Ka’bah: The First Masjid
“Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds. In it are clear signs and the standing place of Ibrahim.” And whoever enters it shall be safe. (Ali 'Imran, 3/96-97)
Qur'an, our Holy Book, states with these verses that Ka’bah is the first building of world that was built as a ma'bad, and it is the source of mercy and guidance. It is understood by the verse that the history of the Ka’bah dates back to the times of Prophet Adam and it was destroyed and forgotten due to several reasons, and then, it was rebuilt by Ibrahim on its previous foundations.
Ka’bah carries significant importance and value as the qiblah of Muslims. Also referred to as "Baitullah," the House of Allah (swt), Ka’bah is a sacred and holy place. Although we cannot state a place for Allah (swt), He honors the Ka’bah (Baqarah, 2/125) by calling it as "My house." Being in Ka’bah means to be the guest of the owner of the Ka’bah, indeed.
By the statement of the verse: “In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Ibrahim.”(Ali 'Imran, 3/97) The Ka’bah is a great miracle of Allah (swt). Although it is physically a very basic and simple building, its beauty attracts the hearts of believers and amazes the ones who see it. People who visit it once and situated in the presence of it, long for it for a lifetime.
The Ka’bah is the symbol of the tawhid as it brings believers together in the same direction and one qiblah. Muslims all around the world turn towards the Ka’bah five times a day, for the daily prayers. They visit it anytime of the year to perform umrah and they visit it within a specific time of the year to perform hajj.
The fact that the thawab (the spiritual reward for good deeds) earned for the worship performed at Masjid al-Haram is more than any other place reveals the significance of Ka’bah as the source of divine gift. (Bukhari, Fadhl al-Salah Fi Masjid al-Mecca, 1, 6) This holy place comprising the Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone), zamzam, and Maqam al-Ibrahim is also safe haven for the visitors against any kind of intrusion and attack.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) stated that the Ka’bah is the protected (the Haram) town from the time the skies and grounds created, and this protection will continue until the doomsday. Here, everyone has the safety of life and property in Mecca and every living creature including animals and plants are under protection as long as they do not harm people. (Muslim, Hajj, 445-448) Any harmful behavior towards them is prohibited.
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