Sacred Mosque:-
This is the name used to describe the Ka'ba even before 'Islam' since it was the holiest place in Arabia. It was also called 'Masjid al Haram' meaning the Sacred/Prohibited Mosque.
The reader should be made aware at this early point of the narrative, that the 'Muslim traditions' regarding Abraham & Ishamel are not compatible with their original story in the Bible.
The Muhammadan Muslims only 'BELIEVE' that the following items are 'TRUE' since not a single one of them is based on any historical, theological or any other documented RECORDS but purely on MYTHICAL and IMAGINARY self serving INVENTED stories.
According to the Quran itself, neither Muhammad nor his fellow Pagan Arabs had any knowledge of 'PREVIOUSLY REVEALED SCRIPTURE' ***
According to the beliefs of Muhammadan Islam, the mosque was first built by the angels before the creation of mankind, when Allah ordained a place of worship on Earth to reflect the house in heaven called al-Baytu l-Ma'mur (which translates to 'The Worship Place of Angels'.
Al-Baytu l-Ma'mur is directly above the Ka'ba in heaven. The first Ka'ba was built by angels and Adam was the first human to re-build it.
From time to time the mosque was destroyed and rebuilt anew. According to popular belief, it was last built by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), with the help of his son Ishmael. They were ordered by Allah to build the mosque, and the Ka'ba. The Black Stone is situated on the fourth corner of the Ka'ba, and is believed to have fallen from heaven and turned black due to man's misdeeds.
2: 124 And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands which he fulfilled; He said: "I will make thee an Imam to the nations." He pleaded: "And also (Imams) from my offspring!" He answered: "But my promise is not within the reach of evil-doers."
2: 125 Remember We made the house a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We covenanted with Abraham and Isma`il that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round or use it as a retreat or bow or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).
2: 126 And remember Abraham said: "My Lord make this a City of Peace and feed its people with fruits such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day." He said: "(Yea) and such as reject faith for a while will I grant them their pleasure but will soon drive them to the torment of fire an evil destination (indeed)!"
2: 127 And remember Abraham and Isma`il raised the foundations of the House (with this prayer): "Our Lord! accept (this service) from us for thou art the All-Hearing the All-Knowing.
2: 128 "Our Lord! make of us Muslims [Muslimeen] bowing to Thy (Will) and of our progeny a people Muslim [ Muslimatan] bowing to Thy (Will) and show us our places for the celebration of (due) rites; and turn unto us (in mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Returning Most-Merciful.
22:26 "And when We assigned to Abraham the place of the House (Ka'ba), saying: Do not associate with Me aught, and purify My House for those who make the circuit and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves "
*** Any one who has read the TORAH (the Five books of Moses) would know that the names Arabia, Arabs, Mecca, Ka'ba, Gabriel or Allah are no where MENTIONED.
Moreover, neither Abraham nor Hagar or Ishmael ever travelled the almost 1000 desert miles south of Beersheba in what was then called the land of Canaan, to the valley of Mecca.
Furthermore, the Torah has no recollection of Adam ever going to Arabia, since according to the Hebrew Bible, he was 'created' in the Garden of Eden in what is now called Iraq.
All these Quranic ASSOCIATIONS are FICTITIOUS and were INVENTED by Muhammad to give himself and his followers a SANCTIFIED and WORTHY ancestral historical background.
It is also very important to point out to the unsuspecting reader, that the Quran itself does not mention Adam's or Hagar's association with Mecca or the Ka'ba; nor is there mention of the Zamzam Well. In fact, the name of Mecca is NEVER mentioned in the whole of the Quran.
All the names, stories and places regarding the 'history' of the Ka'ba have neither historical, theological nor documented foundations. They are all based on Mythical Beliefs concocted and invented by the later followers of Muhammad.
What all the Muhammadan translators and commentators DELIBERATELY and for very obvious reasons do not mention, is the fact that IF Abraham and Ishmael did actually build the foundations of the Ka'ba, then it is obvious that the first language to be heard near or in the Ka'ba was HEBREW and not ARABIC ***
Muhammadan belief places the story of Ishmael and his mother's search for water in the general vicinity of the mosque. In the story, Hagar runs between the hills of Safa and Marwah looking for water for her son, until Allah eventually reveals to her the Zamzam Well, from where water continues to flow non-stop to this day. The episode of Hagar's search for water is emulated by Muhammadans as they run between the two hills whenever they visit Mecca.
They believe that the Ka'ba, constructed of stone blocks, was originally built by Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael. Many believe it was erected on the original site of a sanctuary established by the first Prophet Adam. Embedded in the corner of the structure is the Black Stone, a meteorite used by Abraham as a foundation stone.
Over the years, the message of Abraham was forgotten, and the Ka'ba became filled with idols, some say as many as 365 of them. People continued to make the pilgrimage, but it had become an idolatrous business enterprise for the pagan tribe of the Quraysh, the residents of the city of Mecca who were the traditional custodians of the Ka'ba.
After the Hijra, upon Muhammed's conquest of Mecca in the year 630 AD, Muhammad removed all the idols in and around the Ka'ba and cleansed it, and the pilgrimage made obligatory for all Muhammadans at least once in a lifetime, if feasible. This began the Muhammadan Muslim rule over the Ka'ba, and the building of a mosque around it.
The Ka'ba Mosque in Mecca is the most revered place of worship for Muhammadans around the world. At the center of the Mosque is the Ka'ba, which literally means 'cube' in Arabic. All Muhammadans are required to face in the direction of the Ka'ba five times every day when offering their prayers.
9:17 It is not for such as join gods with Allah to visit or maintain the mosques [masajid] of Allah while they witness against their own souls to infidelity. The works of such bear no fruit: in fire shall they dwell.
9: 18 The mosques [masajid] of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day establish regular prayers and practice regular charity and fear none (at all) except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.
*** Long before Muhammad was conceived, the Quraysh and the Pagan Arabs venerated, prayed and protected the Ka'ba Mosque since it was the abode of the supreme god of the Ka'ba: ALLAH.
Muhammad was not needed to remind them of its importance or its sanctity as far as they were concerned. They already knew all of these matters.
What is important to notice in this verse - and the one following - is the use of the plural term MOSQUES/MASAJID .
Why so many other houses of worship if the Ka'ba was the only House of Allah? After all, no unbelievers were allowed in Muhammad's mosque in Madina.
The only mosque that was visited by UNBELIEVERS was that in Mecca.
So why the plural? ***
