Ka'aba
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The Ka'aba is a stone building in the city of Mecca. It appears a number of times in the religious history of the Middle East, and therefore of the world. It is the focal point of all Muslim prayer, and is the place where the Báb declared to the faithful that He was the Promised One. The word Ka'aba means "cube", and is variously transliterated into English (Kaba, Kaaba, etc.). It is possible to go inside the building, except during the period of the Hajj (pilgrimage). Entrance is by way of a door at one corner.
In the time of Abraham[edit]
Abraham (Ibrahim) was wandering in the desert with His extended family. He organised the building of the cube so that there would be a permanent place of worship for the permanent God. It could be speculated that as many of the peoples of Arabia were nomadic or semi-nomadic, little in their lives was permanent. The size and durability of this stone building would therefore have made an impact upon them. Abraham positioned a black stone (known in English as "The Black Stone" (!) ) at a convenient height at one corner of the building. It has now been ascertained through scientific analysis that this stone is a meteorite.
In the time of Muhammad[edit]
By the time of Muhammad, the Ka'aba and its surrounds had become the resting place of many statues (idols), representing a whole pantheon of gods. Although some Arabs were still monotheists, most participated in the various rituals associated with the various gods, and there was much cheating of pilgrims, etc. The Ka'aba, therefore, was still central to the religious life of that part of the world, even though its actual use had been changed!
Because of the age of the building, maintenance work is occasionally required, and one such renovation was undertaken while Muhammad was a young man, and before He was called to Prophethood. The black stone (see above) was removed to a safe place, and the renovation work undertaken over a period of time. Once the work had been completed, an intense competition took place between the four leading tribes within the town, over whose representative should replace the stone, the act suddenly taking on a great symbolic importance! After several days of impasse, one old gentleman suggested that they simply choose one person at random to replace the stone. When asked how they would choose someone in a truly neutral way, the old man suggested that the first person through a nearby arch would be asked to replace the stone. Once they had all agreed to this plan, they watched the arch, and the first person through the arch was none other than Muhammad! Although not exactly famous at this point, He was well-known and well-respected in the town, because of His honesty and trustworthiness. In fact, His nickname was Al-Amin (the Trusted One) and He was frequently given property to care for while the owners went on business trips. The representatives of the four main tribes were very relieved that it was someone uncontroversial yet generally liked. They explained the plan to Muhammad, who then laid His cloak on the ground. He then called for one person from each tribe to hold the corners and in a symbolic sense the four tribes together carried the stone to its proper resting place. Once there, Muhammad, on behalf of the entire town, lifted the stone from the cloak and into its niche.
After Muhammad's own revelation, He used to pray at the Ka'aba, despite having now become the object of derision - being pelted with earth and rocks and suffering other indignities during His prayers. Then followed the period in which Muhammad was resident in Yathrib (now Medina). He used to lead the believers in public prayer facing towards Jerusalem, not the Ka'aba. This put Muslim worship (at the time) alongside that of the Jews, who also had a small community in the town. However, at a certain point in the development of the community, He changed the direction of prayer, and now faced the Ka'aba, and this has remained the Qiblih for Muslims ever since. When Muhammad eventually led the Muslims and their supporters into Mecca, His first instruction to them was to destroy the idols. Those who made their living from the worship of these idols were fearful, but the actual result was that Mecca increased in importance, as the new religion spread.
During the last few years of His life, Muhammad led the believers on an annual pilgrimage, in which the Ka'aba is a central focus. For approximately one fifth of humanity, then, the building is the central point of worship.
In the time of the Báb[edit]

Once the number of the Letters of the Living was complete, the Báb announced that He, in the company of Quddus, would make His pilgrimage to Mecca. Once there, and during one of the circumambulations of the Ka'aba, He suddenly appeared at its door, firmly grasped its knocker, and announced to the world that He was the Promised One. This sudden, and loud, pronouncement led to a subdued hush, most people coming to a standstill. The multitude soon, however, resumed its prescribed ambulation of the Ka'aba.
The Báb also used this visit to make an official pronouncement of His Message and Station to the Sharif of Mecca. As the Caliphate had never been formally instituted by Muhammad, and had anyway been usurped by the Ottoman emperors, the Báb presumably regarded the man with the custodianship of the Ka'aba as being the foremost representative of Islám as a religious body. He sent Quddus to deliver to the Sharif a long letter, which the Sharif apparently read after the departure of the Báb, who left en route to Kufa. There is a historical footnote to the effect that, having later read the Báb's epistle, and hearing of His execution, the Sharif was somewhat uncomplimentary about the Iranian clergy responsible for His death.