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Allah (SWT) says:
"And (remember) when the Lord of Abraham (Allah) tried him with
(certain) Commands, which he fulfilled. He (Allah) said (to
him), "Verily, I am going to make you a leader (Prophet) of
mankind." (Abraham) said, "And of my offspring (to make
leaders)." (Allah) said, "My Covenant (Prophethood) includes not
Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)." (Al-Baqarah 2:124 )
When Ibraheem (AS) stood up to call people to the way of Allah (SWT),
a series of trials and mountains of calamities fell on him. He
was deported from his home, abandoned by his parents, relatives
and friends, thrown in the fire meant to burn him alive, and, at
last, exiled by the king of the country.
Ibraheem (AS) survived all these trials and stood as firm as a
rock for the sake of truth. While in exile he wandered in the
parts of the known world at that time calling to the path of
Allah (SWT). But still he had to face another trial from His
Lord. He was blessed with a son at old age after having
completely despaired of it. Allah (SWT) wanted to test him
through this son too as a final test, and ordered him to
sacrifice his beloved son. Ibraheem (AS) was successful in this
test too. He took his son, Isma'eel (AS) to a mount called
Marwah near the Ka'ba and laid him prostrate, face down, to
slaughter him with his own hands. Satisfied with Ibraheem's (AS)
complete submission and profound love, Allah (SWT) ransomed
Isma'eel (AS) with a sacrificial animal. Nahr. (It is in
commemoration of this very event that animals are sacrificed
during Hajj and by Muslims all over the world on the occasion of
Eid al-Adha).
In this manner, leadership of humanity was entrusted to Ibraheem
(AS) and he became the pioneer of the universal Islamic
movement. Now in order to give a driving force to this movement,
he felt the need of men who would settle down in different areas
and operate from there as his deputies.
Thus he appointed his elder son Isma'eel (AS), younger son Ishaq
[Isaac (AS)] and nephew Lut [Lot (AS)] in various parts of the
known world of that time. Isma'eel (AS) was kept in Arabia at
Makka and Ibraheem (AS) himself stayed with him for a long time
to spread the teaching of Islamic Monotheism in all parts of
Arabia.
"They said: "Burn him and help your aliha (gods), if you will be
doing. We (Allah) said:
"O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibrahim (Abraham)!" (Al-Anbiya
21:68,69)
Allah (SWT) says:
"They said: "Build for him a building (it is said that the
building was like a furnace) and throw him into the blazing
fire!
So they plotted a plot against him, but We made them the lowest.
And he said (after his rescue from the fire): "Verily, I am
going to my Lord. He will guide me!"
‘My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous.’
So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy.
And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said:
"O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you
(offer you in sacrifice to Allah), so look what you think!" He
said: "O my father! Do that which you are commanded, Insha-Allah
(if Allah wills), you shall find me of the patient.
Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of
Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the
side of his forehead for slaughtering);
And We called out to him: ‘O Abraham!
You have fulfilled the dream (vision)!’ Verily! Thus do We
reward the Muhsinun (good-doers, who perform good deeds totally
for Allah’s sake only, without any shoe off or to gain praise or
fame, etc. and do them in accordance to Allah’s Orders).
Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial -
And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (i.e. a ram);
And We left for him (a goodly remembrance) among the later
generations (to come) in later times.
‘Salamun (peace) be upon Ibrahim (Abraham)!’"(As-Saffat
37:97-109)
Construction of the Ka'ba Sharif
At this place both father and son constructed the focal point of
Tawheed which is distinguished all over the world today, as the
Ka'ba. Allah (SWT) himself selected this center and suggested
its site. The full details of how this center was erected, with
what sentiments and prayers both father and son raised its walls
and how Hajj was initiated are given thus in the Holy Quran.
Allah (SWT) says:
"And (remember) when Abraham and (his son) Ishmael were raising
the foundations of the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah), (saying),
‘Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the
All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’
‘Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and show us of our
offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manasik
(all the ceremonies of pilgrimage - Hajj and 'Umrah, etc.), and
accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts
repentance, the Most Merciful.’
