TRAGEDY AT MECCA – A WAKE UP CALL FOR MUSLIMS
A series of tragedies rocked the recent Hajj Pilgrimage. More than a thousand pilgrims lost their lives during this most sacred occasion in Islam. Sadly, Muslims are taught to accept every single tragedy as the predetermined will of Allah. It is vital for Muslims to contemplate deeply on the root cause of the problems affecting their observation of the Hajj. But Muslims need to analyze this issue primarily from a spiritual perspective.
The purpose of this article is to earnestly facilitate the Muslims from becoming victims of a far more serious calamity regarding their faith. Even though you may find the beginning of this article unrelated to the recent tragedy at Mecca, it will become absolutely clear by the time you complete reading it. Your commitment to read through this article may be one of the most important undertakings in your life. This article may save you yet from a far greater catastrophe than the tragedy at Mecca. A catastrophe that you and every single Muslim will eventually encounter.
Muslims strongly believe that Muhammad was a descendant of Ishmael. However, it may surprise them to learn that this claim contradicts the Qur’an. Nowhere in the Qur’an does it say that Ishmael was the progenitor of the Arabs. Neither does the Qur’an claim that Ishmael was a forefather of Muhammad. The Qur’anic evidences go against any ties of lineage between Ishmael and the forefathers of Muhammad. Consider now the evidences from Islamic sources carefully.
The Qur’an repeatedly states that the forefathers of Muhammad never received any Scriptures of Allah before the time of Muhammad:
Surah 6:157: Or lest ye should say: If the Scripture had been revealed unto us, we surely had been better guided than are they. Now hath there come unto you a clear proof from your Lord, a guidance and a mercy. (Pickthall)
Surah 11:49: This narration is of the accounts of the Unseen that We reveal to you. Neither you nor your people knew them before this. So observe patience. Surely, it is the God-fearing with whom it ends well. (Tahir-ul-Qadri)
Surah 34:44: And We have not given them (Arabs) any Books (Scripture) which they read, nor did We send to them before you a Warner. (H. S. Aziz)
Surah 62:2: He it is who has sent a Messenger among those who had never before received a Scripture – to convey unto them His Messages. (Shabbir Ahmed)
And the Qur’an also testifies clearly that no Prophets or Messengers were sent to the Arabs before the time of Muhammad:
Surah 28:46-47: Nor were you present on the side of Mount Sinai when We called out to Moses. But you too have been sent as an act of grace from your Lord, to give warning to a people to whom no Warner has come before, so that they may take heed and may not say, if a disaster should befall them as a result of what they have done with their own hands, ‘Lord, if only You had sent us a messenger, we might have followed Your message and become believers.’ (Abdel Haleem)
Surah 32:3: Or do they say, “He (Muhammad) has invented it?” Nay! It is the truth from your Lord that you may warn a people to whom no Warner has come before you, that they may follow the right direction. (H. S. Aziz)
Surah 34:44: And We have not given them (Arabs) any Books (Scripture) which they read, nor did We send to them before you a Warner. (H. S. Aziz)
Surah 36:2-6: I call to witness the Qur’an, custodian of all laws, That you are indeed one of those sent on a path that is straight, A revelation from the mighty, ever-merciful God, That you may warn a people whose ancestors had never been warned, who are therefore heedless. (H. S. Aziz)
Yet, the Qur’an clearly states that Ishmael was given the Scriptures of Allah:
Surah 6:86-89: And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot… These are they unto whom We gave the Scripture and command and prophethood. (Pickthall)
Surah 4:163: We have sent revelations to you as We sent revelations to Noah and the prophets who came after him; and We sent revelations to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob, and their offspring, and to Jesus and Job, and to Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and to David We gave the Book of Psalms. (Ahmed Ali)
And the Qur’an also states that Ishmael was a Prophet of Allah:
Surah 19:54: And remember Ishmael in the Book. Truly, he had been one who is sincere in his promise, and he had been a Messenger, a Prophet. (Laleh Bakhtiar)
How are we to reconcile the Qur’anic verses which state that no Scriptures were given to the Arabic ancestors of Muhammad with the claim in the Qur’an that Prophet Ishmael was given the Scriptures? This is only possible if Prophet Ishmael was not an ancestor of Muhammad. And how are we going to reconcile the Qur’anic verses which state that no Prophets were sent to the Arabic ancestors of Muhammad with the claim in the Qur’an that Ishmael was a Prophet? Again, this is only possible if Prophet Ishmael was not an ancestor of Muhammad. If Muhammad’s forefathers were really descendants of Prophet Ishmael, then it would be an error for the Qur’an to state implicitly that no Prophets were sent to the forefathers of Muhammad who were Arabs. In the Bible, Prophet Abraham is clearly identified as a Hebrew:
Genesis 14:13: After that a man who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew.
