What and where is the location of the Sacred Mosque (Masjidil Haram)

 

A mosque is a place of worship for Allah alone and it is based on piety.

"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah; (72:18) and the preferable mosque is where one is supposed to worship Allah by remembering Him, praising, magnified and glorying Him with a firm commitment to obey all His command regarding the salat  or the prayer in the Quran.

 

To congregate in a mosque one must be aware of the following.

And there are those who put up a mosque by way of mischief and infidelity - to disunite the Believers - and in preparation for one who warred against Allah and His Messenger aforetime. They will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good; But Allah doth declare that they are certainly liars. Never stand thou forth therein. There is a mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety; it is more worthy of the standing forth (for prayer) therein. In it are men who love to be purified; and Allah loveth those who make themselves pure. (9:107-108)

 

Earlier place of worship by Abraham and Ishmael during their pilgrimage.

Abraham and Ismael were commanded to make the surroundings of God’s House a place of worship (musalla) by offering the salat or prayer as stated:-----

 

Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer (musalla); and We covenanted with Abraham and Ishmael that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat and bow to prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). (2:125)

 

And in another verse Allah commanded those who believe to bow and prostrate and to circumambulate around His House:-

 

Behold! We gave the site, to Abraham, of the House, (saying): "Associate not anything (in worship) with Me and sanctify My House for those who compass it round, and stand up and bow to prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). (22:26)

 

Kaabah the Sacred House

And Allah made His House (2:125 My House) sacred and He called it The Sacred House and named it as the Kaabah where Muslims do their circumambulating, do salat and as a place of pilgrimage as stated:- Allah made the Kaabah, the Sacred House, an asylum of security for men (5:97).

 

The Kaabah as the Sacred House is the first House appointed for men

The Kaabah as the Sacred House being the first House is also known as the Ancient House where the circumambulating takes place for the pilgrimage season as stated:-

 

"Then let them complete the rites prescribed for them, perform their vows, and (again) circumambulate the Ancient House." (22:29) and the Ancient House being the Sacred House is located in Bakkata in an area in Makkah as confirmed by the Quran in the following verses:-

 

The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakkata: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: In it (Bakkata) are Signs Manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures. (3:96-97)

 

And this place of prayer or “musalla” (2:125) which is surrounding the Sacred House the Kaabah (5:97) was declared as the Sacred Mosque when Allah commanded the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) to turn his face towards it in the following verse of the Quran as stated:-

 

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. The people of the Book know well that that is the truth from their Lord. Nor is Allah unmindful of what they do. (2:144)

The location of the Sacred Mosque or earlier known as the “musalla” (2:125) during Prophet Abraham (Pbuh) time is supported by the following verse to show that it is an area located in presence day Makkah where Muslims make their pilgrimage:-

 

And it is He Who has restrained their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makkah, after that He gave you the victory over them. And Allah sees well all that ye do. They are the ones who denied Revelation and hindered you from the Sacred Mosque and the sacrificial animals, detained from reaching their place of sacrifice. (48:24-25)

 

Since Makkah is a city and still growing the original area of Bakkata reminds unchanged

and this blessed area is where the Sacred Mosque is located the qiblah for Muslims to turn to as a common direction. In the Quran Makkah is known as the Mother of Cities and the Quraish Arab have a covenant to fulfill with Allah as stated in the following verses:-

 

And call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you, and His covenant, which He ratified with you, when ye said: "We hear and we obey": And fear Allah, for Allah knoweth well the secrets of your hearts. (5:7)

 

And this is a Book which We have sent down, bringing blessings, and confirming (the revelations) which came before it: that thou mayest warn the mother of cities and all around her. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in this (Book), and they are constant in guarding their prayers. (6:92)

 

For the covenants (of security and safeguard enjoyed) by the Quraish, Their covenants (covering) journeys by winter and summer, Let them worship the Lord of this House, Who provides them with food against hunger, and with security against fear (of danger). (Surah Quraish)

 

Asar



Salatil Fajri and Salatil Ishaa are not names of obligatory salat in the Quran

 

Obligatory prayers is commanded at specific times

 

In the Quran it is stated that the command to establish obligatory prayers or “As Salat” Is based on the timing and the timing is be done at specific  and not a span of time as most scholar claimed as seen by this verse will verify as stated:----- “but when you are free from danger set up regular prayers: For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times.(Surah 4:103).

 

The following verses are the specific times being mentioned in the Quran:-

And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: For those things, that are good remove those that are evil: Be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord): (Surah 11:114).

 

In the above verse since it is mentioned the day at its two ends will give the meaning that it qualifies the time at sunrise and the time of sunset as both timings are in the daytime with sunrise being just turning bright at the early morning part of the day while the other end at sunset still has its brightness but moving towards darkness during the late part of the day. The time of early night has no problem to be defined it is the situation when there is no sun can be seen and total darkness had prevailed. Thus from Surah 11:114 alone the prayers that is to be established are at sunrise, sunset and at early night.

