Pilgrims who circumambulate the house of Allah enter a mosque in which the Ka’ba is located. They must begin circumambulating the Ka’ba from the same spot all monotheists throughout history agreed upon.
Prophet Adam (PBUH), father of mankind, (2) learned the rituals of Hajj with the help of Gabriel, and experienced such blessing by going around the Ka’ba seven times.
Prophet Seth (PBUH) performed the rituals of Hajj and experienced the worship his grandfather Adam (PBUH) had experienced. It has been recorded that seventy five of the prophets have circumambulated the Ka’ba and performed Hajj. Among them, the story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (PBUH) and Prophet Hud (PBUH) is especially worth mentioning.
As for Prophet Hud, he invited the people of ‘Aad to worshipping the One God. They however, rejected his invitations and were satisfied with mocking and ignoring his advices. As a result, Allah (SWT) deprived them of rain for three years. Finally the people of ‘Aad decided to send some of their members to the Ka’ba and ask Allah (SWT) to flourish them with rain. Those people performed the rituals of Hajj and circumambulated around the Ka’ba for 40 days…
Yet, when it comes to the topic of Hajj the story of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) outstands all others. He transformed Mecca from a forgotten land to a habitable and holy land. Mecca was neither fertile nor habitable, but due to the presence of the Ka’ba, it had to be glorified.
Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) is highly respected by Jews, Christians and Muslims. Because all prophets after him (PBUH) were his descendants, he is referred to as Ab al-‘Anbiaa’, father of the prophets. Despite many threatens facing his life, he remained steadfast in his struggle to invite people to the one Lord.
The people of Babel used to worship various idols; in fact each city had its own Lord. Yet, the people officially respected and worshipped the Great Deity, and the number of idols was gradually decreasing.
Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) however, though was also living in the same community believed there is only One Lord. According to his wisdom he believed that the source of power which governs the universe is unique and cannot have any partner. Thus, he decided to free people of superstitions and polytheism, and to purify their minds from false beliefs. Allah (SWT) provided Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) with guiding inspirations, and gave him the responsibility of warning and helping people from the darkness of polytheism.
Many verses of the Holy Quran explain how Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) fought polytheism and spread monotheistic thoughts despite the many harms he faced such as being thrown in a huge pile of fire with Catapult. Indeed, he was a brave and perfect preacher of Monotheism.
Finally, Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) had to pass different lands to reach Mecca and establish the universal basics of Monotheism. After succeeding through several stages in life, Allah (SWT) ordered Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) to reconstruct the Ka’ba with the intent of making it the first house for the purpose of worshipping the One God.
Hence, the Hajj pilgrims circumambulate around this house; a house which the angels and many of the Prophets would visit. They remind us of the unity of Allah (SWT), the One except whom no one deserves such worship …
(Selection taken from “In the Presence of Ka’ba”, by Sayyed Muhammad Baqir Hujjati)
Congratulations to all Muslims upon the arrival of the auspicious festival of Hajj.
Footnotes:
1- Ka’ba is the cubic house in Mecca, built by Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) and his son, Isma’ill (Ishmael) (PBUH) more than 3000 years ago in Mecca, towards which all Muslims face for their Salat and circumambulate for performing Hajj rituals.
2- Adam (PBUH) was the first man and the first Prophet of Allah.