Humanity in Islamic World: The Kaba-Visual Art

Humanity in Islamic World

The Ma’ka

Visual Art

Fatima Behroz

14-March-2010

Visual art is the art made or created by human being that can be seen or touched for example The Ka’ba, Vegatal Pattern, Calligraphy, The Dome of the Rock etc.
90 ...the first house built for mankind, was in Mecca, to bless and guide all worlds (Quran Surah 3, Imran’s house)
[pic]
http://www.al-islam.org/gallery/photos/mecca.gif

The Ka’ba is an Arabic word, which means “The Cube”. This cube is an ancient stone, which was built and re-built as a house of worship for monotheists (those who believe in one God) by many Prophets. It is also know as The House of God. This cubic shrine is situated in the center of the magnificent mosque, The Makkah. Makkah is a city in western Saudi Arabia, a town in the Red Sea region of Hejaz, east of Jiddah. It is thought as the holiest city in Islamic world. It is also the birthplace of the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him). It is considered a point where all the Muslims worldwide are united. The Muslims at every corner of the world face it (called Qibla) five times a day during their prayer and also during the Hajj and Omra (minor Hajj). Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islamic faith that every capable Muslim is supposed to perform it at least once in their lifetime. When Muslims face the Ka’ba, they are not actually worshiping it instead they worship God. Ka’ba is a sanctuary and spiritual center.
The total size of Ka’ba is 627 square feet. The inside room of Ka’ba is empty and is 13* 9 meters. The four walls are one meter wide each. It is about 2.2 meters higher than its surroundings where people perform prayer. In terms of its height and width it is not much large comparing to other skyscrapers buildings but its history and significance is unique throughout the world (www.ciogc.org/Go.aspx?link=7654401).
The Ma’ka is the earliest and ancient house. I will argue that it is the only honorable and holy house throughout the world. In this essay I will focus on Kiswah, Qibla and Pilgrimage.

Allah says in Holy Quran that Ka’ba is the first place of worship for all mankinds on earth. Ka’ba is constructed many times by several prophets. The very first construction of it took place by Prophet Adam (A.S). When Prophet Adam and Eve were sent to earth from Paradise, they were separate from each other at last they got together after two hundred years at Jiddah. There the Prophet prayed to have a place for worship as a result God sent the Black stone and hence they built a shrine there. Then Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail (A.S) reconstructed it. Furthermore Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) constructed it. Prophet Mohammad rebuilt it before he became the prophet.

The black stone or the Hajr-al-Aswad is placed at the eastern corner of Ka’ba. It was placed here at the time of Adam and Eve. It is the stone from heaven. Originally it was white in color, but due to the sin on earth its color changed to black. Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) kissed it. The Muslims kiss and touch it while performing Hajj in the memory of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). It indicates the beginning of Tawaf (circulation around the Ka’ba).

(http://www.satellitesights.com/satelliteimage/Kaaba_Makkah_Saudi_Arabia). According to Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, book of Hajj, chapter 56, H.No. 675. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Prophet (pbuh) touching (and kissing) you, I would never have touched (and kissed) you". (http://www.islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=154&chapter=1)

Most importantly, Muslims from throughout the world turn to Ka’ba, while praying. It is called the Qibla for all the Monotheists. This proves the unity and faith of all the Muslims. In mosques Qibla is a shallow depth in the wall; this shallow depth or the niche is called the Mihrab. Mihrab is a sign by seeing it every one can understand that it is the Qibla and they should turn to that if they are praying. Mihrab varies in terms of shape and size. In most of the mosques they are decorated very marvelously. They are beautified with fabulous with three most famous Islamic visual arts, i.e. calligraphy, arabesque and vegetal patterns on them. The mihrab in all mosques faces the Ka’ba.

The first Qibla on the surface of the earth was the Al-Aqsa mosque at Jerusalem. Prophet Mohammad prayed for years facing that, but one day while he was praying Masjid Qiblatain, suddenly he received God’s message that he should turn his face to Ka’ba from Al-Aqsa mosque. From than every Muslim is obliged to face Ka’ba from any corner of the earth they are. Those who are inside the Ka’ba they can face any corner they want.

It is mentioned in Surah Baqarah:

"We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens: now shall We turn thee to a Qiblah that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque: wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction."
 [Al-Qur’an 2:144]

Ka’ba plays an important role in everyday’s life of every Muslim. In addition to that, the Muslims turn to Ka’ba while praying there are some other cermonial things too in which Ka’ba is involved. They are, while slaughtering of animals such as cow, sheep, goat etc on Eid or any other ceremony it has to be facing the Ka’ba. When a Muslim is dead, while burial his/her face should be turned towards it. Ka’ba is a symbol of unity and brotherhood among all Muslims throughout the world. Muslims from all over the world are united in this respect. Seeing this unification most of the non-Muslims also turn to Islam.

http://moonsighting.com/firstqibla.html

Secondly, Kiswah is the large black clothing covering the exterior of the Ka’ba. The Muslims Profession of faith and calligraphic verses of Holy Quran are embroidered on it with gold. Each year the kiswah is replaced with white covering (Ihram) which shows the similarity with the white ceremonial cloths the pilgrims wear during hajj. At the end of the Hajj, this kiswah is again replaced with a new one. The old one is cut into pieces and sold to pilgrims. This re-newel of kiswah started from the time of caliphate Umar. The main reason was that the vast accommodation of kiswah’s on Ka’ba could damage it.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/319484/kiswah