Abraham was known as Abram until God changed his name to Abraham. (Genesis 17:5) Since Ishmael was the first-born son of Abraham, he simply cannot be someone other than a Hebrew like his father. Muhammad has to be a Hebrew in order for Muslims to claim he was a descendent of Ishmael. Muslims who challenge this fact will be proving the Qur’an wrong.
The Qur’an refers to the Arabs as the “wandering Arabs” (Surah 33:20) indicating their nomadic lifestyle. And the Qur’an distinctively identifies them as “Quraish” (Surah 106:1). But the Arabs were never identified, even once, as the “Children of Ishmael” or as the “Children of Abraham.” In fact, it is the style of the Qur’an to draw clear connections of lineage, if at all there exists one. You will surprised how many times the term “Children of Israel” (Arabic: Bani Israel) is mentioned in the Qur’an. However, there is no “Bani Ishmael” in the Qur’an with reference to the Arabs. This is truly an important observation which Muslims must not fail to take into consideration.
The Qur’an also states that Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael built the sacred House of Allah:
Surah 2:127: As Abraham and Ishmael built up the foundations of the House they prayed, ‘Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the All Hearing, the All Knowing. (Abdel Haleem)
It is important to note that the original Arabic verse in the Qur’an does not state the geographical location of the “House” that Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael supposedly built. Modern translators add the term “Mecca” or “Ka’ba” in parenthesis to allege it was built in Mecca. However, these words do not appear in the original Arabic. Even if Muslims were to insist that the “House” which was built by Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael is truly sited in Mecca, then this assumption only multiplies the error of the Qur’an. How could Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael build the “House” in Mecca when the Qur’an clearly admits that no Prophets were sent to the Arabs before the time of Muhammad? Ironically, the Christian position that Abraham and Ishmael could not have set foot in Mecca is both supported and at the same time denied in the Qur’an. As such, the Qur’an is inaccurate in at least one instance. The Word of God cannot be partially correct. It has to be either all or nothing.
But the problem for Islam does not stop here. Since numerous Qur’anic verses attest to the fact that the Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael were not sent to Arabia, then this simply means that they could not have built the Ka’ba. The Qur’an’s admission that no Prophets of the true God were sent to the Arabs proves that the Ka’ba could not have been built by the worshippers of the true God. As such, only the local Arab pagans could have laid the foundation of the Ka’ba. That the Ka’ba was indeed a pagan shrine before the coming of Islam is recognized in numerous authentic sources of Islam itself.
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number 658:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Masud: The Prophet entered Mecca and (at that time) there were three hundred-and-sixty idols around the Ka’ba. He started stabbing the idols with a stick he had in his hand and reciting: “Truth (Islam) has come and Falsehood (disbelief) has vanished.”
When Muhammad conquered Mecca, he destroyed all the idols of the Ka’ba with the exception of the preeminent idol – the Black Stone. The Ka’ba which is known as “Baitullah” in Arabic means “House of Allah.” Muslims will do well to ask themselves the following thought provoking questions:
- How did the House of Allah become a Pagan Temple housing 360 idols?
- How can a House of God develop into a Temple of Pagan Idols?
- Exactly when did this change take place?
- How did the most sacred place for the Worship of Allah become a place for the Worship of Idols?
- How is it possible for this corruption take place?
- Why was Allah powerless to prevent the demonizing of his most sacred shrine here on earth?
- What theological reason is there for Allah to permit his original House of Worship to become a Pagan Temple?
