MISCONCEPTION 9: Muslims Worship the Ka’abah

Points:

1. Muslims pray facing the Ka’abah.
2. Muslims circumbulate the Ka’abah during Hajj (Tawaf).
3. Muslims love to kiss and touch the Ka’abah and the black stone.

REFUTATION

• Why Muslims observe salah while facing the Ka’abah.

Before Muslims in the time of Muhammad (SAW) began to face the Ka’abah while in prayers, they were initially turning towards Bait al Maqdis in Jerusalem. Later on the Muhammad received revelation commanding Muslims to face Mecca (the Ka’abah). 

In the month of Rajjab 2 A.H, the Prophet (SAW) was leading his companions in the Dhur prayer when ALLAH revealed through Jibreel (AS) the ayah: “We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do”. Suratul Baqara (2:144).

Jibreel (AS) then held the hand of Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) and turned him towards the Holy Ka'abah in Mecca. Mohammad (S.A.W.) at once changed his direction in the middle of prayer and the Companions followed suit. From that day on, the Ka’abah became the Qiblah of the Muslims. 

This is among the great miracles of Islam, in the absence of modern measuring instruments; it has been confirmed that after the change, Muhammad (SAW) was facing the Ka’abah directly all the way from Madinah. With modern instruments and science we can pinpoint the exact location of Medina to be at latitude 24 degrees and longitude 39 degrees. This makes the Qiblah 45 degrees south of Medina. Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) turned towards the new Qiblah without hesitation. 

The old and new Qiblahs can still be seen today in Masjid-e-Dhul Qiblatain. It was one of the Holy Prophet's (S.A.W.) miracles that he turned exactly to face the Holy Ka'abah without the use of any scientific instrument or computation. 

From the verse (2:144) above, we see that the statement is “turn your faces towards IT” and not ‘turn your faces toward Me’. It is ALLAH HIMSELF who has commanded Muslims to face the Ka’abah while in prayer and HE went on to give sound reasons why. “And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it in order that the people will not have any argument against you, except for those of them who commit wrong; so fear them not but fear Me. And [it is] so I may complete My favor upon you and that you may be guided”. Suratul Baqarah (2:150). 

This verse gives another glorious reason why Muslims should face the Ka’abah; for unity. To ensure that Muslims are united across the globe even in worship. Observe again, ALLAH said “towards IT” not ‘towards ME’. ALLAH HIMSELF cleared this misconception in the Qur’an when HE told us that wherever we face (Ka’abah or not) is not what makes us believers but our actions. 

HE says: “Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous”. Suratul Baqarah (2:177)

Muhammad (SAW) finished it when he said: "Demolishing the Ka’abah completely is much easier upon Allah Almighty than shedding the blood of a single Muslim

• Why Muslims circumbulate the Ka’abah (Tawaf).

Muslim circumbulate the Ka’abah because it is a command from ALLAH (SWT). ALLAH commanded Ibrahim (AS) and Isma’il (AS) to build the Ka’abah and to circumbulate it seven times as a means of worshipping HIM as gathered by Islamic scholars of history. ALLAH says in the Qur’an: “And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Ibraham a place of prayer. And We charged Ibrahim and Isma’il, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf (Circumbulation) and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]." Suratul Baqarah (2:125). 

In addition, as regards circumbulation; Abd Allah ibn Amr ibn al-`As (RA) said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (saw) performing tawaf around the Holy Ka`abah saying to it: ‘how pure and good you are! how pure and good your fragrance is! how great and exalted you are! and how great and exalted your sanctity is! But by Him in Whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, the sanctity of a believer’s blood and property in the sight of Allah is greater than your sanctity!’Lesson-the Ka’abah was never worshipped.

• Why Muslims kiss the Ka’abah and the black stone.

By now, the Ka’abah issue must have been settled; let’s face the black stone which is attached to the Ka’abah. The second Caliph of Islam, Umar bin Khattab, who was a very close companion of Muhammad (SAW) said while approaching the Al Hajr Al Aswad (the black stone) “I know you cannot harm nor benefit, but because I saw the Messenger (saw) kiss you, I do it” [Sahih Muslim]

For Umar to have said this he must have known that there was nothing wrong with the statement and that Muhammad (SAW) wouldn’t have objected to it. So, even the black stone is just an object worthy of respect and nothing more. Besides, Qur’an and Hadith never made it compulsory to touch or kiss the Ka’abah or the black stone.

Conclusively, ALLAH in HIS infinite Wisdom always knew that there will be people who would always try to cook up lies against Islam and as such; he equipped the Muslims with sufficient proofs from the Qur’an to defend the Deen. 

ALLAH says in the Glorious Qur’an as regards the Ka’abah:

The foolish among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?" Say, "To Allah belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path.”

And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith. Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful”. Suratul Baqarah (2:142-143)

As for my Muslim brothers and sisters, ALLAH has warned us in the Qur’an concerning the arrogant nature of the enemies of Islam in so many verses  but as relates to the topic; ALLAH says, “And if you brought to those who were given the Scripture every sign, they would not follow your qiblah. Nor will you be a follower of their qiblah. Nor would they be followers of one another's qiblah. So if you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, indeed, you would then be among the wrongdoers”. Suratul Baqarah (2:145)

In a nut-shell, to say that Muslims worship the Ka’abah is a misconception.