An aerial view of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah.

History informs us about what happened during specific points in the past as well as events that have taken place over time and gives us information related to this. Such information may be true or false, and every Muslim is obliged to seek the truth and confirm any information he hears so that he may ascertain what is correct from what is fabricated. Moreover, every Muslim should refer to reliable sources in order to obtain definite, authentic and verifiable information.

Makkah is the Sacred City as well as the holiest and the absolutely most honourable place on earth. The most truthful sources from which one can take news about its history are the Noble Qur’an and the authentic prophetic narrations in this regard, and from these we can ascertain its ancient history as well as how it was prior the message and prophethood of Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.

After the advent of Islam, Muslim scholars and historians have endeavoured to record chronicles of Makkah in general history books as well as books concerned with the biographies of the Muslim scholars who lived in it. Some scholars authored books that dealt primarily with its history and the areas surrounding it, one of the most famous being Chronicles of Makkah and its Ancient Monuments authored by Abu al-Waleed al-Azraqi, may Allah have mercy upon him, from the third century AH. Another book was Chronicles of Makkah in Ancient and Contemporary Times authored by Al-Faakihi, may Allah have mercy upon him, who also lived during the third century AH, and his book was larger than that written by al-Azraqi, but the initial parts of his book were lost over time.

Thereafter, chronicling the affairs and events of Makkah ceased for a period of almost four centuries. It was thereafter resumed and one of the scholars who is considered to be the most prolific author regarding it and its history was Imaam Taqiyyud-Deen al-Faasi al-Makki, may Allah have mercy upon him (775-832 AH). In his book entitled The Therapy for those who Harbour Affection for the History of the Sacred City, Imaam Taqiyyud-Deen expressed his amazement at the fact that chronicling the history of Makkah had halted after al-Azraqi and al-Faakihi.

This incited him to write many publications on the history of Makkah. One of the largest books he authored was The Treasured Necklace on the History of the Secure City which consisted of eight volumes. Next in size came The Therapy for those who Harbour Affection for the History of the Sacred City consisting of two volumes, which he later summarised in books such as The Gift for the Honourable on the History of the Sacred City and others.

Thereafter, many scholars and schools of history arose which contributed to the writing of the history and chronicles of Makkah such as, Aal Fahd and Aal At-Tabari, and this has continued ever since, to include the contemporary.

 

The establishment of Makkah:

The history and building of Makkah is directly connected to Prophet Ibraaheem (Abraham), may Allah exalt his mention, as he was the first person to settle his family in it when he left his wife Haajar and his son Ismaa’eel (Ishmael), may Allah exalt his mention, there in compliance with the command of Allah for him to do so.

Imaam Al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy upon him, reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, in the long narration in which the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam informed us that Ibraaheem once came with Haajar and Ismaa’eel, who was still a suckling infant, from ancient Syria to Makkah. At that time, Makkah had no water and nobody residing there. Ibraaheem took them both under the shade of a tree and left with them a bag of dates and a flask of water, then headed back to ancient Syria.

As he was leaving, his wife Haajar called to him, saying: “Where are you going? How can you leave us in this deserted valley that has neither humans nor anything else (in terms of life)?” She repeated this a few times but he did not reply, so she asked: “Did Allah command you to do this?” Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, replied: “Yes” Thereupon she said: “Then He shall never forsake us”.

Ibraaheem walked for a while and then stood upon a small hill, raised his hands in supplication, and said, as Allah informs us saying (what means): “Our Lord! I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your Sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.” [Qur’an 14:37]

Allah blessed Haajar and her son with the well of Zamzam, and then people came from all directions and resided in Makkah. The first tribe to reside there was the tribe of Jurhum among whom Ismaa’eel grew up and from whom he married.

Ibraaheem came many times to Makkah to check upon their condition, and later Allah commanded him to build the Ka’aba; Allah says (what means): “And [mention] when Ibraaheem (Abraham) was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ismaa’eel (Ishmael), [saying]: ‘Our Lord! Accept [this] from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.’” [Qur’an 2:127]

Allah also says (what means): “And [O Muhammad], when We designated for Ibraaheem (Abraham) the site of the House, [saying] “Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf (circumambulation of the Ka’aba) and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.” [Qur’an 22:26]

Ibn Katheer, may Allah have mercy upon him, said commenting upon this verse in his famous book of history entitled The Beginning and the End in Volume 1, page 135: “There is no authentic report from the infallible (i.e. Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) informing us that the House (the Ka’aba) was built before Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, and whoever states that, relying upon this verse (for evidence of that), has no basis for such a claim because what is meant by the verse is that he was simply being informed of where the House was to be built.”

