The 8^th lesson: Building Kaaba     His Eminence Mohammad Ratib Al-Nabulsi.

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds and blessings upon his messenger Muhammad the true in his promise, the honest. Oh Allah, there is no knowledge that we acquire but the knowledge you taught us, you are the most Knowing, Most Wise. Oh Allah, teach us what is beneficial for us and make benefit of what you teach us and increase our knowledge. Oh Allah, show us the truth in its essentials and bestow upon us to follow it and show us the untrue as faulty and bestow upon us to avoid it and make us among those who hear the speech and follow the best of it. Enter us with your mercy amongst your righteous people. Release us from the darkness of ignorance and delusions to the lights of knowledge and science. From the mud of sensuous to the gardens of pious acts/good deeds.

Dear honorable brothers, with a new lesson of Prophetic Biography; Fiqih Al-Sira. The subject of today is Building Kaba. Allah says: 96. The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings.       Surah 3. The Family Of 'Imran, The House Of 'Imran

Allah is everywhere. 4. And He is with you where so ever ye may be. Surah 57. Iron

The scholars of commentary say that it is the company of knowledge.

If you call your lord in your heart, He will hear you. Allah says about Zachariah (peace be upon him): 3. Behold! he cried to his Lord in secret. Surah 19. Mary

So what is the meaning of having a house of Allah on earth? He says: 96. The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: 97. In it are Signs Manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security. Surah 3. The Family Of 'Imran, The House Of 'Imran

It means that Allah Almighty, as a consideration for the material disposition of human being took a house for Himself and called upon His servant to go to pilgrimage  Let’s consider the meaning of pilgrims’ saying: Labbaik Allahum Labbiak: “Here I am my lord”? It means that I have heard Your call upon me and here I am to be cleansed and relieved from miseries that burden me. So Allah calls upon His servants to pilgrimage to feel the taste of being close and His love. Therefore Allah took the house on earth as a symbol of monotheism and slavery to Him.

In this regard, there is a scientific research in inimitability lodged in Cairo University assures that Honorable Mecca is the geometric mean for earth. So there is the Ancient World: Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the New World: America. Any city on the edges of the Ancient World is 8500 Km away from Mecca which lies is in the middle of this Ancient World. If we add the New World to the Ancient World, Mecca as a geometric means is 13,500 Km from any point of the two worlds and there is no other city which is opposite to-it as a matter of fact there is no land there is the Pacific Ocean-

By the way dear brothers, you testify that there is no deity but Allah: you pray, fast, and pay alms tax in your country, in your mosque, in your room, in your place, but for pilgrimage, you should travel to the house of Allah, which requires a complete devotion: you leave your comfortable house, family, position or job, and things of reputation. Moreover, you pay expenses and pilgrimage needs effort Because you have left everything for His sake and you paid highly, Allah will reward you accordingly to what you have given up to come to pilgrimage

The first point is: what is the wisdom that Allah has a house on earth and to call upon his servants for pilgrimage from everywhere? Allah says: 4.Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah,- those who can afford the journey. Surah 3. The Family Of 'Imran, The House Of 'Imran

The second point is that some historians mentioned that Kaaba-the Old House-was demolished twice after it was constructed by Prophet Abraham-peace be upon him-: The first time by the people of Qusai Ibin Kilab and the second time by the people of Jarham as a result of floods. But Al-Mawardi-the historian-mentioned that the first one who constructed the Kabba after Prophet Abraham a man from Quraish called Qusai Ibn Kilab-one of the great ancestors of Prophet Mohammad-peace be upon him-He built the ceiling from Byzantine wood and palm trees. But the important thing is the relationship between Quraish’s construction of the Kaaba for the third time with the Prophetic Biography and the sending of Prophet Mohammad–peace be upon him.

This is all mentioned in the tradition of Bukhari and Muslim.

It may occur to some this question: what do we have to do with constructing the Kaaba issues because it was before the Prophet’s mission when he was 35 years old? Though he had a wonderful act then!

Dear brothers, some of the reasons behind building the Kaaba were due to:

1-the height of Kaaba was equal to the height of an average person or above it a little bit.

2-It had no roof.

3-It had two corners like a stretched ring.

4-The covering of the Kaaba was laid on the basis of the Kaaba from out side and then pulled into its inside – because it had no roof.

5-The well that Abraham had made inside the Kaaba as-a safe for the treasures and gifts-was stolen by thieves many times.

