Kaaba
Last updated
Last updated
TLDR: Sunnis have added the name of Muhammad next to God's at the door of the Kaaba as well as inside the Kaaba.
[3:79] Never would a human being whom GOD blessed with the scripture and prophethood say to the people, “Idolize me beside GOD.” Instead, (he would say), “Devote yourselves absolutely to your Lord alone,” according to the scripture you preach and the teachings you learn.
مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا۟ عِبَادًا لِّى مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِن كُونُوا۟ رَبَّـٰنِيِّـۧنَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ
When the Prophet Muhammad received the revelation of the Quran, he was unequivocally commanded to dedicate the religion solely to God alone.
[6:162] Say, “My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to GOD alone, the Lord of the universe.
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
This directive became the cornerstone of his mission, driving him to spend the remainder of his life striving against Arab society’s idol-worshiping traditions. His relentless efforts were focused on eradicating the idolatry that had deeply infiltrated his community. By this, he was commanded to follow the religion of Abraham (milat Ibrahim) and his adherence to strict monotheism.
[16:123] Then we inspired you (Muhammad) to follow the religion of Abraham, the monotheist; he never was an idol worshiper.
ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ ٱتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
To fulfill this mission, he was commissioned to purify the Shrine, Kaaba, in Mecca.
[2:125] We have rendered the shrine (the Ka’aba) a focal point for the people, and a safe sanctuary. You may use Abraham’s shrine as a prayer house. We commissioned Abraham and Ismail: “You shall purify My house for those who visit, those who live there, and those who bow and prostrate.”
وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا ٱلْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَٱتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْعَـٰكِفِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ
[22:26] We appointed Abraham to establish the Shrine: “You shall not idolize any other god beside Me, and purify My shrine for those who visit it, those who live near it, and those who bow and prostrate.
وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَكَانَ ٱلْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِى شَيْـًٔا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْقَآئِمِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ
It is unthinkable that after dedicating his life to removing the names of all other entities from the Kaaba, Muhammad would have commanded or even allowed his own name to be placed there instead. Yet, this is precisely what we find today at the Kaaba.
Let's start with the outer garment that is placed on the Kaaba. Interestingly, we see the names of God and Muhammad along the periphery.
If we look at the engraving on the door of the Kaaba, we see that they have the name of God’s servant right next to the name of God. Same size, same shape, same distance from the ground.
[4:36] You shall worship GOD alone—do not associate anything with Him. You shall regard the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the poor, the related neighbor, the unrelated neighbor, the close associate, the traveling alien, and your servants. GOD does not like the arrogant show-offs.
وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا
Below are images of the inside of the Kaaba. I want to point your attention towards the golden door, known as the bāb al-tawbah (باب التوبة, literally meaning the “Door of Repentance”), located to the right of the main entrance in the north-eastern corner of the Kaaba, opens to an enclosed staircase that leads to a hatch, which itself opens to the roof. To the left of the door, a plaque notes the repairs made during the era of al-Malik Khalid bin ‘Abdulaziz al-Saud in the year 1978 CE.
If we look at the inscription of this door, we see again that the prophet’s name is included next to God’s in the Sacred House of God.
Also, if we look at the plaque next to bāb al-tawbah, we see the following inscription that refers to the prophet as “our master Muhammad” ( سيدنا محمد ) “Sayyidna Muhammad.”
Some may claim this is just a bad translation, but we can even look at Sunni sources and see how they understand this expression. For example, look up the many books with this as part of their title, “Our Master Muhammad (pbuh) The Messenger Of Allah – His Sublime Character & Exalted Attributes.“
[39:45] When GOD ALONE is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion. But when others are mentioned beside Him, they become satisfied.
وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ ٱشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
