whether certain conditions are met - before you allow them to enter the place.
I truly understand you. For a person searching for truth, you might want to visit all the religious places so that you can first hand experience of the religion, and you can adapt a religion which you feel is correct in every sense. This might be proven right for the religion where the followers and source of knowledge are specific to a place or country. Like, certain religions specific to certain african tribes.
Islam is a religion with 1.1 Billion population (The World Almanac -1997). It is the No 1 most followed monotheistic religion. As a fact, the list of Top 10 Muslim countries in the order of the population - does not even include Arabian countries. http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/world-top-ten-countries-with-largest-muslim-populations-map.html
For a person to learn about Islam, he/she needs access to Holy Quran and authentic Hadiths (Traditions of Prophet Muhammad). These two sources are available for every one. The wide availabilility of Internet websites makes the task of learning about Islam much easier than before.
The point is - a person need not come all the way to Mecca to study about Islam. It is available at his or her fingertips.
While studying about Islam, one thing to note is - no human being is an example for us than the Messenger itself. His life is open to everyone. If a country with a Muslim leadership practices something against Quran, it cannot be taken as a proof of something in Islam.
As I mentioned before, Saudi Arabia (country where Mecca resides) - is not the only country where Islam is being practiced. As a Muslim myself, I might not accept everything done as so called “Islamic practice” - even if it is done by Saudi authorities - if it goes against what is taught in Quran and Sunnah.
What you are going to accept is the teaching of Quran, and not the teaching of some scholar or the practice of few Muslims in a specific country/area. What you are going to accept is not the negative practices or forces practiced behind the Veil, but the true light of guidance openly proclaimed by Holy Quran.
It is the Quranic verses and teachings that you should evaluate while considering Islam as the path of salvation. Your goal is to understand the Quran and its message, and what it wants its followers to believe and practice.
If you see anyone (Country,Organization or Individual) - practicing something against Quran, then you can tell yourself that - “They are not practicing Islam. Islam is what Quran asks me to practice. And my way to salvation is the guidance from Holy Quran”.
“This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are God Fearing . Who believe in the un-seen and perform As-Salat, and spend out of what we have provided for them. And who believe in which has been sent down (revealed) to you (Muhammad Peace be upon him ) and in which were sent down before you and they believe with certainty in the Hereafter. They are on (true) guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful.”[Quran 2/2-5]