But Allah says: 4.….whoever enters it attains security. Surah 3. The Family Of 'Imran, The House Of 'Imran

How did thieves steel it? How Kaaba was hit 26 years ago in 1400 and the military forces broke into it and many thousands were killed in this breaking? How do we reconcile between His saying in the previous verse and these events?

We have to understand that the meaning of this verse is that you my servants make it secure because it should be. The security of the Kaaba is a matter of commandment not a universal matter. The meaning of this is like the meaning of Allah’s saying: 26. women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity….Surah 24. Light

Don’t we find a good wife with a wicked man? Or a good man with a wicked woman? Sometimes in some verses the grammatical construction of the sentence implies announcement rather it is compositional which is much rhetorical. Another example is Allah’s saying: 233. The mothers shall give suck to their offspring Surah 2. The Cow

It is a command from Allah for mothers to breast feed their children (The mothers shall give suck to their offspring) the construction of the sentence is like announcement because it is a crucial matter. And you don’t find a mother who does not feed her children.

The same meaning applies here (women of purity are for men of purity) means allow the good men to marry good women. So in all theses verses the construction is announcement but implies composition and this is from the Quranic rhetoric.

That leads us to that the security of the Kaaba (whoever enters it attains security) is a commandment issue not a universal one. What is the difference between the two issues?

Let’s assume that there is a sign indicating that it is not allowed for you to go through this road. This is a commandment issue, but any driver can disobey and go into that road but he will be fined. On the other hand, if there were one meter high cement cubes put at the entrance of this road no one can get over it. This is like a universal issue.

So the universal issue is Allah’s actions but the commandment issue is Allah’s orders to do or not to do. Thus keeping the safety of the Kaaba is a commandment issue.

Likewise, the well inside the Kaaba which thieves stole its treasures. Do you think it is a commandment or universal issue? It is commandment one. Allah says: 4. but if it had been Allah’s Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you...                                                                         Surah 47.Muhammad

Allah almighty commands us to stand with the right and to refuse the untrue. But the reason behind building the Kaaba is that a woman from Quraish wanted to incense it. As you know incense needs firebrand; a spark went accidentally from her incense container on the covers of the Kaaba which were piled over one another-because they used to put the covering over one another therefore there were so many-that it caused a big fire which caused the Kaaba wreckage. Moreover, what made it worse is that a strong flood enhanced the damage because water entered the Kaaba.

Quraish was terrified that the Kaaba will be demolished. In their instinct there is belief. They were afraid from Allah’s punishment if they destroy it in order that they rebuild it. So they considered the matter and were consulting each another from all its sides.

Dear brothers, Kaaba is in no means a statue.

Human being is the superior creature, then come the animals, then plants, and at last the inanimate.

The inanimate occupies a space and has length, width, height and weight

The plant also occupies a space, has length, width, height but unlike the inanimate, it grows.

The animal occupies a space, has length, width, height, it grows and moves.

As for the human being he occupies a space, has length, width, height, and he grows, moves and thinks. Then Allah almighty has distinguished him for his intellect ability. Allah says:1. ((Allah)) Most Gracious! 2. It is He Who has taught the Qur'an. 3. He has created man: 4. He has taught him speech (and intelligence). Surah 55. The Beneficent, The Mercy Giving

For this ability you are honored. This ability’s nutrition is knowledge; the heart’s nutrition is love and the body’s nutrition is food and drink. Each of these abilities is an entity of its own. The distinguished human being is the one who feeds these abilities equally and the extremist who feeds one of these abilities on the expense of the other.

Another time Kaaba is not a statue, it is a symbol.

If one brings a green, white, or red, fabric and stepped on it, does anyone punish him? But if he brings a rectangle fabric divided into three: one third green, red, and white with two stars on it and stepped on it he will be driven to jail. Isn’t it a fabric as well? No the later is a symbol of a country, of a nation.

Kaaba is a symbol of monotheism and slavery to Allah. (96. The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka).We do not worship stones and bricks. Omar Ibin Al-Khattab( the giant of Islam)may Allah be pleased with him-kissed the black stone and said: I know that you are a stone that has no harm or use, but if I had not seen Prophet Mohammad –peace be upon him- kissing you, I would have never kissed you.[1].

