By Ishola Balogun

In the heart of western part of Saudi Arabia, not far from the Red Sea, there lies the town of Makkah. In the center of this town there is a small square building of about 60 x 60ft.

The small, cubed building may not rival skyscrapers in height or mansions, but its impact on human beings is unmatched. This Baytullah, the House of Allah\Kaaba is the building towards which Muslims face five times daily in prayer since the prophethood of Muhammad (s.a.w) 1432 years ago.

Literally, Kaaba in Arabic means a high place with respect and prestige. The word Kaaba may also be derivative of a word meaning a cube which also symbolises the cubic structure it was built. It could also be called Bait-ul-Ateeq – which means, the earliest and ancient or called Bait-ul-Haram – the honorable house.

The Kaaba was ordained by Allah to be built in the shape of the House in Heaven called Baitul Ma’amoor. Allah in his infinite mercy ordained a similar place on earth and Prophet Adam (p.b.u.h.) was the first to build this place.

The Bible, in Genesis describes its building when God ordained Abraham (p.b.u.h.) to erect a Shrine for worship when Abraham (p.b.u.h.) was ordered to go to the southern desert with his wife Hagai (p.b.u.h.) and infant son Ishmael (p.b.u.h.). The Old Testament describes this building as the Shrine of God at several places. There is no doubt that it was referring to the stone built house at Makkah.

Holy Qur’an brought this story into the full light of history. Say: “Allah spoken the Truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in faith; he was not of the Pagans.” The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakkat: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings. (Holy Qur’an 3:95-96)

From the above verses Holy Qur’an firmly establishes the fact that Abraham (p.b.u.h.) was the real founder of the Holy Kaaba.

When Prophet Abraham (p.b.u.h.) built the Holy Kaaba in Makka, his prayers were that this place should remain a center of worship for all good and pious people; that Allah should keep his family the custodians of the Holy place. Ever since, Ishmael (p.b.u.h.) the son of Abraham (p.b.u.h.) who helped his father to build this place and his descendants remained the custodians of the Holy Shrine.

History tells us that centuries passed and the guardianship of the Kaaba remained in the family of Ishmael (p.b.u.h.) until the name of Abde Manaf came into the limelight. He inherited this service and made it much more prominent. His son Hashim took this leadership and extended it to many other towns of Hijaz, (a province where Kaaba is located) so much so that many pilgrims flocked annually to this place and enjoyed Hashim’s hospitality.

A feast was given in honor of the pilgrims, the family of Hashim served food and water to all guests. This prominence created envy and his brother Abdusham’s adopted son Omayya tried to create trouble. There was a dispute in which Omayya failed and left Makka to settle down in the Northern provinces of Syria (Sham).

After Hashim his brother Muttalib and after him Hashim’s son Shyba who became known as Abdul Muttalib assumed the leadership of the family. He organized feasts and supplied water to the pilgrims during the annual festival of pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine.

Prophet Abraham (p.b.u.h.) built this House for devout worship to the only God. But within his lifetime people disobeyed his orders and began to put idols inside the Kaaba. Abraham (p.b.u.h.) had to clean the House of these idols and of idle worshippers.

He told the people that this was a symbolic house of God. God does not live there; He is everywhere. People did not understand this logic and after the death of Abraham (p.b.u.h.), the people, out of ignorance, filled the place with idols again.

They thronged to this place annually and worshipped their personal gods, It was over four thousand years later that the last of the line of prophets Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (p.b.u.h.) entered Makka triumphantly, went inside the Kaaba and, with the help of his cousin and son-in-law Ali Ibn Abi Talib (p.b.u.h.) destroyed all the idols of Kaaba with their own hands.

At one stage of this destruction of idols, the tallest of the idol Hubbol was brought down after Ali had to stand on the shoulders of the Prophet to carry out God’s orders. The Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h.) was reciting the verse from the Holy Qur’an “Truth hath come and falsehood hath vanished”. This was done in the 8th year of Hijra, January 630 AD after the bloodless victory at Makka by the Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h.).

