The real story of construction of Kaaba, and the cool
Ab-e-Zamzam
“Pre-requisites before reading it”
-Faith
-Perseverance
The story goes back to the times of Prophet Ibrahim. He was known for his humility and affluence in riches as well. He was very old, but had no children. He was without a son, for several years. But, he always thanked Allah and never had a speck of complaint. After years, Hajra, his wife bore a son, and named him, Isma’il (for setting an example of sacrifice to the world).
He was merely few months old, his father left for some urgent task. He prayed to Allah, for taking care of the family. The Kaaba was not built yet. Mother and her child were left in a dwelling in sandy areas of Arabia, in scorching heat and intense sun. Mother was breast feeding the baby. Her colostrum dried up soon, she was thirsty and the baby began crying heavily. The thirst was intolerable. She was left with nothing, except to pray to Lord. She ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa, to and fro in search of water or any caravan. After seven marathons, she fell unconscious on the ground. The boy was crying and suddenly, he shook his legs and scratched the soil. An angel emerged and she helped the baby to access the flow of precious waters she had brought with her. The waters, Ab in Arabic quenched his mother as well. The flow of water was incessant, and could also flood the entire nation. She uttered “Zamzam”, which means, ‘to stop’ and the flow ceased. The source came to be known as Ab-e-Zamzam, in Mecca. And, today, millions of gallons of water is taken out of the well, and it has not dried up yet. Its properties as mystical, the recipient attains a complete physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Even, its source have not been known yet.
The boy grew older, about eleven years of age. His father often saw several vision during his meditation, that he was supposed to sacrifice his most priceless assets, and serve Allah. He gave off all his riches, even the house, but the visions with the same moral, continued. He realized that he had to sacrifice his son, under the Divine command. He asked Hajra for her consent. She agreed willfully. The boy agreed as well. He was dedicated and was ready to face death, to serve Lord. The day of the sacrifice came, he invited all his kins and asked them to gather at the site. He asked one of his friends to blindfold his son, his wife and he himself. Angels and Allah were also the viewers in the sacrifice. Ibrahim appeared with a sword before the alter, his son lying before him. His kins guided him regarding the lash he had to place over his son’s nape. All the three asked for forgiveness to Allah, the boy hailed for forgiveness as he was in his last breathes, to be sacrificed under the service to the Divine. Ism’ail also prayed to Allah to accept the sacrifice his parents were sacrificing. He hailed the Name of Allah, and was about to carry out the sacrament. Suddenly an angel appeared and she removed the son from the alter and placed a goat instead. Th goat was sacrificed. Ibrahim opened his eyes, and saw his hands smeared with blood, a dead goat lying on the alter and his family sitting hale and hearty. A divine voice from the skies echoed in the air and said that the sacrifices performed by Ibrahim were accepted and his acts of faith and devotion gave him gifts of life for his son. Then, Allah asked Ibrahim and Isma’il to build a commemoration of faith and devotion on that site of sacrifice. The father and son worked day and night, and built the site of Kaaba, in Mecca, which is one of the holy pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia till date.
Concept of Mina, a place east to Mecca: This is the place where the pilgrims perform diurnal prayers, for a day. Then, the next day, they gather the white attire for Haja. In Mina, there is a place where there are three symbolic mounts of sand. Pilgrims collect several stones and throw them at the mounts. It is a belief that the mounts are the symbol of satan, where their sins shall be burnt. They are purified, after that ritual. Then, the custom of circumambulation (tawaf) and prostration before Holy Qaba, makes pilgrims virtuous. When the pilgrims return after Haja, they are designated as Haaji, and are adorned as sages, as their lives will for Lord, there after. After the rituals, boys get their heads shaved and girls renounce their hair. Hairs are symbolic of materialistic beauty, and shaving them means that they have renounced their ego (sadhus get their heads shaved because of this reason). If people do not have resources to perform Haja, they can attain the benefits they practice self-control and virtues, in their home. The present scenario of pilgrimage is not worth being practiced.