The late Dr. Taha Husayn, a prominent professor of Arabic literature in Egypt, recognized that the information recorded in the Qur’an pertaining to the construction of Ka’ba at the hands of Abraham and Ishmael is not historically established. And he stated the following:
“The case of this episode is very obvious because it is of recent date and came into vogue just before the rise of Islam. Islam exploited it for religious reasons” (Quoted in Mizan al-Islam by Anwar al-Jundi, p. 170).
THE PAGAN BLACK STONE
As we have noted, Muhammad destroyed the rest of the idols at the conquest of Mecca but left the preeminent idol of the Ka’ba untouched. Why? It was simply due to his deep-rooted reverence brought on by years of submission to the pagan practice of stone worship. He not only left the Black Stone safe and sound to represent Islam but he was also emotionally attached to it.
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 26, Number 675:
Narrated by Zaid bin Aslam: From his father who said: “Umar bin Al-Khattab addressed the Corner (Black Stone) saying, ‘By Allah! I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Prophet touching and kissing you, I would never have touched and kissed you.’ Then he kissed it.”
Thus, the single most important reason for kissing the Black Stone in Islam is that Muhammad did it. The Black Stone that was sacred to the pagans became sacred to the Muslims. And today Muslims revere it. The kiss that the pious Muslim pilgrims bestow on the Black Stone is a survival of an age old pagan practice, which was common in ancient Arabia. The Black Stone which was venerated by the Arab pagans became the focus of the Muslim pilgrimage. The Black Stone which had been an object of worship for centuries before the time of Muhammad became the central shrine of Islam. Muslims today touch and kiss the Black Stone during the Hajj.
In his book, “The Life of Muhammad,” the Egyptian writer, Muhammad Husayn Haykal, who relies heavily on the scholarly works of Ibn Hisham, admitted to the following facts:
In fact, the Arabs venerated these stones so much that not only did they worship the black stone in the Ka’bah, but also they would take one of the stones of the Ka’bah as a holy object in their travels, praying to it and asking it to bless every move they made. (p. 30)
Here is another admission by Muslim scholars that the Black Stone was venerated by the Pagans before the coming of Islam. The fact that many of the rituals performed during the Hajj are connected to pagan worship shows that Islam was conceived in idolatry. Such practices are consistent with pre-Islamic pagan rituals involving the Ka’ba. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would never send a Black Stone to entice his followers to commit idolatry. If God forbids even the bowing towards the glorious sun that he himself had created, do you think he will command his worshippers to bow towards a dead Black Stone? While Christians can clearly see this as absolute idolatry, Islam is blind to this abomination. The Holy Bible clearly states:
Deuteronomy 4:19: “You must not raise your eyes to the heavens and indeed see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the army of the heavens, and actually get seduced and bow down to them.”
Though Muslims deny that the Black Stone is an idol and insist that their prayers are actually directed towards Allah alone, in actual practice, the Black Stone is treated with the same reverence that the Pagans show to their idols. Islam’s denial of its idolatrous worship of the Black Stone can be likened to that of a man who pleads innocence for his adulterous act by saying that he was only thinking of his wife while performing the illicit sexual act. The justification for the veneration of a dead stone – especially to the extent of bowing down and kissing it – can only be identified with a primitive pagan idolatry practice than with the true spirit of monotheistic worship.
Additionally, Muhammad taught that the Black Stone will testify favorably on the “Day Of Judgment” in behalf of those who touched or kissed it. Islam also teaches that the sins those who touch or kiss the Black Stone would be forgiven on Judgment Day.
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 961; Ibn Maajah, 2944:
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said concerning the Stone: “By Allah, Allah will bring it forth on the Day of Resurrection, and it will have two eyes with which it will see and a tongue with which it will speak, and it will testify in favour of those who touched it in sincerity.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 959:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:
“Touching them both (the Black Stone and al-Rukn al-Yamani) is an expiation for sins.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 877; Ahmad, 2792:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“When the Black Stone came down from Paradise, it was whiter than milk, but the sins of the sons of Adam made it black.”