In Volume 2 page 227 of the same book, he said: “The verses of the Qur’an clearly indicate that Ibraaheem was the first person to build it.”

Abu Tharr, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: “I asked the messenger of Allah: ‘O messenger of Allah! Which mosque was the first built on earth?’ He replied: “The Sacred Mosque (in Makkah)”. “I then asked: ‘Which mosque was built next?’ He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “The Aqsaa mosque (in Jerusalem).” “Thereupon, I asked: ‘What was the period between the building of the two mosques?’ He replied: “Forty years.” [Al-Bukhari]

These reports clearly highlight the virtue of Prophet Ibraaheem and confirm that he was the one who built the two mosques, and that the period between the two was 40 years.

Therefore, it becomes evident that the first thing to be established in Makkah was the Sacred Mosque (i.e. the Ka’aba), and that the first water to gush forth from it was Zamzam.

Thereafter, the offspring of Ismaa’eel multiplied in the area of Hijaaz (the province in which Makkah lies) and its surroundings, and their families succeeded each other in caring for the Sacred House and maintaining it for a long period of time, until the tribe of Khuzaa’ah took over this responsibility. People remained upon the monotheism with which Prophet Ibraaheem came until the time when, ‘Amr bin Lahy al-Khuzaa’i introduced idol worshipping in the Ka’aba.

The number of idols then increased in the Ka’aba and this phenomenon spread all around the Arabian Peninsula to the extent that the number of idols in the Ka’aba reached 360, as stated by Al-Kalbi in his book The Idols.

Due to numerous wars and tribal struggles, the well of Zamzam was buried and people could no longer find it. Qusay bin Kilaab, a great-grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, forcefully took over the custody of caring for the Sacred House and maintaining it from the tribe of Khuzaa’ah, as it had abused its authority. Qusay gathered the scattered families of the Quraysh tribe, relocated them in Makkah, and restored the sanctity of Makkah, which had been lost due to Khuzaa’ah’s misuse of  authority and because some of the Quraysh tribe had been placed in the surrounding areas of Makkah in order to protect it.

This marked the beginning of an authority that glorified Makkah and which freely offered all types of services to its visitors, such as food, water and the cleaning and maintaining of the Ka’aba.

After ‘Abdul-Muttalib saw a dream in which he saw the exact spot of the buried well of Zamzam, he had the area dug up and restored the well. Thus, the well of Zamzam once again became the source of water to the pilgrims and visitors, as well as to the residents of Makkah.

After this, a grave event took place during the time of ‘Abdul-Muttalib when Abrahah the Ethiopian headed towards Makkah riding a huge elephant in order to demolish the Ka’aba. This is why that year came to be known as “The Year of the Elephant”, during which the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was born.

A city with such a magnificent history is worthy of having such an exalted status and should, therefore, be glorified and honoured. It deserves to occupy a special place in the hearts of its residents, as well as the Muslims in general.

Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/

The creation is in need of Allah

Man always looks for what benefits him and what protects him from harm. However, to accomplish this, man must be able to realise what is harmful. He must then know whom he should need, trust, and love so that he can attain what is beneficial as well as to feel good about his choice.

He also must know the proper and good approach that would make him achieve this goal. This latter condition requires that man:

1.Know about harm

2.What ways can be used to drive harm away?

Certainly, man can have no better guidance than that which comes from the One Who had perfected everything, and the One who Has no deficiency in Himself and in His Attributes. The One Who is Ever-Living and Who does not die. There can be no One better than the One Who Has no need for anything; the One Who is rich; the Giver; the One who, after all, controls man’s soul. Man is so poor to Him. He is Allah, the True and only God. Man can bring harm to himself if he seeks other than Allah for help. Allah is the One Who can help man drive away any harm for it cannot occur without His Will and His Power.