The concept of rituals prevalent in today’s era and its true significance– In today’s era, we carry out the sacrifice of an animal, instead of giving off our ego at His Divine feet. Prophet Ibrahim was tested for his devotion, and he sacrificed his only son, for the sake of command. And, he was rendered the boon, by replacing the son with a goat. But we are the absolute antipodes, we kill a goat, enjoy the meat and retain our assets and ego. The true charity means that even the recipient should become aware of his role as a receiver by us. It is the Divine grace, when we get some opportunity to help someone in need.
Allah always wanted the sacrifice of ‘I’ from the people, not any animal or assets. When the goat was slaughtered, a voice of ‘maiii’ rose steadily in the air, which meant that ‘I’ was abolished. Once we cut our ‘I’, we and our Father becomes One. Allah even said that the custom of circumambulation about the Holy Qaba would render righteousness to the people. Fasting is performed in the days of Zil’hajj, for the people are rendered with the virtues of sacrificing their ego at the alter. The announcement also said that the pilgrims should also sacrifice their ego (not any animal) and also it was said that they should serve poor with flesh (as nothing fostered in the barren land of Arab. Regarding flesh, it is mentioned that the first priority should be given to the fruits which fall off the trees, and then the leaves, then the sea food (planktons, weeds or fish), and last, if no option is left, then the flesh of mammals. The flesh for the sake of enjoyment is severely prohibited. If we see the same Oneness in all creations and creatures of the planet, then the slaughter, sacrifice or customs shall become futile.
In Sanatan Dharma, it is said that Shankaraacharya Ji was at his verge of severe penance, he too consumed the bone marrow of a dead dog. And, several centuries ago, sacrifice for Mother Kali were performed, and the obtained flesh was accepted as prasaad. Thus, the custom of sacrifice with virtues in heart and custom of Oneness with perpetuity is the core. We have not rights to blame other for their rituals.
Now, let us conclude the archeological chronicles and spiritual realities….
| 1. The visit to Mina, a. The pilgrims acquire a white attire, irrespective of gender. b. The same attire is used in their funerals. c. They throw stones at the pillars, symbolic of getting rid of negativities. Prophet Abraham used to throw stones, in order to get rid of negativities, which he acquired while he was about his son, at the alter. d. The pilgrims carry out prayers and read Namaz, day and night. |
| 2. The visit to Mecca a. Pilgrims perform circumambulation around the Holy Qaaba. b. The story of Holy Qaaba- |
| 3. It is cubical architectural structure. Inside it, there are three pillars, with a roof encompassing the three. – On the eastern wall, there is a stone, named Hajre-awad. – It was rendered to Adam. He was guided in his meditation to take it, and establish it. – Then, it was stolen. – After the incident of grand sacrifice, Prophet Abraham was guided to the place, where the stone was hidden and thus was established in Holy Qaaba. Allah had asked him to fix the stone on the eastern wall. East was chosen, as sun rises in the east. If we hold to the eastern sanskaaras, we will never lose. – After the period of Prophet Abraham and Isma’il, the local tribes made Holy Qaaba, their place of throne. They marked it as a powerful place, and idol worship and ancestor worship flourished in a full-fledged manner. The stone was stolen again. – Prophet Mohammed-peace-be-upon was guided in his meditation, to acquire the stone. He went to a man, who too was told in his dream to render the stone back. And, hence was established again, on the eastern wall. – Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h) was revealed of the reality of Self. He was guided about the rituals for the Haja. He performed just a single Haja, though he was the resident of the place. He walked bare foot from Mina to Mecca, and walked seven times from Safa and Marwa, to and fro. |
| 4. After the main ritual- a. People go and sacrifice an animal, in a traditional outlook. Though, the ego is worth to be sacrificed. The meat is not enjoyed, rather is distributed amidst the poor (due to starvation in arid conditions). b. From Mecca to Mina, men renounce their hair, and female give off some of their hair. |
| 5. After all the rituals, pilgrims should live a life of a saint. The will of Lord should be prime, and nothing should belong to them in this world, except Lord Itself. Surrender, love and celibacy should be primary qualities to be cherished. But, present scenario is not worth being appreciated. |
