Importance and History of Kaaba – Is It an Idol? Why Do Muslims Worship There?

Kaaba

What is Kaaba? Why do Muslims particularly worship there? Is the Kaaba an idol? Do Muslims revere the Kaaba or the “black stone”? If not, why do they worship or face the Ka’ba in Mecca? What role does the Kaaba have in Islam? When doing the pilgrimage, why do some Muslims touch or kiss the black stone placed on the Ka’ba? These are the mainstream concerns expressed by the majority of non-Muslims. A large percentage of non-Muslims believe that the Holy Kaaba was constructed after Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W) death. To comprehend the responses to these concerns, one should look back at the origins of the Holy Kaaba, its connections in the Holy Quran.

The First-Ever Structure Built for Worship

For ages, everybody knows the Kaaba and that it is located in the middle of Makkah city. From Muslims to non-Muslims everyone knows that Muslims worship there and that there is a Black Stone placed on its one corner. Muslims believe that Allah Almighty directed the Prophet Adam (A.S) to construct the world’s first religious building. This stone structure, known as Baitullah (the House of Allah), is analogous to the House in Heaven, known as Baitul Ma’moor. The purity and magnificence of this ancient structure can be known from history. It is without a doubt thought to be the earliest religious structure ever constructed. Afterward, on the commands of Allah Almighty, Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) constructed this home on the foundations left by the Prophet Adam (A.S). He took his wife Hajra and son Ismael and left them in the Southern Deserts of Faaraan and then rebuilt the Holy Kaaba.

The Kaaba stone structure was created by Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) for the sincere worshipping of One Allah, but the locals packed it with statues and began idol worshipping. He shattered all of the idols within the Kaaba. Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) revealed that the Baitullah is just a symbolic “House of God” and that God does not reside there. People did not understand his statement, and soon after his demise, they refilled the Holy Kaaba with sculptures and resumed idol worshipping. It had become a norm for individuals from all over the world to flock to the Kaaba every year to worship the idols. This practice persisted until the advent of the final prophet, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). The perimeter walls of the Sacred Kaaba were destroyed by floods prior to Prophet Muhammad’s (P.B.U.H) Prophethood and were restored by the 4 tribes of Quraysh. The tribe chiefs began disputing at the prestigious occasion of setting the precious Black Stone “Hajr-e-Aswad” on the eastern wall of the Kaaba.

A battle was ready to break out, but the situation was settled by the Holy Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) knowledge and wisdom. He placed the precious stone on a large piece of fabric and instructed the tribe chiefs to raise and carry the cloth to the Holy Kaaba’s eastern wall. Following that, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) personally located the precious Black Stone in its rightful location. After conquering Makkah, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) destroyed all of the idols erected within the Holy Kaaba by Arabian idol-worshippers. Then, following the successful migration of Muslims, they tend to perform Hajj every year in the last month of Dhul Hijjah.

Holy Kaaba as The Qiblah – The Direction for Muslims

It is also true that Muslims did not initially confront the Kaaba. They tended to worship toward Baitul-Muqaddas (Masjid-e-Aqsa) in Jerusalem. Allah Almighty, shifted the Qiblah (direction) of the Muslims to the Holy Kaaba approximately sixteen months after they arrived in Madinah. Ever since Muslims all across the world have faced the Holy Kaaba while praying. Therefore, the Sacred Kaaba is a direction given to Muslims for worshipping God in an effort to promote Muslim solidarity.

What’s The Distinction Between Holy Kaaba and Hindu or Buddhist Idols?

The worship of idols is prohibited in Islam. Muslims believe in the Oneness of God and that there is no one except Him. It is true that Muslims all across the globe simply confront the Holy Kaaba while praying but; they do not worship it or see it as their God (God forbid). They merely consider it to be a representational Dwelling of Allah on Earth, akin to Bait-ul-Ma’amoor. However, the idol worshipers consider the sculptures they create to be their gods. They lay the sculptures next to them and begin worshipping and prostrating before them. Furthermore, people create and revere idols of the sun, moon, and birds, among several other things. This type of idol adoration is forbidden in Islam.

The Holy Kaaba Promotes Unity

Islam emphasizes Muslim solidarity all across the world. As a result, Muslims worship one God while confronting one direction and speaking one language. There is no discrimination at all. One path given to Muslims by Allah Almighty significantly promotes Muslim unity. It genuinely conveys the impression that Muslims are one and unified. Its purpose is to demonstrate to non-Muslims the solidarity of Muslims.

Summing Up

Muslims are required to face the Kaaba as their Qiblah during prayer in order to unify them. Baitullah, the Holy Kaaba, is not an idol, but rather the symbolic House of Allah and the exclusive center of worship for billions of Muslims worldwide. Muslims visit the holy Kaaba to perform Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages. They can avail of all-inclusive Umrah packages and affordable Hajj packages in order to get mesmerized by the beauty and grandeur of Allah Almighty’s House. Keep in mind that Umrah is voluntary but Hajj is mandatory for those who can afford it with halal money.