The Holy Ka'ba

The KA'BA (KAABA)

The Ka'ba or Kaaba which is a small cubical structure is in itself is a mosque in Mecca. For a Muslim all mosque are holy but the holiest of all is the Ka'ba because it was the first mosque to be dedicated to the pure worship of One God built by Prophet Abraham several thousand years ago. Every individual, be in the east or the west, in the north or the south, turns his face towards the Ka'ba to offer his prayers.

The Ka'ba is also recognized as the Symbol of Unity among the Muslim world.

Historically The Ka'ba was built by Adam but it was destroyed because of many advent happens, however it was again built by Prophet Abraham several thousand years ago and since than has always been served as the place of worship. Before the famous triumphant entry into Mecca by Muslims in the eighth years of Hijrah (the start of Muslim's calendar year from Prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Madina), the tribes of Arabia had installed three hundred and sixty idols in it. However Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be on Him) removed those idols after taking control of Mecca and rededicated this place for the worship of one God Allah.

The Ka'ba was situated (as the modern buildings are taking place all around the Ka'ba now) in a bowl shaped valley. It is the place which every Muslim desired to be visited at least once in their life-time. The Hajj ( an annual pilgrimage ) is performed at the plain of Arafat, only few miles away from Mecca and every visitor who performs the duty of Hajj, must present himself at Ka'ba. The Hajj is performed for forgiveness of one's sins in the same manner and at the same place where Adam and Eve were forgiven by Allah and and where they met for the first time after their depart from the Heavens. The Holy Ka'ba is the only place at the earth where prayers never cease. It happens in two ways, first the worshipper perform the worships round the clock at Ka'ba, and second the Muslim living in the four corners of the world offer their prayers five times daily towards the Ka'ba. The time difference from one place to another is the reason of an endless prayer ship from the four corners towards Ka'ba. At the annual pilgrimage the greatest congregation of the world is to be found around the Ka'ba which is estimated to be around three million people these days.

Here an important point to be noted that Muslims worship none but Allah. They don't worship stones or animals or men. The Ka'ba in itself provides a direction to keep their face during the prayer ship, so it is a symbol and not an object of worship in itself. Zam-Zam the famous historical well is present near the Ka'ba, which sprang on the occasion Ismail and Hajra, the son and the wife of Prophet Abraham, searching the water in the desert of Arabia.. The water of this well is being used all the twelve months of the year by the resident of Mecca and by the pilgrims, beside being exported all over the world and yet the holy well knows no exhaustion. Around the Kaaba is a restricted area, haram, extending in some directions as far as 12 mi, into which only Muslims may enter.