Back to the story, at last, Quraish decided to rebuild the Kaaba-before the prophet’s mission when he was 35 years old. They lived very humble and harsh life then. The leaders of them heard that there is Byzantine ship wreckage near Shouibia-Macca’s harbor at the time- so Al-Waleed Ibin Al-Mughira with some leaders went there and bought the woods to roof the Kaaba. A Byzantium carpenter named Baqoom was hired to help. They all worked and collected the expenses from each another. But the disagreement was in constructing the front of the House. Thus, Abu Ummaia Ibin Al-Mughira said: “Oh people of Quraish, do not compete nor hate each another so others will covet in you. Divide Kaaba into four parts-four walls-and divide the tribes into four; then draw lots[2] at Hubal in the heart and corners of the Kaaba so each group can build a part.” Therefore, there are the Shammi, Yemeni, Eastern and Western Corners of the Kaaba-

The nobility of building the Kaaba is very great.[3] Notice that belief is in the instinct of these people and some say it is the heritage of the prophets’ mission.

So when all the tribes of Quraish to demolish the Kaaba, they took out what was in it from precious jewels and money and entrusted them at Abu Talha: Abd-Allah Ibn Abd-Eluzza. They also got the greatest statue of them–Hubal-and set it at the Makam. But when they wanted to start demolishing, a giant snake appeared and frightened them. Al-Waleed Ibn Al-Mughira said: Oh you people, don’t you want to destroy the Kaaba so that you can rebuild it? They answered: Yes, we do. He said: then Allah will not extinguish the reformists.

By the way, when our mother Khadija –may Allha be pleased with her-saw the prophet disordered after the first time of his meeting with Gabriel-Peace be upon him- she told the prophet: “By Allah, Allah will not disgrace you because you give hospitality to the guest, help the weak and help who is in trouble in this life.” Where did she come up with theses ideas? It is from the belief in her instinct.  By Allah dear brothers, as long as human being obeys Allah, gives charity, and on the right path of Allah, He will never disgrace man even if he does not have anything of essentials of life. As long as man does not build his life upon the disasters of others, his wealth from their poverty, his peace on the expense of their fear, his honor on their humiliation, nor his life upon their death. Allah says: 21. What! Do those who seek after evil ways think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe and do righteous deeds,- that equal will be their life and their death? Ill is the judgment that they make.       Surah 45. Crouching

It is impossible for righteous person to be treated as the wrong doer, the lire as the honest, the obedient as the disobedient nor the loyal as the faithful.

Allah also says: 18. Is then the man who believes no better than the man who is rebellious and wicked? Not equal are they.             Surah 32. The Prostration, Worship, Adoration.

35. Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin? 36. What is the matter with you? How judge ye?                         Surah 68. The Pen, (the Letter) N

61. Are (these two) alike?- one to whom We have made a goodly promise, and who is going to reach its (fulfilment), and one to whom We have given the good things of this life, but who, on the Day of Judgment, is to be among those brought up (for punishment)?....        Surah 28. The Story, Stories

Abd Al-Uzza said to Quraish: “The money to be put for building the Kaaba, the house of your Lord, should be from the purist. So any usury, lottery, profit from night clubs, monopoly, or illegal gaining of the money should not be put to rebuild the Kaaba because Allah is pure and He does not accept but the pure.” What astonishes here is that this saying was before the mission of Prophet Mohammad-Peace be upon him, before the revelation or the Koran. You know by your natural instinct if the source of your money is legal or illegal. That assures that religion is constructed within the heart of every human being.[4]

So the people of Quraish did so and they stood at the Makam and prayed to Allah that this snake to be gone. So a big bird came and snatched it away.

There is an important derivation from this incident: if-Allah forbids- you were astray but you are in a big trouble and called for Allah and prayed for Him, He will answer your prayers. Allah says: 186. When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.       Surah 2. The Cow

The scholars of the doctrine said that there are conditions for your prayers to be answered: You have to believe, obey and be loyal. But the exception is for the needy and the oppressed not because he is worthy, but because of Allah’s mercy and justice. Therefore Prophet Mohammad-peace be upon him-said: “Fear the prayers of the oppressed because there is no partition between it and Allah.”

The second man during Haroon Al-Rasheed’s era named Al-Barmaki suddenly found himself behind the bars. One of his relatives visited wondering. So Al-Barmaki justified: “it may be a prayer of an oppressed person that lead me to jail”.

