Ibrahim & the Ka'aba
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 1.1.9
Ibrahim and The Ka'aba
The Ka'aba is a very important part of the Muslim faith. It is visited on the Hajj pilgrimage, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
The Ka'aba
- When Ibrahim came back to Hajar, Allah asked him to build a shrine dedicated to Him:
- “I'd like you to build my house for me...here on this mound of earth, in this sacred place and I'd like you to erect the walls and I want you to purify this place."
- Ibrahim built the Ka’aba, the House of God which is visited by millions of Muslims each year.
Ismail and the Ka'aba
- The Prophet Ibrahim instructed his son Ismail to become the guardian of the Ka'aba.
- Ismail continued the tradition until he died.
- The holy city of Mecca developed many years later, partly because of the water source that Allah provided because of Hajar's prayers.
- This story is re-enacted every year during the Hajj.
Prayer
- In the Qur'an, the Ka’aba is instructed to be the direction all Muslims face when they pray.
- Muslims do not worship the Ka’aba, or its contents, it is simply a focal point.
- Muslims worship the One God.
- Allah decreed that when Muslims pray they all face one direction. It is a sign of unity.
The Qur'an and the Ka'aba
- This is the Qur'an's instruction on the Ka'aba:
- “For every nation there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers). And from wheresoever you start forth (for prayers), turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Mecca), that is indeed the truth from your Lord. And God is not unaware of what you do.” (Quran 2:148-149).
Test yourself on Ibrahim & the Ka'aba
Where do Muslims face when they pray?