Holy Kaaba First Place of Worship in History
The month of Dhul Hajja is the time for the magnificent ritual of Hajj. This ritual, the Quran says, was first performed at the time of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and after this prophet of God built the Kaaba. God told Ibrahim (AS): “Call people for Hajj. They will come on foot and on lean camels from all the distant quarters.” (Surah Al-Hajj, verse 27)
What’s interesting about the Kaaba is that God (in the previous verse) describes it as the first symbol and Qibla for worshipping Him and then underlines the importance of performing Hajj. There are also various other verses in the Holy Book about the rules and details of the Hajj rituals.
The Quran says in verse 96 of Surah Al Imran: “The first house (of worship) that God assigned to men was in Bakka (another name of Mecca). It is a blessed one and a guide for all people.”
Allameh Tabatabaei says in Al-Mizan Exegesis of the Holy Quran that the Kaaba is for all ranks of guidance and it can be said that no one has access to it expect the pure servants of God. In addition to salvation I the Hereafter, the Kaaba leads the Muslim world to worldly bliss, which is unity in the Islamic Ummah.
The Kaaba also guides no-Muslims by awakening them to the fact that Islam has united people from different races and colors and created fraternity among them.
Hence, unity is one of the most fundamental objectives pursued in the Hajj.
So there are two points here: First; the Kaaba is a source of guidance that leads to happiness in this world and the next, and second; the Kaaba is a guidance that does not belong to a certain group but to the whole world.
In interpreting verse 96 of Surah Al Imran, Mohsen Qara’ati has highlighted several points, including the following:
1- The Kaaba is the first place established for people to worship and say prayer. (The first house (of worship) that God assigned to men)
2- The historical background of places of worship is among the criteria for determining their value. (The first house (of worship))
3- The Kaaba’s blessings are not just for the faithful or a special race but for all people. (The first house (of worship) that God assigned to (all) men)
4- Being for all people is an asset for the Kaaba. (… that God assigned to (all) men)
5- The Kaaba is a source of guidance for people. (It is a blessed one and a guide for all people)