Thus, it is dishonest for Muslims to say that the Black Stone is just a focal point for them to direct their prayers for the sake of unity. In reality, it means much more than Muslims are willing to admit. Is it not idolatrous to believe that sins can be forgiven by touching and kissing a mere stone? While Muslims strongly reject the atoning value of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, yet these very same Muslims are willing to believe that a dead stone can achieve the very objective that they deny Jesus could accomplish.
All Muslims are required to bow towards the Black Stone everyday, whenever they pray. They are forbidden to face any other object or direction. For Muslims to face any other direction would be a violation of the commandment of Allah. Allah’s commandment clearly states:
Surah 2:144: “Turn then Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque: Wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction.”
Thus, according to the teachings of the Qur’an, Muslims cannot pray to Allah without facing the Black Stone. When a Muslim makes the Hajj, or runs between the hills, or bestows a kiss on the Black Stone, he is performing the rituals of the pagans – rituals that are deeply rooted in pagan superstition. And Muhammad sanctioned and incorporated these pagan practices into Islam. Thus, the poison remains the same, only the labels are deceitfully changed by Allah and Muhammad. Accordingly, paganism became an integral part of Islam. Consider now the following additional evidence:
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 23:
Narrated By ‘Asim bin Sulaiman: I asked Anas bin Malik about Safa and Marwa (i.e. two mountains at Mecca). Anas replied, “We used to consider (i.e. going around) them a custom of the Pre-Islamic period of Ignorance, so when Islam came, we gave up going around them. Then Allah revealed, ‘Verily, Safa and Marwa (i.e. two mountains at Mecca) are among the Symbols of Allah. So it is not harmful of those who perform the Hajj of the House of Allah or perform the Umra to ambulate (Tawaf) between them.’” (Surah 2:158) [End of Quote]
Surah 2:158: “Lo! (the mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the indications of Allah. It is therefore no sin for him who is on pilgrimage to the House (of Allah) or visiteth it, to go around them (as the pagan custom is).” (Pickthall)
How can the very same two mountains that were sacred to the Pagans suddenly become the “Symbols of Allah” after the Muslim conquest of Mecca? Moreover, how is it that the very same pagan ritual of running between the two hills is also retained in Islam? Islam is the only religion where after kissing a stone, its devotees pick up stones to stone a stone representing the Devil.
There are far too many similarities between Islam and paganism for sincere Muslims to ignore. Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would never incorporate the pagan practices of the nations into his divine arrangement for pure worship. He would never permit the pagan practices of the nations to become an integral part of the sacred services of his worshippers:
2 Corinthians 6:14-17: Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness. Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God. Just as God said: “I shall reside among them and walk among them, and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.” “Therefore get out from among them and separate yourselves. Quit touching the unclean thing and I will take you in,” says Jehovah.
Centuries before the arrival of Islam, Jehovah God lovingly warned the Israelites of a devious snare of Satan which Islam failed to see. Regarding this subtle snare of Satan, the Holy Bible strongly warned the descendants of Abraham to shun the evil practice of idolatry in its various forms:
Leviticus 26:1: “Do not make for yourselves worthless idols. You must not erect for yourselves a carved statue or a sacred pillar and you must not put a stone as a sacred showpiece in your land to bow down toward it. I am Jehovah your God.”
Can any warning be clearer than this? Either it is acceptable to bow towards a stone or it is not. Both cannot be true. This is a very serious matter because it demonstrates that either Allah or Jehovah is the true God. Not both! The eternal salvation of every single Muslim lies in the hands of only one of them.
Think very carefully! Will the true God encourage his worshippers to continue in the same sin of idolatry of the pagans? Avoiding the pagan rituals of the Hajj is an important first step towards the direction of true worship. Taking this decisive step will certainly save you from the tragedies of the Hajj – both physically and spiritually. However, leaving falsehood is only part of the solution. For a full recovery, falsehood should be replaced with true worship. That is why it is important not only to shun idolatry:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11: Do you not know that unrighteous people will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Do not be misled. Those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom.
But also to earnestly search for the true God:
Isaiah 55:6: Search for Jehovah while he may be found. Call to him while he is near.
For more information on the pagan origin of the Ka’ba, please click to read the following article: THE PAGAN ROOTS OF IDOLATRY IN ISLAM
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