 

The next clear verse mentioning a specific time is as follows:-

Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline towards (ila) the darkness of the night (Surah 17:78) this is the time of the sun’s decline at noon from its zenith. Although some translators uses the Arabic “ila” to mean “until the darkness of the night” it is inaccurate as no one can establish the prayer continuously until night time so it is more prudent to describe it is the sun which is turning towards the darkness of the night to indicate a specific time to establish the prayer. And there are others who claimed that this time “dulukish shamsi” at Surah 17:78 is not noon but sun set then again the argument can be dispelled as there is the Arabic “maghribas shamsi” at Surah 18:86 to mean sunset. The Surah 17:78 cannot be other than a specific time at noon.

 

Thus so far the specific times extracted are sunrise (11:114), noon (17:78), sunset (11:114) and early night (11:114) and the next specific time can be deduced from the verse mentioning a specific time to be in the middle of the above four timings in the following verse of the Quran as stated:-

 

O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew! (Surah 62:9)

 

The above prayer is also to be done at a specific time which is clearly defined in the Quran as the time when the sun settled at the middle point between the time of the sun’s decline at noon and sunset. This specific time in the Quran is known as “business or trading time” and this specific timing is at late noon but before sunset and is also known as the Middle Prayer. This time is the only specific time that can be done in congregation prayer as the other four times are not suitable as it fall under the category of privacy time as stated:-

 

O ye who believe! let those whom your right hands possess, and the (children) among you who have not come of age ask your permission (before they come to your presence), on three occasions: before morning prayer; the while ye doff your clothes for the noonday heat; and after the late-night prayer: these are your three times of privacy: outside those times it is not wrong for you or for them to move about attending to each other: Thus does Allah make clear the Signs to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. (Surah 24:58)

 

It can be seen that morning, noon, and early night are privacy times and that of sunset is also near to privacy time at night or Ishaa as the Surah 62:10 mentioned after prayer there is command to seek bounty but it can only be done during late noon but not after sunset when everybody will be at home with the family.

 

Although this prayer is mentioned to be establish on a weekly basis at Surah 62:9 but in another verse Allah commanded this specific time to be observed as a daily prayer will all the other four prayers as obligatory as the following verse indicated:-

 

Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, and the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind). (Surah 2:238).

 

From the above verses it is clearly defined in the Quran that Allah ordained five times of salat prayers daily for Muslims to obey as follows:----------

 

Sunrise (11:114), noon (17:78), Middle Salat (2:238 and 62:9), sunset (11:114) and early night (11:114) are the timings for the obligatory prayer.

 

 

 

The names of prayers mentioned in the Quran

There is only one prayer name being mentioned in the Quran not three names as many now claimed. Although there are those who establish three times of prayer because they claimed there are three names mentioned in the Quran this is however a false belief as there is only one salat or prayer name being mentioned in the Quran which is “The Middle Prayer” stated in the Surah 2:238.

 

The claimed that the Surah 24:58 mentioned the other two specific names of daily obligatory salat is misinterpreted:-

 

O ye who believe! let those whom your right hands possess, and the (children) among you who have not come of age ask your permission (before they come to your presence), on three occasions: before morning prayer (salaawatil Fajri); the while ye doff your clothes for the noonday heat; and after the late-night prayer (salaawatil Ishaa): these are your three times of undress: outside those times it is not wrong for you or for them to move about attending to each other: Thus does Allah make clear the Signs to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. (Surah 24:58).

 

The “Salaawatil Fajri” and the “Salaawatil Ishaa” are not specific names of the daily obligatory prayers as the Arabic word “Salaawatun” in the above verse indicate that the word is not singular in meaning but to be plural in activities. There are other verses in the Quran showing similar words with the same spelling and it does not mean the obligatory daily prayer or salat as stated:-

 

They are those on whom descend blessings (salaawatun) from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance. (Surah 2:157).

 

But some of the desert Arabs believe in Allah and the Last Day, and look on their payments as pious gifts bringing them nearer to Allah and obtaining the prayers (salaawati) of the Messenger. Aye, indeed they bring them nearer (to Him): soon will Allah admit them to His Mercy: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah 9:99).

 

(They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say, "our Lord is Allah". Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues (salaawatun), and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. (Surah 22:40)

 

So the word “salaawatun” do not take the meaning of daily obligatory prayer but of other meanings and it is therefore wrong to base on the argument on names of salat mentioned in the Quran. Also to be noted in the Quran all the words indicating to mean the daily obligatory prayer, the Arabic word “salat” must carry the prefix definite article “Al” or “The” in English to denote it is referring to that specific word. This can be shown by several examples in the Quran as follows:-

 

And be steadfast in prayer (Assalat); practice regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship). (Surah 2:43)

 

O ye who believe! When ye prepare for prayer (Assalat), wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. (Surah 5:6)

 

And establish regular prayers (Assalat) at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: (Surah 11:114)

 

Thus the word “salat or prayer” without the definite article “Al” or “The” before the word does not carry the meaning of the daily obligatory salat or prayer it means something else as the various verses above indicated. So the only word salat or prayer to indicate by name is the “AssalatulWusta” or “The Middle Prayer” but the name carry the definite article “Al” or “The” before the word “Salat” to indicate that it refers to the obligatory prayer and it also indicate the specific timing linked to its name “middle”.