Each year the Kiswah is made and replaced. Special factories are designed particularly for this job. The approximate cost of it is SR 17 million. This cost covers the price of the special natural silk cloth dyed in black, about 120kgs of pure gold and 50kgs of silver. The gold and silver is used in writing the verses of Holy Quran on the cloth. The total area of the cloth is 658squ meter.

http://www.islamicboard.com/general/41515-making-process-kiswa-black-cloth-covering-kaaba.html

There are some narratives about the introduction and production of kiswah. Some narratives say that Kiswah was actually introduced in pre-islamic era by Ismail, while some say it was made by Adnan ibn ‘Ad, a great – grand father of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). But during the reign of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) the Muslims were not allowed by the Quraishi to drape the kiswah. Then after conquering the Ka’ba, the kiswah was replaced when a woman burned it accidently while she was fumigating it. Now a special factory is designed in Saudi Arabia for producing and manufacturing of Kiswah each year.
Furthermore, Pilgrimage is a journey done to Ka’ba by every Muslim once a year. It is an obligatory to all those Muslims who can afford it financially. This journey is called Hajj. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It takes place during the first 10 days of the twelfth month of Islamic year i.e. the lunar month. All the pilgrims at Hajj wear white cloth, which is called Ihram. The Ihram for men and women differs slightly. Men wear two pieces of unstitched cloth just for covering their waist and legs, while the women can wear stitched dress covering their hair, and whole body except the face, hands and feet. During the Hajj the pilgrims are not allowed to cut their hair and nails, fighting or arguing.

As well, the pilgrims are obliged to perform some rituals to complete their Hajj. First, they walk seven times anti clock wise around the Ka’ba also touch the black stone placed beside it. It is done in the memory of Prophet Ibrahim’s wife running in search of water for her son. Second, they stay a day at the Arafat where Prophet Mohammad delivered his last message. Third, they stay for a night at the Muzdalifah. Fourth, they through stones at the devil at three places, these places are where devil tried to persuade Ismail to go against his father, Prophet Ibrahim and God. Fifth, they sacrifice animals mainly goat or sheep. This reminds all the Muslims of the Prophet Ibrahim sacrificing his son but God replaced his son with a sheep. Sixth, they drink zamzam water. It is the water that God provided to Ismail and his mother when she was searching for water in the hot desert.

The Hajj proves that all Muslims from any corner of the world, of any ethnical group, any geographical group, any color is same and equal. No man and woman are better than any other in Islam. (http://www.al-bab.com/arab/background/hajj.htm)

In conclusion, Islam is the only religion that teaches of equality among all human beings regardless of their gender, race and ethnicity etc. Islam answers all the questions related to this whole universe and human being itself. And Ka’ba is the center or the Muslim world. Ka’ba is a shrine for all the Muslims worldwide. It is the center of the world’s map. The circulation of the Muslims around it shows the oneness of God and unity among Muslims. The first call for prayer was done by Bilal when he stood on Ka’ba and did the calling (http://www.islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=154&chapter=1). Its being the Qibla for whole Muslim world, the kiswah and the annually piligrimage in which hundreds of thousands of pilgrims attend proves its importance and significance among all other houses throughout the world. There is no other house in the whole world, which can be a symbol of unity and brotherhood. This house reminds us of our deeds helps us improve our deeds and activities.

Citated Refrences

Al-Qur’an 2:144

Al-Quran Surah 3

First Qiba Bait-ul-muqadas (http://moonsighting.com/firstqibla.html), accessed at 13 march

Figure (http://www.al-islam.org/gallery/photos/mecca.gif), accessed at 13 March 2010

Figure 1 (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/30/49261397_374f258785.jpg?v=0), accessed at 13 March 2010

Figure 2 (http://www.sacredsites.com/middle_east/saudi_arabia/images/the-kaba-02-500.jpg), accessed at 13 March 2010

Figure 3 (http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/al-Aqsa.jpg), accessed at 13 March 2010

Figure 4 (http://www.islamicboard.com/general/41515-making-process-kiswa-black-cloth-covering-kaaba.html), accessed at 13 March 2010

Figure 5 (http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/08/84808-050-9D8C8E1B.jpg). accessed at 13 March 2010

Figure 6 (http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/C/can_you_believe_it/images1/7wonders2.jpg), accessed at 13 March 2010

Kiswa (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/319484/kiswah) accessed at 19 March 2010

Kaba view http://www.satellitesights.com/satelliteimage/Kaaba_Makkah_Saudi_Arabia). access at 13 March 2010

Most Common Questions by non-Muslim ( (http://www.islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=154&chapter=1), accessed at 13 March 2010

The Hajj to Mecca (http://www.al-bab.com/arab/background/hajj.htm) accessed at 13 March 2010

The Making Process of Kiswa (http://www.islamicboard.com/general/41515-making-process-kiswa-black-cloth-covering-kaaba.html ), accessed at 10 March 2010

The Kaba: Its size and history (http://www.ciogc.org) , accessed at 10 March 2010).

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Figure 1 http://farm1.static.flickr.com/30/49261397_374f258785.jpg?v=0

Figure 2 http://www.sacredsites.com/middle_east/saudi_arabia/images/the-kaba-02-500.jpg

Figure 3 http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/al-Aqsa.jpg

Figure 4 http://www.islamicboard.com/general/41515-making-process-kiswa-black-cloth-covering-kaaba.html

Figure 5 http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/08/84808-050-9D8C8E1B.jpg

Figure 6 http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/C/can_you_believe_it/images1/7wonders2.jpg