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[[File:Kaaba-flood-1941 1.jpg|right|220px|thumb|The Ka'aba was flooded by 5 feet of water in 1941.]] | [[File:Kaaba-flood-1941 1.jpg|right|220px|thumb|The Ka'aba was flooded by 5 feet of water in 1941.]] | ||
'''The Ka'aba''' (الكعبة, lit. "the Cube") is the holiest mosque in [[Islam]] located in [[Mecca]] ([[Muhammad]]'s city of birth) and is figuratively known as the "House of God" (or ''Bayt Allah'', lit. "House of Allah"). Another name for the Ka'aba is ''Masjid al-Haram'', which means "Mosque of the sanctuary", where "the sanctuary" is the name for the part of the city of Mecca that is considered sanctified. Muslims face its direction in daily prayer and it is intrinsic to the Hajj pilgrimage, two of the five pillars of Islam. In the Quran and Islamic tradition the Ka'bah is identified with the site of a sanctuary built by Abraham where he went to sacrifice his son Ishmael. | '''The Ka'aba''' (الكعبة, lit. "the Cube") is the holiest mosque in [[Islam]] located in [[Mecca]] ([[Muhammad]]'s city of birth) and is figuratively known as the "House of God" (or ''Bayt Allah بيت الله'', lit. "House of Allah"). Another name for the Ka'aba is ''Masjid al-Haram مسجد الحرام'', which means "Mosque of the sanctuary", where "the sanctuary" is the name for the part of the city of Mecca that is considered sanctified. Muslims face its direction in daily prayer and it is intrinsic to the Hajj pilgrimage, two of the five pillars of Islam. In the Quran and Islamic tradition the Ka'bah is identified with the site of a sanctuary built by Abraham where he went to sacrifice his son Ishmael. | ||
==Origins and ritual significance== | ==Origins and ritual significance== | ||
Prior to Muhammad claiming to receive [[Revelation|revelations]] from [[Allah]], the Ka'aba served as a popular [[Pre-Islamic Arabic Religion in Islam|pre-Islamic shrine]], which according to hadith tradition housed 360 idols and images of mostly pagan deities and attracted pilgrims and trade from many parts of Arabia. There were also | Prior to Muhammad claiming to receive [[Revelation|revelations]] from [[Allah]], the Ka'aba served as a popular [[Pre-Islamic Arabic Religion in Islam|pre-Islamic shrine]], which according to hadith tradition housed 360 idols and images of mostly pagan deities and attracted pilgrims and trade from many parts of Arabia. There were also reports that figures of Mary and Jesus were in the Kaaba narrated from Muslims who died in the early 2nd century.<ref>See this [https://twitter.com/shahanSean/status/1546629237053988867 Twitter thread] by Professor Sean Anthony - 11 July 2022</ref> According to a hadith, the Ka'bah may have contained pictures of Abraham and Mary (see {{Bukhari|4|55|570}} and similarly {{Bukhari|4|55|571}}). Also according to tradition, particularly emphasized at this shrine during Muhammad's pre-Islamic years was the worship of the pagan Arab god [[Hubal]]. | ||
===History of the house of Abraham mythology=== | ===History of the house of Abraham mythology=== | ||
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Islamic scriptures state that the original Ka'aba built by Abraham was rather more rectangular than cubic, but that due to reconstruction the Ka'aba had lost its original dimensions. The story recorded suggests that the Ka'aba, when Muhammad was growing up, used to be rectangular in shape but that a natural disaster decimated the structure such that it had to be rebuilt. The [[Quraysh]], revering this structure, are said to have lacked sufficient "clean money" (that is, money untainted by sinful business, such as gambling and prostitution), and thus were only able to rebuild the temple in the shape of a cube. It is thus suggested that the short, semi-circular wall opposite the Iraqi (northwestern) wall of the Ka'aba delineates the portion of earth which in fact, counts as a part of the Ka'aba itself, despite its falling beyond the Ka'aba's walls. Consequently, pilgrims circumambulating the Ka'aba are able to earn the blessing of having "entered it" without having to step inside. | Islamic scriptures state that the original Ka'aba built by Abraham was rather more rectangular than cubic, but that due to reconstruction the Ka'aba had lost its original dimensions. The story recorded suggests that the Ka'aba, when Muhammad was growing up, used to be rectangular in shape but that a natural disaster decimated the structure such that it had to be rebuilt. The [[Quraysh]], revering this structure, are said to have lacked sufficient "clean money" (that is, money untainted by sinful business, such as gambling and prostitution), and thus were only able to rebuild the temple in the shape of a cube. It is thus suggested that the short, semi-circular wall opposite the Iraqi (northwestern) wall of the Ka'aba delineates the portion of earth which in fact, counts as a part of the Ka'aba itself, despite its falling beyond the Ka'aba's walls. Consequently, pilgrims circumambulating the Ka'aba are able to earn the blessing of having "entered it" without having to step inside. | ||