 

Asar

 

 



Is chopping or amputating the hands a true punishment for the thieves in the Quran?

 

Salam,

 

In the Quran it can be found two examples of punishment for the thieves in that it says the cutting of the hands and imprisonment as stated:----------

 

As to the thief, male or female cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in power. (Surah 5:38)……….

 

(The brothers) said: "By Allah! Well ye know that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!" They said: "What then shall be the penalty of this, if ye are (proved) to have lied?" They said: "The penalty should be that he in whose saddle-bag it is found should be held (as bondman) to atone for the (crime). Thus it is we punish the wrong-doers!" (Surah 12:73-75)

 

The Quran is self-explanatory which means the verses in the Quran will interpret the meaning as in the example of the cutting of the hands and the imprisonment of the thieves.

 

However since many deny the truth of the Quran how the punishment for the thieves is to be carried out It then reveals and interprets Muhammad’s policy outside of the Quran. The following passages indicate that the penalty cannot be explained away as anything but literal and physical. This is a quick compilation taken from the two most reliable collectors and compilers of the Hadith, Bukhari (AD 810-870) and Muslim (c. AD 817-875):

 

Aisha [favorite wife of Muhammad] reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, "The hand of a thief should be cut off but for a quarter of a dinar and what is above that." (Bukhari 8:6789; Muslim 3:4175-79). A dinar, a word taken from the Roman denarius, was not a small sum, but not exorbitant, either. It could buy a shield, and many of the very poor in Muhammad’s army could not afford one.

 

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, "God curses the thief who steals an egg, for which his hand is to be cut off, or steals a rope for which he has his hand cut off!" (Bukhari 8:6799; Muslim 3:4185)

 

Some commentators say that an "egg" was really a helmet, and the rope was a ship’s rope, which was sizable and costly. However, the translation above is usually accepted, and this means that the penalty could be imposed for trivial thefts. But even if the more expensive items are in view here, are they still worth a human hand?

 

Next, it should be recalled that 5:39 says that Allah accepts the repentance of a thief, and it seems to imply that the repentance before the penalty blocks the mutilation that a court imposes. However, the earliest Muslim sources interpret the verse more differently.

 

Ibn Kathir, referencing two hadiths from Bukhari and Muslim, summarizes an application of the punishment in early Islam (vol. 3, pp.175-76). A woman committed theft during Muhammad’s conquest of Mecca, and she was brought to him. A devout Muslim interceded for her, wanting her repentance to be accepted before the penalty. But Muhammad’s face turned red with anger and he rebuked the intercessor, saying that even if his own daughter were to steal, he would have her hand cut off. Allah’s command must be carried out no matter what. So Muhammad had the woman’s hand cut off, and Aisha reported that her repentance afterwards was sincere. Narrated Aisha: The prophet cut off the hand of a lady ... and she repented, and her repentance was sincere. (Bukhari 8:6800; Muslim 3:4187 and 4188).

 

It can be seen from the hadith above the Prophet (Pbuh) is being portrayed as cruel and unjust that whatever amount being stolen the hands is to be chopped off. On the contrary the verses that were inspired by the Prophet (Pbuh) in the Quran portrayed another example the cutting of the hand with the same Arabic word incurred by the ladies in the story of Joseph as follows:---------

 

“She gave each of them a knife: and she said (to Joseph), "Come out before them." When they saw him, they did extol him, and (in their amazement) cut their hand”: (Surah 12:31)

 

From the above example if cutting the hands (Arabic qatha’uu) is defined as above then the same action can be imposed on the thieves whereby he is given a knife and it is for him to cut his own hand for his atonement of the crime he did. He must cut his hands but whether the feeling of guilt make him chopped of his hands entirely, or his finger or sliced part of his hands it is for his own atonement as the ladies did in Surah 12:31 and none should have any interference whatsoever. This self-inflicted atonement for his crime comes in conjunction with the relevancy to the successive verse after Surah 5:38 which says:---------

 

But if the thief repents after his crime, and amends his conduct, Allah turneth to him in forgiveness; for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah 5:39).

 

It can be concluded that if the thief repent after cutting his own hand and make amend by returning all that is being stolen then Allah is to him forgiven and merciful. However even after cutting his own hands to atone his sin, the thieves did not repent then it is only fair that he should be sentenced to imprisonment depending on the seriousness of his crime. The higher the value he stole the longer he has to stay in prison. The imprisonment of the thieves is referred in the Quran as at Surah 12:73-75.

 

Without doubt It is proven the verses of the Quran refuted the stories of the hadith written by 9^th century Persian morons that it is glaring their message is to smeared the good name of the Prophet (Pbuh) as a cruel and unjust man whereas by taking the examples of the verses of the Quran inspired through him justice prevails as the punishment of the thieves can be achieved through compassion and consideration upon the thieves themselves.

 

Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; And when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice: Verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth you! For Allah is He Who heareth and seeth all things. (Surah 4:58)

 

Say: "I believe in the Book which Allah has sent down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord: for us (is the responsibility for) our deeds, and for you for your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is (our) Final Goal. (Surah 42:15)

 

Asar