Islamic holy sites -1- Al-masjid al-haram

Assalaamu alaikum [peace be to you],


THE FIRST HOLY SITE OF ISLAM:
Mekkah is the holiest city on earth to Muslims and probably the most visited city in the world. Five times each day, over one billion Muslims, wherever they may be, turn to the Holy City of Mekkah to pray. And at least once in their lives, all Muslims who are not prevented by personal circumstance perform the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mekkah. Thus each year the Holy City of Mekkah is host to some two million hajjis (pilgrims) from all over the world.
Long ago, Mekkah was also called Bakkah. in the Qur'an, The God Almighty said:
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds.
^{translation of verse 3:96}


The Ka'bah:
At the heart of the Holy Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Haram) in Mekkah, lies a small, semi-cubic ancient stone structure known as the Ka'bah. it may not rival skyscrapers in height or mansions in width, but its impact on the history of mankind is unmatched.
The Ka'bah is the focal point around which the Holy Mosque is built. The four walls of the Ka'bah are covered with a black curtain, called the Kiswah, which reaches to the ground.
This small building has been constructed and reconstructed by Prophets Adam, Ibrahim [Abraham], Ismail [Ishmael] and Mohammed -peace be upon them all-.

The Kiswah is a black cloth, woven of silk and lined with cotton, which covers the Ka'bah. Each year, a new Kiswah is prepared, embroidered in gold thread with the Shahadah* and verses from the Qur'an.


Other names of the Ka'bah:
Literally, الكعبة Ka'bah in Arabic means a high place with respect and prestige. The word Ka'bah may also be a derivative of a word meaning cube. Some of these other names include: البيت العتيق Al-Bait ul Ateeq which means, according to one meaning, the earliest and ancient. According to the second meaning, it means independent and liberating. Both meanings could be taken.


Constructions and reconstructions:
Scholars and historians say that the Ka'bah has been reconstructed between five to 12 times. The very first construction of the Ka'bah was done by the first prophet of Islam, Adam -peace be upon him- as a Shrine for the monotheistic worship of the one true God, Allah.
Later, after long centuries, the building collapsed and disappeared. so Allah ordered Prophet Abraham and Ishmael -peace be upon them- to rebuilt it. At that time, The Ka'bah was built in a rectangular shape as a house of worship of the one God. However, centuries later, the Ka'bah had been taken over by pagan Arabs to house their numerous tribal idols.

Later, After a flash flood, the Ka'bah was damaged and its walls cracked. It needed rebuilding. This responsibility was divided among the Mekkan Quraysh's four tribes. Mohammed (not yet prophet at that time) helped with this reconstruction.
Since the tribe of Quraysh did not have sufficient funds, this reconstruction did not include the entire foundation of the Ka'bah as built by Prophet Abraham -peace be upon him-. This is the first time the Ka'bah acquired the cubical shape it has now unlike the rectangle shape which it had earlier.

In 630 C.E., the prophet Mohammed -peace be upon him- and his followers took over leadership of Mekkah after years of persecution and struggle. Mohammed destroyed the idols inside the Ka'bah and re-dedicated it as a house of monotheistic worship as it was before.


The Ka'bah: focal point for prayer:
It should be noted that Muslims do not worship the Ka'bah and its environs. Rather, it serves as a focal and unifying point among the Muslim people. During daily prayers, Muslims face toward the Ka'bah from wherever they are in the world (this is known as "facing the qiblah" قبلة). During the annual pilgrimage ("Hajj"), Muslims walk around around the Ka'aba in a counter-clockwise direction (a ritual known as "tawaf" طواف).

I hope this was beneficial for you.


I wish I can visit this holy place someday, in sha'Allah.


References:
- The Ka'aba [link]
- History of Ka'aba [link]
- The Ka'bah [link]


^{* Shahadah: testimony of faith in Islam. it's to bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Mohammed -peace be upon him- is his servant and messenger.}


If I am right, it's from the God. if I am wrong, it's from myself.