Monday, September 30, 2013

THE SACRED KA'BAA

According to the traditions, Allah dictated that Ka’baa to be built in heaven in Baitul Ma’amoor. Allah in His infinite Mercy dictated that a similar House be built on earth. Hence Prophet Adam built the Ka’baa. It is a simple structure of grey blue stones collected from around the city of Makkah. It is a cube of 60 feet. The four corners roughly face four points of compass. At the East is the Black Stone (Ruknel Aswad), at the North is Ruken al Iraqi, at the West is Ruknel Shami, and at the South is Ruknel Yamani. The four walls are covered with black brocade curtain (Kiswa) with the “Shahada” weaved in the fabric. About 2/3rd of the way up, runs a golden embroidered band covered with Qur’anic texts. It has six sides representing every direction meaning as Allah is every where, His House represents infinity! Its sanctity and antiquity is older than history itself. It is mentioned in Bible and Old Testament also.
A door is fixed about 7 feet above the ground. The “Black Stone” (Hajre Aswad), about 12 inches in diameter, was fixed into its Easter Corner. Opposite the North West wall is a semi circular wall of white marble, about 5 feet thick and 3 feet high. The space between Ka’baa and semi-circle wall is the place where the graves of Prophet Isma’el and his mother Bibi Ha’jira are situated. Inside the Maqam-e-Ibra’him, is a stone preserving the foot prints of Prophet Ibrahim said to have been made during the rebuilding of Ka’baa. In front of the building is the “Maqaam-e-Ibrahim” – an arch shaped structure, and The Well of “Zam Zam”. Just outside are the hills of “Safa” and “Marwa”. The distance between the hills is about 500 yards.
References of Ka’baa in the Noble Qur’an:
“While Ibrahim and Ismael were raising the foundation of the House, they prayed: “O Allah! Accept our labor. You are All-Hearing and All-Knowing.” (2:127)
“We made the House in (in Makkah) as a place of refuge and sanctuary for men. (People), adopt the place where Ibrahim stood as a place for prayer. We advised Ibra’him and Isma’el to keep My House clean for the pilgrims, the worshipers, and those who bow down and prostrate themselves in worship.” (2:125)
“Safa and Marwa are reminders of Allah. It is no sin for one who visits the Sacred House (Ka’baa) to walk seven times between (them). Who ever, willingly, does a good deed in obedience to Allah will find Allah All-Knowing and fully Appreciative.” (2:158)
“The first House of Worship that Allah assigned to men was in Bakkah (another name of Makkah). It is a Blessed one and a guide for all people.” (3:96)
“In (Bakkah), there are many clear signs (evidence of the existence of Allah). Among them is the place where Ibra’him stood. Whoever seeks refuge therein, will be protected by the laws of amnesty. Those who have the means and ability, have a duty to Allah to visit the House and perform the Hajj (pilgrimage) rituals. The unbelievers should know that Allah is Independent of all creatures.” (3:97)
“Allah has made the Ka’baa, the Sacred House, the sacred months, the unmarked and marked  sacrificial animals for the welfare of men and in order to inform you that Allah knows all that is in the heavens and the earth.” (5:97)
Ever since Prophet Isma’el built this House along with his father, it remained in the custody of his descendants.
Even during the life time of Ibra’him, people started putting idols in Ka’baa. It was over four thousand years later that after the famous “Victory of Makkah”, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) along with the Commander of the Faithful, destroyed all the idols. Imam Ali was asked by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) to stand on Prophet’s shoulders to break a huge idol. So the Vilayat was on the shoulders of the Chief of the Prophets! The Holy Prophet was reciting the Ayah: “Say, Truth has come and falsehood has been banished; it is doomed to banishment.” (17:81)
During early period of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), before proclaiming prophet hood, there was a flood in Makkah, and Ka’baa was damaged. After reconstruction, the Makkans quarreled over who should re-install Hajr-e-Aswad in the wall. Ultimately, they agreed that whoever enters the precincts of Ka’baa, will decide. Next morning the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) entered. He advised that the Hajr-e-Aswad be placed in a cloak and it should be lift by heads of every tribe and bring it near the wall. Then the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) picked up the Hajr-e-Aswad and placed it in the wall.
After the massacre of the family of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) at Karbala, Yazid ibn Muawiya sent a huge contingent under Haseen bin Namir to Madinah who destroyed the sacred Mosque of the Prophet and then proceeded to Makkah and demolished the four walls of Ka’baa (including the curtain embroidered with Qur’anic verses) and martyred thousands of Muslims who objected to the heinous crime!
The Ka’abaa was rebuilt by Abdullah ibne Zubair and his associates. Later on Umawi forces returned to Makkah and killed Abdullah Ibne Zubair, hung his body on the gates of Ka’baa for three months. We must always remember that Yazid’s grand father Abu Sufyan accepted Islam when the sword was hanging on his head after the Victory of Makkah! In the Battle of Uhad, Abu Sufyan’s wife Hinda had chewed the liver of Hazrat Hamza, the Prophet’s uncle! Yazid himself had said  in front of the sacred daughters of the Holy Prophet in his court that there was no revelation, no angels descended, Bani Hashim had staged the drama to attain power!

Birth of the Commander of the Faithful:
Imam Ali (a.s.) had the unique distinction of being the first and the last baby to have been born in the Sacred House of Allah. His mother, Bi Fatima Binte Asad (s.a.) was pregnant and was circumambulating the Ka’baa, when the signs of Imam Ali (a.s.)’s birth became imminent. She prayed to Allah for help and the wall of Ka’baa cracked open, she entered inside and the wall returned to normal. Imam Ali (a.s.) was born inside Ka’baa and they both remained inside for three days. One can imagine the purity of the baby! Later, he was one of the participants of “Ayat-e-Tatheer” which reads: “O People of the House! Allah wants to keep away all kinds of uncleanness from you and to Purify you thoroughly.” 
When Abraha came with the intention of destroying Ka’baa, his army looted 200 camels of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib, he went for its recovery. Abraha said that he was not worried about Ka’baa. Hazrat Abdul Muttalib replied that it will be protected by its owner! Allah sent bands of small birds carrying 3 stones which they struck on the Abraha’s army including some elephants and destroyed his army. The story is described in Surah al-Feel which is Elephant.

Reference:
The Noble Qur’an
The Story of Holy Ka’baa and its people                      by: Syed Muhammad Raza Shabbar
                                                                                    Muhammadi Trust, London U.K.


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