"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."
Question 3: Do we Muslims worship Kaaba and the black stone?
Why do the Muslims worship, and bow down to the Kaaba in their prayer?
Kaaba is the Qibla i.e. the direction Muslims face during their prayers. It is important to note that though Muslims face the Kaaba during prayers, they do not worship the Kaaba. Muslims worship and bow to none but Allah .
It is mentioned in Surah Baqarah:
[Quran 2:144]
1. Islam believes in fostering unity For instance, if Muslims want to offer Salah (Prayer), it is possible that some may wish to face north, while some may wish to face south. In order to unite Muslims in their worship of the One True God, Muslims, wherever they may be, are asked to face in only one direction i.e. towards the Kaaba. If some Muslims live towards the west of the Kaaba they face the east. Similarly if they live towards the east of the Kaaba they face the west.
2. Kaaba is at the centre of the world map. The Muslims were the first people to draw the map of the world. They drew the map with the south facing upwards and north downwards. The Kaaba was at the centre. Later, western cartographers drew the map upside down with the north facing upwards and south downwards. Yet, Alhamdulillah the Kaaba is at the centre of the world map.
3. Tawaf around Kaaba for indicating one God When the Muslims go to Masjid-e-Haram in Makkah, they perform tawaf or circumambulation round the Kaaba. This act symbolises the belief and worship of One God, since, just as every circle has one centre, so also there is only one Allah [swt] worthy of worship.
4. Hadith of Umar Bin Khitab (RA) Regarding the black stone, hajr-e-aswad According to Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, book of Hajj, chapter 56, Hadith No. 675.
Umar Bin Khitab (RA) said
"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".
5. People stood on the Kaaba and gave Adhan At the time of the Prophet , people even stood on the Kaaba and gave the 'adhaan' or the call to prayer. One may ask those who allege that Muslims worship the Kaaba; which idol worshipper stands on the idol he worships?
2_ The black stone and the Kaaba in the Bible
Even the black stone is mentioned in the Bible:
A.
"These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." (congregational prayer as Muslims do today)
Isaiah 56:7
B. " I will come into your house and worship in a group (congregationally which only Muslims do)". Psalm 5:7.
C. `` It is written that my house shall be the house of prayer (Jesus is referring to Isaiah 56:7)". Matthew 21:12-13.
BLACK STONE IN THE BIBLE.
A. Jacob set a stone (black stone) and called it HOUSE OF GOD. (Genesis 28:10-22).
B. God reminded Jacob about the black stone he set to be God's house (Genesis 35:1-3).
Jesus confirmed the Black stone in the book of Matthew 21:42-43. There are many places where the black stone was set as a house of God before the advent of Muhammad,and the Kaaba at Makkah is also mentioned in the Christian Bible but Christians were made to be Paul's followers , they accept nothing except what their masters say.
3_Makkah in the Bible
Baca is Makkah
The Holy Ka'bah, which was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, is in Makkah. This name Makkah has been mentioned once in the Quran in Surah 48:24. Another name for Makkah is Bakkah, depending on the dialect of the tribe. This also has been mentioned once, in Surah 3:96: "Verily, the first House [of worship] appointed for mankind was that in Bakkah [Makkah], full of blessing, and guidance for all people." Amazing enough, this word Bakkah was mentioned by Prophet David in his Psalm 84:6: "Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well, the rain also filleth the pools."4 The well here is the well-known well of Zamzam, which is still present today and is located close to the Ka'bah.
Baca in the bible : Psalm 84
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
They are always praising you.
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
The autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[e] O God;
look with favour on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God. then dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Where is this house of God in the valley of Baca ?? Which people travelled to go there and pray To God ? they who dwell in the house: they will be still praising thee. Selah If you search about Baca city .. It is the other name of( Macca ) in Saudi Arabia ... And the house of God there, that every muslim should visit is the( kapa ) the first house of God on earth.
4_The Well of Zamzam in the Bible.
_The bible talks prophet Abraham's wife Sarah, and about zam zam water:-
In the book of Genesis 16:7 it says, after mentioning the story of Ibraaheem (Abraham) going in unto Haajar (Hagar) and her becoming pregnant, then Sarai’s [Sarah’s] complaint to Ibraaheem about her:
"And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain [spring] of water in the wilderness, by the fountain [spring] on the way to the Hijaz (Shur)."
"And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, "I fled from the face of my mistress Sarai."
"And she called the name of the Lord that spoke unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?"
"Wherefore the well was called Beer lahai roi (Well of the Living One Who sees me); behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered."
See how the name of the Hijaz is mentioned, and Hajar’s departure to that place, after which the blessing of the “Well of the Living One Who sees me” is bestowed by Allah, may He be glorified and exalted; this is the Well of Zamzam.