and the sun and the moon, each in an orbit floating." (Al-Anbiya, 21:
33)
This glorious verse refers to a scientific fact concerning the system
of the universe. Scientific discoveries have proved that we live in a
huge universe that depends onrevolution. The earth revolves round the
sun once a year, the moon revolves around the earth once per lunar
month, and the other planets of the solar system also revolve round
the sun, each in itsown orbit. Besides, most of these planets have
moons that revolve around them, each, also in its own orbit.
Astronomers have discovered more than 60 of these moons so far.
The solar system, likewise, orbits a center of our galaxy, the Milky
Way. This galaxy consists of more than 130 billion stars. Galaxies, in
turn, revolve round a center that only Almighty Allah knows.
The law of revolution applies also to atoms, thesmallest units of
elementsthat cannot be seen even by microscopes. An atom is composed
of a nucleus whose diameter is less than a millionth of a millimeter.
An atom is surrounded by electrons that move round the atom in an
orbit. Since allmatter in the universe-whether solid, liquid, or
gaseous consists of atoms, this means that the law of revolution
applies to everything: stars, planets, moons, animals, plants, sand,
seas, air, and so on.
This includes cells as well.The cytoplasm in the cell moves around the nucleus.
There is a common factorbetween the orbital movements of all the
objects referred to above, this is, and their revolution is
anti-clockwise.
Contemplating the above lines, we come to realize that revolution is a
cosmic law.
With a believer's meditation upon such a scientific fact, another
image of revolution is brought to one s mind: the pilgrim's
circumambulation of the Kaaba, which is a basic ritual of Hajj in
Islam.
Circumambulating the Kaaba is a symbolic act ofworship, whose wisdom
may be hidden from some. It indicates the believer's utter submission
to Almighty Allah alone. The pilgrims go to Hajj in response to the
divine order that Prophet Ibrahim or Prophet Abraham (peace be upon
him) conveyed to people.
Allah Almighty says: "And (remember) when We showed Ibrahim the site
of the (Sacred) House (the Kaaba at Makkah), saying: Ascribe not
anything (in worship) with Me, and sanctify My House for those who
circumambulate it, and those who stand up (for prayer), and those who
bow (submit themselves with humility and obedience to Allah), and make
prostration (in prayer). And proclaim to mankind the Hajj
(pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel,
theywill come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to
perform Hajj)." (Al-Hajj, 22:26-27).
This signifies that the Kaaba is the spiritual center of the
believers. It refers to the close bond that should be between
abeliever and his Lord. A believer turns toward theKaaba five times a
day during the prescribed ritual Prayers.
A pilgrim circumambulates the Kaaba as if he or she is a celestial
body orbiting another greater body. Circumambulation of the Kaaba is
to be performedanti-clockwise. This indicates that there is a joint
factor between a pilgrim's expressing his ultimate faith in
AlmightyAllah by circumambulating the Kaaba in that way and between
the cosmic laws of revolution discussed above. This indicates
thatthere is consistency between the obligations of worship in Islam
and the natural laws that govern the universe, which indicates that
theyall belong to only one source, that is, Almighty Allah.
This proves the truthfulness of the call of Islam that there is no
godbut Almighty Allah. Thus, Islam is the true religion that provides
humankindwith a comprehensive view in conformity with the divine truth
that is apparent in the natural laws of the universe.
Tawaf: Utmost degree of love
Circumambulation meansto go round something. This act shows the
utmostdegree of love to the extent that a lover wishesto sacrifice
himself for the beloved. A real pilgrim who has thirst formeeting his
Beloved has been detached from everything. By going round the House of
the Beloved, he wishes to prove that he desires nothing but God.
The planets circumambulate the sun, for they take everything from it.
Inside an atom, the electrons circumambulate the protons. The whole
universe ranging from the invisible particles to the planets and
galaxies circumambulate. Man, being a part of the universe, should
circumambulate, too, with the difference that the planets
circumambulate in a compulsory way according to the laws of nature,
but man, the rational being and possessor of free will,
circumambulates with hislogic and will a House God has appointed to
honor human beings. Hence, it is natural for Muslims to offer their
prayers, to sit, to stand, to recite the Holy Quran, to sleep, to lie
down at the moment of death, to be put in grave, and finally to be in
that direction during their lifetimes and death.