‘Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own [and
indeed Allah answered their invocation by sending Muhammad
(SAW)], who shall recite unto them Your Verses and instruct them
in the Book (this Quran) and Al-Hikmah (full knowledge of the
Islamic laws and jurisprudence or wisdom or Prophethood, etc.),
and purify them. Verily! You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.’"
(Al-Baqarah 2:127-129)
Allah (SWT) also says,
"Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was
that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for
Al-'Alamin (mankind and jinns).
In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqam (place) of
Abraham; whosoever enters it, he attains security. And Hajj
(pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka'bah) is a duty that
mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for
one's conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever
disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is
a disbeliever of Allah], then Allah stands not in need of any of
the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns)."(Al-‘Imran 3:96-97)
Allah (SWT) says,
"And (remember) when Abraham said: ‘O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah)
one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from
worshipping idols.’
‘O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But
whoso follows me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeys me, -
still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’
‘O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a land
with no cultivation, by Your Sacred House (the Ka'bah at Makkah);
in order, O our Lord, that they may offer prayers perfectly (Iqamat-as-Salat),
so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O
Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.’"(Ibrahim
14:35-37)
Allah (SWT) also says,
"And (remember) when We showed Abraham the site of the (Sacred)
House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) (saying): "Associate not anything
(in worship) with Me, [La ilaha ill-AllAh (none has the right to
be worshipped but Allah) - Islamic Monotheism], and sanctify My
House for those who circumambulate it, and those who stand up
for prayer, and those who bow (submit themselves with humility
and obedience to Allah), and make prostration (in prayer,
etc.);"
And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to
you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every
deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform
Hajj)."(Al-Hajj 22:26-27)
This House was not meant merely for the purpose of worshipping;
on the contrary from the very first day it was made the
Headquarters of the universal Islamic mission. Its purpose was
that believers in Allah (SWT), drawn from all parts of the
world, should assemble here each year, perform Ibadat (worship)
collectively and go back to their countries carrying with them
the message of Islam.
Realization of Ibraheem's (AS) Prayer
In the course of history, descendants of Ibraheem (AS) and
Isma'eel (AS) went astray from the path of Tawheed, and
gradually adopted all those bad practices which were rampant
among the other ignorant communities. Hundreds of idols were
installed in that very Ka'ba which was built as a center of
preaching and exhortation for the worship of one God. Ironically
enough, idols were made of Ibraheem (AS) and Isma'eel (AS)
themselves whose lives were spent in exterminating the practice
of idol-worship.
Then the time came for granting the prayer of Ibraheem (AS) and
Isma'eel (AS) which they had invoked while raising the walls of
the Ka'ba: "’Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their
own [and indeed Allah answered their invocation by sending
Muhammad (SAW)], who shall recite unto them Your Verses and
instruct them in the Book (this Quran) and Al-Hikmah (full
knowledge of the Islamic laws and jurisprudence or wisdom or
Prophethood, etc.), and purify them. Verily! You are the
All-Mighty, the All-Wise.’" (Al-Baqarah 2:129)
A perfect man rose from the progeny of Ibraheem (AS) whose name
was Muhammad ibn Abdullah (SAW). He (SAW) revived the genuine
and pure religion of Islamic Monotheism. He (SAW) purified the
Ka'ba of idols and revived Tawheed in its purity. Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) exterminated all the shameful and brutal
practices of Jahiliyya (ignorance) which Arabs were accustomed
to -- idol worship, spattering the blood and flesh of sacrificed
animals on the walls of the Ka'ba, obscene behavior, indecentcy,
wrangling, circumambulation of the Ka'ba in the state of nudity
and other evil customs. Thus the Ka'ba regained its real
position as the focus of Tawheed and Hajj was re-established in
its real meaning and content.... Allahu Akbar (Allah is
Great)!!!
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