Is Ka'bah The Worshipped Idol? Monday, June 25, 2018

Many among non-Muslims have the impression that Muslims worship the Ka'bah like the way Idolatry is practiced in some other religions. So they ask questions thinking that Muslims really consider the Ka'bah as an object of worship. Among them are:

1. Why do Muslims prostrate and worship at the Ka'bah?
2. Muslims believe that to supplicate in front of the Ka'bah is efficacious, just as devotees of other religions pray in front of their idols.
3. The Muslims seem as though they are sanctifying Ka'bah by kissing the Hajar Aswad stone.

1. Why do Muslims prostrate and worship at the Ka'bah?

In Islam, the Muslims are taught about the “direction of prayer”, or kiblat. Previously, the Muslims’ kiblat was towards Baitul Maqdis in Palestine, until Allah revealed the commandment to change it to the direction of the Ka'bah (Surah al-Baqarah:142-144). The Ka'bah, also known a House of Allah, is therefore only a kiblat and not a deity worthy of worship. If it is decreed that the Ka'bah is moved to another location, Muslims will still pray (Solah) in the same direction.

It is a symbol of unity and uniformity. If there is no specific direction to pray (Solah) towards, people will pray to whichever direction they pleased such as facing the north, south, etc. Similar to when we see soldiers marching with uniformity and unity in a parade, so too is the harmony and unity of Muslims during worship by being united upon one kiblat. This case is proven when we look at how thousands of pilgrims go around the Ka'bah forming orderly lines (saf) in prayer and they follow an imam in unity even though they are from various continents of the world, and even those who are there for the first time can follow the prayer rhythm in unison and unity.

In fact, the Ka'bah had been rebuilt and had its size changed. Muslims today know that the original shape of the Ka'bah was wider, enclosing Hijr Ismail, compared to the smaller present construction.

The proof that Kabah is not a deity is, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad, the caller of azan (muazin) will stand on top of the Ka'bah. If the Kabah is truly an idol worthy of worship, the question should be posed: why would a worshiper stand on top of the idol which he’s expected to worship? Is that not insulting?

In fact, now there are many pictures and drawings of the Ka'bah on prayer mats that people walk on and step on. If the Ka'bah is really an idol, Muslims wouldn’t be doing this.

The question is: can images of idols be stepped on in any religion?

Similarly, history has recorded that the Ka'bah had collapsed several times and reconstructed. However, will the Muslims stop praying once the Ka'bah collapses? Surely not, because the Ka'bah itself is not worshipped in Islam, instead it is a clear and united direction of prostration. Surely not, because the Ka'bah itself is not a worshipped idol in Islam.

2. Muslims believe that to supplicate in front of the Ka'bah is efficacious, just as devotees of other religions pray in front of their idols.

These two are not the same. Based on evidence in several Hadith, supplicating and praying in front of the Ka'bah is efficacious and rewarded greatly, but in the same way in Islam, supplicating at certain other times or places can make the supplication potent as well. For example, supplications is efficacious at a certain time, such as during the last 1/3 of the night (found in Hadith Bukhari no. 1145 and Muslim no. 758), and praying in Masjidil Haramain is greatly rewarded (Hadith Muslim no. 1394). That is not the same as idolatry because there is a difference between praying in front of an idol and praying at a certain recommended place or time.

This question points out correctly the situation by stating “supplicating in front of the Kabah is efficacious “and not “supplicating to the Ka'bah is efficacious”. This is only practiced by Muslims because it is found in text and revelation sources.

Interestingly, if we turn this question around and ask the religions who actually worship idols, the question is: is the sculpting and worshipping clay idols a practice commanded from within their main religious texts?

Let’s contemplate upon God’s true commandment, translated as:

“And part of the signs of His greatness is the night, day, the sun and the moon, but worship Allah who created them, if you only worship Him” (Surah al-Fussilat:37)

3. The Muslims seem as though they are sanctifying Ka'bah by kissing the Hajar Aswad stone.

In Islam there is the practice of following the Sunnah. The Sunnah are acts practiced by Prophet Muhammad that is emulated closely by his followers. Regarding the kissing of Hajar Aswad stone, it is something that Prophet Muhammad used to practice which Muslims emulate, however the stone itself brings no advantages whatsoever.

In fact, the Prophet’s Companion, Sayidina Umar al Khattab used to say to the stone, translated as: “I know you are a stone and do not bring any benefit nor harm. If it was not because I saw the Prophet touching (and kissing) you, surely I would not touch (and kiss) you” (found in Sahih Bukhari, volume 2, book of Hajj chapter 56 no. 675). This act of following the Sunnah is done out of love for the Prophet.

In fact, in following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, Muslims also kiss their children (in Bukhari no. 5997, 5998 and Muslim no. 2318, 2317). Are children the symbol of idolatry to Islam because the Prophet Muhammad enjoined kissing them? Definitely not. It is done because it is the Sunnah, and not because they are the object of worship.

In fact, history has recorded that the Hajar Aswad stone was stolen by the Qaramitah tribe for 22 years. During the time it was stolen, the Muslims still performed prostration, umrah and Hajj as usual. This is because it is not compulsory to kiss the Hajarul Aswad stone but instead it is encouraged to remember and follow the way of the Prophet Muhammad during the circummambulation of the Kabah.

Summary

The Ka'bah is a House of Allah and not an object of worship, but it is a symbol of unity in worship.

Allah knows best.

MRM R&D Team | Ask Islam