The Ka'aba has been destroyed deliberately and by natural disasters and thus reconstructed several times over since the seventh century. | The Ka'aba has been destroyed deliberately and by natural disasters and thus reconstructed several times over since the seventh century.The first major destruction happened in the Hijri year 73/common era year 693. During the second Fitna of Al-Zubayr, Al-Zubayr took hold of Mecca and proclaimed his caliphate from the city. The Umayyad governor, Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, laid siege to the city including using catapults. The sanctuary was badly damaged during this siege and had to be rebuilt by the caliph 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan after the fitna was ended by the execution of Al-Zubayr.<ref name="Lewis, 1978p. ">{{cite book | last=Lewis| first=Bernard | title=Encyclopaedia of Islam , Volume 4 - Volume V (Iran-Kha) | publisher=Brill | series=The Encyclopaedia of Islam | year=1978 | isbn=978-90-04-05745-5 | url=https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/1483 | access-date=2023-06-25 | page=319}}</ref> | ||
The second great calamity that came to the Ka'abah was inflicted by the Qarmatians in the Hijri year 371/common era year 930. The Qarmatians, a radical Shi'i sect, attacked Mecca, damaged and desecrated the shrine, and stole the Black Stone within. It was later returned to the shrine in 951 CE, but in the process the stone was broken into several pieces. <ref name="Lewis, 1978p. ">{{cite book | last=Lewis| first=Bernard | title=Encyclopaedia of Islam , Volume 4 - Volume V (Iran-Kha) | publisher=Brill | series=The Encyclopaedia of Islam | year=1978 | isbn=978-90-04-05745-5 | url=https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/1483 | access-date=2023-06-25 | page=319}}</ref> | |||
The third great destruction came in the hijri year 1039/common era year 1629. A great flood inundated the shrine, killing 1000 pilgrims, and this caused the walls of the shrine to collapse. After the flood subsided the Ottoman caliph Murad IV rebuilt it.<ref>{{Cite web| title = History of the Kaba| author = | work = bible.ca| date = | access-date = 25 June 2023| url = https://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-kaba-history.htm| language = English | quote = }}</ref> | |||
==Relevant quotations== | ==Relevant quotations== | ||
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The following verses describe the origins of the Ka'aba | The following verses describe the origins of the Ka'aba | ||
Note that "Becca" here is | Note that "Becca" here is traditionally understood to refer to Mecca, although some critical scholars have suggested that the word is simply a typographical error or misspelling. | ||
{{Quote|{{quran|3|96}} - {{quran|3|97}}|96. Lo! the first Sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Becca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples; | {{Quote|{{quran|3|96}} - {{quran|3|97}}|96. Lo! the first Sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Becca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples; | ||
<br>97. Wherein are plain memorials (of Allah's guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth, (let him know that) lo! Allah is Independent of (all) creatures.}}{{Quote|{{quran|2|125}} - {{quran|2|129}}|125. And when We made the House (at Makka) a resort for mankind and sanctuary, (saying): Take as your place of worship the place where Abraham stood (to pray). And We imposed a duty upon Abraham and Ishmael, (saying): Purify My house for those who go around and those who meditate therein and those who bow down and prostrate themselves (in worship). | <br>97. Wherein are plain memorials (of Allah's guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth, (let him know that) lo! Allah is Independent of (all) creatures.}}{{Quote|{{quran|2|125}} - {{quran|2|129}}|125. And when We made the House (at Makka) a resort for mankind and sanctuary, (saying): Take as your place of worship the place where Abraham stood (to pray). And We imposed a duty upon Abraham and Ishmael, (saying): Purify My house for those who go around and those who meditate therein and those who bow down and prostrate themselves (in worship). | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist|30em}} | {{Reflist|30em}} | ||
==See Also== | |||
*[[Pre-Islamic Arab Religion in Islam]] | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||