"Say: Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are
all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds." (Al-Anaam, 6:162)
Survival of the Kaaba, a wonder
It is a wonder that all the royal palaces built throughout history
have been demolished but the Kaaba, a house built of mud and stone
about four thousand years ago by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son
Prophet Ismail (AS) in a parched land is still upright and will
continue to be loved by human beings until the Day of Judgment.
What is more wonderful is the attraction of this House. So many
glorious and majestic buildings in the world are found in areas of
good climate, but the Kaaba attracts people to itself without having
means of entertainment or being satisfying people's pleasure. The
reason however is natural. It is God Himself Who has created this
attraction in people's hearts through Prophet Ibrahim's supplication:
"And proclaim among men the pilgrimage: theywill come to you on foot
and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path." (The Holy
Quran, 22:27)
Kaaba Size and History
The small, cubed buildingknown as the kaaba may not rival skyscrapers
in height or mansions in width, but its impact on history and human
beings is unmatched. Thekaaba is the building towards which Muslims
face five times a day, everyday, in prayer. This has been the case
since the time of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) over
1400 years ago.
The Size of Kaaba:
The current height of the kaaba is 39 feet, 6 inches and total size
comes to 627 square feet. The inside room of the kaaba is 13x9 meters.
The kaaba's walls are one meter wide. The floor inside is 2.2 meters
higher than the place where people perform Tawaf.
The ceiling and roof are two levels made out of wood. They were
reconstructed with teak which is capped with stainless steel. The
walls are all made of stone. Thestones inside are unpolished, while
the ones outside are polished.
This small building has been constructed and reconstructed by Prophets
Adam, Ibrahim, Ismail and Muhammad (peace be upon them all).No other
building has had this honor. Yet, not very much is known about the
details of this small but significant building.
Holy Kaaba: The House of Allah (SWT) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The
Kaaba is covered by a black cloth known as 'Kiswa', which is produced
and changed every year. Special factory designed for the making of
Kiswa in Makkah. It costs approx. SR 17million.The cloth is made of
670kgs of Silver dyed black, about 120kgs of pure Gold and 50kgs of
Silver used in writing the Qur'anic verses over the cloth. The total
area of the cloth is 658sqr meter.
The Other Names of Kaaba:
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. Some ofthese other names include:
1. Baitul Ateeq - which means, according to one meaning, the earliest
andancient. According to the second meaning, it means independent and
liberating. Both meanings could be taken.
2. Baitul Haram - the honorable house.
Scholars and historians say that kaaba has been reconstructed between
5 to 12 times. The very first construction of the kaabawas done by
Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). Allah says in Holy Quran that this
was the first house that was built for humanity to worship Allah.
After this, Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail (peace be upon them) rebuilt
kaaba.
The measurements of thekaaba's foundation by Prophet Ibrahim are as follows:
Eastern wall was 48 feet and 6 inches
Hateem side wall was 33 feet
Side between the black stone and the Yemeni corner was 30 feet
Western side was 46.5 feet
Following this, there were several constructions before the Prophet
Muhammad's (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) time.
Reconstruction of kaaba by Quraish:
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) participated in one of
its reconstructions before he announced a Prophet.After a flash flood,
the kaaba was damaged and its walls cracked. It needed rebuilding.
This responsibility was divided among the Quraish's four tribes.
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) helped with this
reconstruction.
Once the walls were erected, it was time to place the Black Stone,
(Hajar al-Aswad) on the eastern wall of the kaaba. Arguments erupted
about who would have the honor of putting the Black Stone in its
place. A fight was about to break out over the issue, when Abu
Umayyah, Makkah's oldest man, proposed that the first man to enter the
gate of the mosque the following morning would decide the matter. That
man wasthe Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam). The
Makkans were ecstatic. "This is the trustworthy one (Al-Ameen)" they
shoutedin a chorus. "This is Muhammad." He came to them and they asked
himto decide on the matter. He agreed.
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) proposed a solution
that all agreed to - putting the Black Stone on a cloak, the elders of
each of the clans held on to one edgeof the cloak and carried the
stone to its place. TheProphet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam)
then picked up the stone and placed it on the wall of kaaba.
Since the tribe of Quraishdid not have sufficient funds, this
reconstructiondid not include the entirefoundation of kaaba as built
by Prophet Ibrahim. This is the first time kaaba acquired the cubical
shape it has now, unlike the rectangle shape which it had earlier. The
portion of the kaaba left out is called Hateem now.
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