Allah Almighty sent down His Books and chose His Messengers to guide man to:

1. Know His Lord as He Almighty had explained about Himself, and

2. Seek Him Alone while living in accordance with His plan

Knowing Allah’s Names and Attributes liberates man from worshiping any form of creation because creation is weak and is in need of The Creator, Allah. The knowledge about Allah leads man to know that he is created to live according to Allah’s way as revealed to His Messengers may Allah exalt their mention the final of whom was Messenger Muhammad .

This Revelation contains a complete code of life. Everything that is beneficial or harmful is established so that man can center his life around this Revelation. If man commits wrong and knows that Allah is Oft-Forgiving he would turn to Him, and to Him alone, seeking His forgiveness; Allah Says (what means): “Know, therefore, that there is no God Who deserves to be worshiped except Allah; and ask forgiveness for your sins.” [Qur’an 47:19]

It is wrong to think or believe that Allah created other ‘gods’ besides Him so that man turns to them for help; loves them or fear them, etc. He is the same God of all nations. He does not order that people should make of stars, sun, fire, ‘Eesaa (Jesus), Moosaa (Moses), Muhammad may Allah exalt their mention etc. gods besides Him. He (Most Exalted) cannot be ‘contradictory’. He has one way (religion) that calls man to surrender his will only to Him.

He warned that if man (even Muhammad ) would take partners with Him, then his work will fail and will be among losers; Allah Says (what means): “And verily, it had been revealed to you (O Muhammad ) as has been revealed to those before you. If you join others in worship with Allah (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain and you will certainly be among the losers. Nay! But worship Allah and be among grateful.” [Qur’an 39:65-66]

Let us know what Muhammad  the man-Prophet, who knew Allah best, used to say: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You for Your Pleasure and against Your Wrath, and in Your Forgiveness and against Your Punishment and in You from You, I cannot Praise You as You can Praise Yourself.” (Muslim, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah)

He  used to say also: “I have surrendered myself to You, I have directed my face to You, I have entrusted my affairs to You, I have compelled my back to refuge in You, in want and in fright of You, there is no resort nor survival from You except (in turning) to You. I have faith in Your book (i.e. the Qur’an) which You brought down and in the Prophet (Muhammad ) you have sent.” (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim)

When we read in the Qur’an (what means): “Whatever of Mercy (i.e. of good), Allah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it, and whatever He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [Qur’an 35:2]

And when we read (what means): “If Allah touches you with hurt, there is none can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His favor which He causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He will, and He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Qur’an 10:117]

We should be motivated to return to Him Alone at times of ease and at times of hardship. And when we read (what means): “If Allah helps you none can overcome you, and if He forsakes you, who is there, after Him, that can help you. And in Allah (alone) let believers put their trust.” [Qur’an 3:160]

The Qur’an, therefore, leads man to a true liberation from any false attachment. It brings peace to the heart. It helps the believer against hypocrisy and all forms of dishonesty.

Imagine, for example, a believer facing a problem at work. He sees wrong and faces unlawful practices. He does not fear rejecting what is wrong. He knows that the job is only a means to gain his sustenance. While he may be unable to correct what is wrong, he knows well that Allah is the One Who provides. If he leaves his job for the sake of Allah, Allah will give him a better one. Allah Almighty Said (what means): “And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him. He will make a way for him to get out (from) every (difficulty), and He will provide him from (sources) he could never imagine.” [Qur’an 65:2-3]

The above texts, necessitates that man must depend upon Allah Almighty asking Him Alone for assistance. It also requires that man must love Allah and worship Him Alone to gain His pleasure and His help. Is it not true that the people who consider this life as the “Final Goal” end up worshiping many things in it? You see them so careful about “having it all”. They torture themselves: pain, difficulty, constant worry, keeping their hands in the banks for loan after loan to keep up with the “demands of development”. They are under the constant threat of fore-closure. They constantly see poverty in front of their eyes.

The Prophet  said: “Allah says: ‘Son of Aadam: Fill your time with My worship and I will fill your heart with richness, and end off your poverty. But if you do not, I would make your hands fully busy (i.e. in worldly affairs) and I would not end off your poverty.’” (At-Tirmithi)

Our purpose of existence on earth is more meaningful than being slaves to worldly gains. There can be no meaningful life better than that prescribed by our Creator Allah. Every act done according to Allah’s way is an act of worship. Man is the beneficiary and Allah is in no need; Allah Says (what means): “O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of All Praise.” [Qur’an 35:15]

 

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