'ArafSt is a surrogate for the
Ka'bah where the warriors gather to battle against Satan, seeking forgiveness for their sins and praying to God to grant them success in this war.
And now, the
Ka'bah itself has shrunk into insignificance beneath the Cyclopean Abraj al-Bait (aka the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, 1,972 feet tall), with its shopping mall, 900 private apartments, and a knock-off of Big Ben.
First, the word prayer in English indicates du a' or invocation, a common definition of salah in Arabic as in [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] "Your invocations are a source of security for them" (Al-Hilali & Khan, 1999, At-Taubah, 103), rather than a mandatory form of physical, mental and spiritual worship; second, the word pilgrimage, meaning a journey to a place which is considered special, and which one visits to show respect, does not necessarily mean the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca; and finally, using the House for the
Ka'bah or AlMasjid Al-Haram lacks the specificity of the Arabic, since house (generally, a dwelling or base for a particular activity), when capitalized can signify any number of eminent institutions such as the Stock Exchange, the Parliament, etc..
From the beginning of establishment
Ka'bah gave rise to a number of offices, such as those which were held by Qusayy ibn Kilab, when he took over the kingship of Makkah, in the middle of fifth century.
Among his topics are the prayer of the folk of gnosis, the covering up of shame, turning towards the
Ka'bah, some of the mysteries of Qur'anic recitation during prayers, and the testimony and the invocation of peace in prayer.
Within Islam, Ishmael was understood to be the prototype of the dutiful son, assisting Abraham in building the
Ka'bah at Mecca and Arabized through marriage.
(22) Also, by consideration of such points it becomes clearer what it means to call Imam Hussein the "Lord of Martyrs" (seyyedo al'shohada'), (23) as well as why for Shi'ites Karbala earth is considered higher than
Ka'bah earth.
This means that Islam strongly rejects any idea and belief which views a number of Muslims and believers in
Ka'bah and monotheism as people who are outside the circle of Islam.
The visual journey through history, Islamic faith, culture and art reminds viewers how the custom of draping the
Ka'bah in Makkah originated in pre-Islamic times.
If a person declares that Allah is the Ultimate Authority in the universe, then His directions and orders should be followed not only in the month of Ramadan and in the masjid or within the boundaries of the
Ka'bah, but even when a person is in the farthest corner of the world one should observe Allah's directions in one's personal life, in economic activities, social transactions, as well as in political decision making.
(46) The central ritual of the hajj is the circumambulation of the
Ka'bah, the House of God.
Pure and glorious
Ka'bah, tawaf of bodies and hearts around a firm and eternal center, constant and regular efforts from a starting point to a destination, collective migration to the otherworldly arenas of Arafat and Mash'ar, and the atmosphere that imbues hearts with sincerity and liveliness in this great otherworldly arena, a collective rush to confront the symbol of satan, and participation of all people from different places and races in this ceremony which is full of secrets, meanings and signs of guidance: these are the unique characteristics of this significant obligation.