Historically when Abraham (p.b.u.h.) was ordered by Allah to build the Kaaba, he uncovered the original foundations of the Kaaba built by Adam (p.b.u.h.). Abraham (p.b.u.h.) with the help of his son Ishmael (p.b.u.h.) erected the new place of worship on the same foundations.

Originally it contained only four walls without a roof. Centuries later during the time of Khusayi who was the leader of the Tribe of Quraish in Makka a taller building was completed with a roof and a quadrangle wall around it to give it the shape of a sanctuary and doors all around the sanctuary walls. People entered through these doors to come to the Kaaba for worship.

It is now about 60 feet high, 60 feet wide from east to west and 60 feet from north to south. A door is fixed about seven feet above ground level facing Northeast. A Black stone (Hajar al-Aswad) was fixed into its eastern corner. In front of the building was Maqam-e-Ibrahim, the arch shape gate known as that of Banu Shayba and the Zamzam Well.

Just outside are the Hills called Safa and Marwa and the distance between the hills is about 500 yards. Modern touch has made both hills enclosed into the sanctuary walls with a roof over it with beautiful architectural masterpeice.

 

NASFAT Women’s wing organises national prayer for peace

As part of its contributions towards enduring peace in the country, the women’s wing of Nasru-Lahi-il-Fatih Society of Nigeria will on Sunday hold a special prayer for peace in the country. The prayer will be observed simultaneously at all NASFAT As-salatu Centre, worldwide.

According to Hajia B.A Kupolati who spoke to Vanguard on behalf of the National Women Affairs Secretary of the society, Alhaja Nofisat Arogundade, “we have observed that there is a lot of security challenges in the country; the Boko-Haram insurgence, Bombing, Kidnapping, assassination among other problems that have caused pain and agony to a lot of people, therefore, we are organising a National prayer to solve these challenges.”

She noted that the prayer is going to be held on October 16, in all NASFAT branches throughout the federation and branches in all other countries of the world the same day and the same time. She hinted that the highest ruling body of the association had approved the prayer. Recently, there was a national conference of Missioners and they have been duly informed of this arrangement”, she said.

Kupoloti however explained that exigency of security issues in the country necessitated the organisation of the special prayer. On whether the prayer will be a regular spiritual exercise, she noted that presently, it will be a one_off thing but could be reintroduced if the occasion demands it.

She however said Alhaja Arogundade urged Muslims to emulate the prophet especially in the lessons of love and being your brothers’ keeper and making the Quran and Hadith their companion at all time.

Men and women should dress properly and whenever in public places. This is the teaching of Islam even when outside Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. The Muslim should be able to articulate the noble greetings: “As-salam Alaikum”” and “Wa Alaikum s-salam.”

The normal siesta time for most people living there is usually after Zuhr and after Asr; Knowledge of Arabic at least all the basic phrases of courtesy and respect will greatly help in relating with people; be modest at all times; observe your religious duties eg salat, tilawah, azkar dua etc. at its proper time

DONTS of Makkah: Do not visit Makkah with any of the forbidden things in Islam such as alcoholic beverages, hard drugs, pornographic, tapes, magazines, reading materials etc; do not drink alcohol or hard drug, fight, still or commit zinah (adultery or fornication). They are prohibited and punishable by law; avoid all sinful act or things that can lead to it such as shaking hands with opposite sex; calling people uncouth names or gesticulation that may offend the sensibilities of people.

Example, never point your finger to insult a person you are talking to; never deride their custom and tradition or their way of life. Avoid indulging in loud conversations or boisterous laughter; do not cause harm by pushing people or taking situation for granted by moving closer to opposite sex during ibadah among others.

 

Etiquettes with Makkah

By HarunA razaq

Muslims from different parts of the world including Nigeria are currently in the city of Makkah to fulfil a religious duty. For the benefits if those who intend to know about certain etiquettes to be observed in the holy land and in order not to violate the sanctity of haram sheriff, we present below some of the importance tips to be observed in Makkah.

DOS of Makkah: A visitor must be a Muslim and must go there with good intention (the intention to worship Allah); must possess basic knowledge of what constitutes halal and haram in Islam including what the Saudi Arabian authorities forbid.