The story of the Ka'aba
Mecca,
the Holy City is the busiest city in Saudi Arabia. The Holy Mosque
(Masjid al Haram) is located in Mecca. It is a city in the Arabian
Peninsula 350 meters above the sea. The Ka’aba is in the middle of
the Sacred Mosque. This mosque is located in a space called Bakka.
The
date of its foundation goes back to the time of Hazrat Ibrahim (as),
the Prophet (Nabi) and the Friend (Khalil) of Allah. It
is in this city that the Holy Prophet of Islam was born. It is also
the cradle of the revelation that welcomed the light of Islam and it
is there that springs the Sacred Mosque, the first installed on earth
for the men by virtue as it is evident from the words of the Most
High (Allah): “The first House that was
built for the people is that of Bakka (Mecca), blessed and a good
direction for the universe.” (Al-Imran 3: 97)
It
has been safely reported from Abu Dharr that he said, “I asked
the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) about the first mosque on earth? He
said, ‘The Holy Mosque’ and then I said to him, ‘Which one
afterwards?’ He said, ‘The Al-Aqsa Mosque.’ I told him, ‘How
much time has passed between the two?’ He said, ‘40 years old.’”
The
Ka’aba towards which the Muslims of the East and West (all Muslims)
turn for their prayers (to worship the Unique Lord of the Ka’aba),
is approximately found at the centre of the Sacred Mosque. It has a
height of 15 metres and takes the form of a large cube almost square.
It was built by Hazrat Ibrahim (as) on the command of Allah the Most
High. Allah the Almighty and Majestic says: “And
when We appointed for Ibrahim the place of the House (the Ka’aba)
saying to Him, ‘Do not associate Me with anything; and cleanse My
House for those who circle around it, for those who stand up in
prayer, and for those who bow and make prostration.’”
(Al-Hajj 22: 27).
The
term “bawwa’na” means: We directed it and made it
available to it and gave it permission to build. In this regard,
Allah the Almighty says: “And when Abraham
and Ishmael raised the foundation of the House, [saying], ‘O
our Lord, accept this from us! For You are the Hearing, the
Knowing.’”
(Al-Baqara 2: 128).