Mecca
Mecca is a holy city of Islam in modern-day Saudi Arabia. It contains the Ka'bah and the Al-Masjid al-Haram. The city is associated with Hajj and Umrah, and the Kaaba is the place of worship for Muslims during the time of prayer. That direction is called the cube. The Quran commands to address the Al-Masjid al-Aqsa.[1]
What is Kaaba?
The Kaaba is a shrine in the center of the Preserved Mosque.The Qur 'an says that Abraham and Ishmael laid the foundation of the House and asked Allah to accept their labor.[2] In practical pilgrimage, circumnavigation around the Kaaba is called a taof.
Muslims worship God, not the Kaaba. The general direction of prayer unites worshippers in different parts of the world and expresses a communion of worship.
Three connections for a beginner
- Mecca and prayer: here is the Kaaba, which defines the Qibla.
- Mecca and pilgrimage: they are sent here for the Hajj and Umrah.
- Mecca and the idolaters: the sanctuary is associated with the worship of one God and the legacy of Abraham.
The Quran calls the House in Bacca a blessed place and a guide for the worlds.[3] Studying the Tauhid helps us understand the meaning of these rituals.