Even polytheists like Quraish people who put their god Hubal at the front of the Kaaba, because they were true in their prayers to Allah, He saved them by sending this big bird to take the giant snake away and threw it in Ajyad. This was like an approval that Allah is satisfied from their mission.

As a scapegoat, Al-Waleed Ibn Al-Mughira started demolishing the Kaaba alone using a mattock because the others feared that Allah will destroy whoever destroys this house. They all waited anxiously during the night to see what will happen to him. But when Al-Waleed woke up in a good health, they all shared in demolishing until they reached irremovable stones. These were made as the bases for the building. But when they collected the money, they found it insufficient to build the whole house so they consulted among themselves and decided to cover the bases with only stones and blocks and above that just stones over each other. Because of poverty and harsh life they couldn’t collect enough money to continue building

As a matter of fact, Ishmael’s Hijr was part of the Kaaba but because money was insufficient, it was built outside it.

A narration told by Aisha-may Allah pleased with her-in Immam al-Bukhari’s book that she asked Prophet Mohammad-peace be upon him: “ Is the Hijr part of the Kaaba? He said: “Yes.” I said: “Why didn’t they build it within the house? He said: “Your people’s money was insufficient.” I asked: Why is the door high? He said: “Your people did this to allow and eliminate whoever they want from entering. Lest your people have still some remains of the polytheism, and I fear that their hearts would deny, I would have considered the Hijr to be within the house and lower its door to the floor.” This shows the wisdom of the Prophet. As long as it does not concern Halal and Haram issues, one should consider the people’s minds and to avoid aggravation and embarrassment and to choose proper words. Allah says:  33. Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness, and says, "I am of those who bow in Islam"?            Surah 41. (signs) Spelled Out, Ha-mim

Thus if you have the chance to visit the Kaaba for Omra or Haj, and you circumambulate around the Kaaba, you should go around the Hijr not within it or your circumambulation will not be complete. Moreover, the door has now interior air conditioning system in escalator like the airplane.

When the building reached to the black stone, Quraish clashed on who should raise it and put it in its place for every tribe wanted to have the honorary place of setting it. Dear brothers, the difference in opinions is natural. For example, at the evening of the Feast we heard canons blown up[5] but some people thought that it was an explosion for road construction in the mountain. But when we heard the news, it assured that Feast would be the next day and t5here was no more arguing about the cannons’ sound. This difference in opinion is due to shortage of information thus we are excused for it. And it is praiseworthy. Allah says: 213. Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers                                                            Surah 2. The Cow

Some people see that the greatest thing is to compose books to benefit others; others work towards bringing people’s hearts together to know Allah; some others say that building mosques is the greatest thing. Thus these  differences are from the mercy of Allah and it is praiseworthy. Allah says: And for this let those aspire, who have aspirations Surah 83. Defrauding, The Cheats, Cheating

But sometimes you find filthy disagreement because of envy, clash of opportunities, competitions, and arrogance and it is dispraised. Allah says: Nor did the People of the Book dissent there from except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them.              Surah 3. The Family Of 'Imran, The House Of 'Imran

So Quraish was about to fight upon who will have to honor to place the black stone in its place. Abu-Umaia, Huzaifa Ibn Al-Mughira, suggested that the first man to appear from the door of the people of Shayba should judge and they all agreed. So Muhammad Ibn Abd-Allah-before the mission-appeared from that door. So they all said: here is the honest, we accept whatever he judges. When they told him the story he ordered of a peace of cloth and he placed the stone in it. Then he asked from each quarter of Quraish a man as a representative they choose to hold a corner of the cloth. Then he-peace be upon him- held it with his honorable hands and placed it to its position. So the disagreement came to an end by his wisdom and modesty to reconcile the whole parts of disagreement till they reach to an agreement. Peace be upon him says: “He is not from us he who disunites.” Allah says: and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing                                                           Surah  2.The Cow.

Therefore dear brothers, we can learn so many things from this lesson that we have to consider people’s state of mind and not to be provocative when teaching others about Allah so as not to be repulsive. For example, the Prophet advised in some cases of illness the urine of the camel is beneficial to cure human being-a research more than 30 pages about its benefit in English resources. But to tell a man who newly entered Islam that the prophet ordered to use the urine as a cure is not acceptable at all. There should preparations and explanation to this man rather to be provocative depending on this tradition.

                                   All praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds

Translated by: Shatha Abed Mansi

 Lakemba, Sydney /  Australia

Tuesday 24-7-2007