[الطامعة في رضا ربها]

 

THE SACRED MOSQUE IN MAKKAH

There are three Holy sites of Islam that a Muslim is recommended to journey to, the 'Haramain'; the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and The Prophet's Mosque in Al- Madina and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The virtues of these mosques are stated in the following sayings of the Prophet Mohammad:

"Set out deliberately on a journey only to three mosques: this mosque of mine [in Al- Madinah], the Sacred Mosque [in Makkah], and al-Aqsa Mosque [in Jerusalem]." (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

"A prayer in the Sacred Mosque [in Makkah] is worth 100,000 prayer more than in any other mosque, a prayer in my mosque [in Madinah] is worth 1,000, and a prayer in Jerusalem [al-Aqsa Mosque] is worth 500." (Reported by Bukhari)

"The first house [of worship] appointed for mankind was that at Bakka [Makkah]; ful of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings." (Qur'an 3,96)

The Holy Mosque in Makkah is built around the Ka'ba, the first house consecrated to the worship of the One True God. The Ka'ba is the simple cube stone which is completely empty, raised by Prophet Abraham and his son Prophet Ishmael on the original foundations laid down by Adam. At the eastern corner of the Ka'ba there is a black stone known as 'al-Hajar al-Aswad' which is the only remnant of the original building that was built by Prophet Abraham and his son.

The Ka'ba is the direction to which Muslims turn in prayer. Neither the Ka'ba nor the Black Stone are ******s of worship but serve as a focal point that unifies Muslims in worship.

Prophet Mohammed narrated about the Ka'ba: "You are sacred, but the bloos of a Muslim is more sacred to Allah than you." (Sahih)

From Book: UNDERSTANDING ISLAM
Supervised by: Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs
Financed by: Qatar Enowment Authority