Abolishing polytheism and idol worship is an ideology that makes up the backbone of Islam. Idols are objects highly criticized in Islam and assuming any form or shape for the Almighty is strictly forbidden. But an objection is often raised concerning the most central object of sacredness in Islam: The Holy Kaaba.
Muslims circumambulate the Kaaba, and all five daily prayers are performed facing the Kaaba wherever in the world you reside, thus Kaaba is the Qibla of all Muslims (direction of worship).
It is often asked if this is yet another form of idol worship? Because on the face of it, it does seem like idol worship. Except that the idol in this case happens to be a black cube.
The Problem:
We imagine the Kaaba to be an object and this is where the misunderstanding lies. If you can answer these few questions then you will get the point I’m trying to make.
1. If the current Kaaba is somehow lifted and placed in a different spot, would that spot become the new qibla?
2. If the structure of Kaaba is entirely destroyed, will the qibla cease to exist? And will the qibla be halted till the rebuilding of Kaaba?
3. If God forbid, Kaaba is demolished and a new structure is built in the place of Kaaba, or if hills or forests replace it… Will the qibla cease to exist?
4. If we make a replica of Kaaba in a different place, will the replica become the new qibla?
The answers to all the above questions are negative, whereas if the same questions are asked regarding idols the answers would be positive.
Therefore:
It can be understood that the Kaaba is not an object but it is a spatial position towards which Muslims face. It is a point of a certain latitude and longitude, not an object in front of which we bow and worship. Thus, as far as worship is concerned Kaaba provides a spatial direction to all Muslims which creates a centrality and unity, that is why Kaaba’s similitude is that of a focal point… A point that marks and identifies the centre. This cannot be called idol worship.
On the other hand, Kaaba is one of the signs or shi`aar of Allah in Islam and that is why it is considered sacred and demands respect. The Kaaba has a long history attached to it. It is a memoir of many prophets and has been a place of worship since ancient times, in this regard it is sacred in Islam.
Although, one can question the worship based on this sacredness, yet all those forms of worship do not regard the Kaaba itself as a deity or even as a means of closeness to God. What is considered as the means of closeness to God is the act of worship itself which is for the sake of Allah alone.
Interesting
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