Proof Abraham did his pilgrimage in Makkah

Salam,

There are many proofs stated in the Quran that the Prophet Abraham did his pilgrimage in Makkah. Although he did not stayed permanently there after doing his pilgrimage, he left some of his off springs to dwell in the valley by God’s Sacred House in Makkah. In the Quran God confirmed that He gave the site for Prophet Abraham to call people to do the pilgrimage those who can afford by sacrificing their time to visit the Holy Place.

Behold! We gave the Site to Abraham, of the Sacred House, saying: “Associate not anything in worship with Me; and sanctify My House for those who compass it round, stand up and bow to prostrate themselves therein in prayer. And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men; that they will come to you on foot and mounted on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways; that they may witness the benefits provided for them, and celebrate the Name of God, through the Days appointed, over the cattle which He has provided for them for sacrifice, then eat you thereof and feed the distressed ones in want. (Surah 22:26-28)

The first House appointed for the people was that at Bakkata: full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: in it are sign manifest; the station of Abraham; whoever enters it (Bakkata) attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to God; those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, God stands not in need of any of His creatures.
(Surah 3:96-97)


How do we know the Sacred House in the blessed area of Bakkata is actually in Makkkah?

From several evidences shown in the Quran it gave indication that Abraham was a foreigner to the local area of Bakkata. When he and his son was in the area of the Holy Place and God gave him the responsibility to raise the foundation of the House for people to do the pilgrimage he also pray to God to send to the local area an apostle of their own to rehearse God’s signs, he prays

“Our Lord, send among them an apostle of their own, who shall rehearse your signs to them and instruct them in scripture and wisdom, and sanctity them: for You are the Exalted in Might, The Wise (Surah 2:129)

If Abraham was a local there, he would have prayed “send among us an apostle of our own” but he did not; and instead he prayed for the local and showed that he was a foreigner in a foreign land and this place is in Bakkata. Furthermore he also prayed to God to leave some of his off springs to dwell in the Valley by God’s Sacred House which again showed he was not a local but a foreigner visiting the place to do pilgrimage, when he said

Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a valley where there is no sown land, by Your Sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish regular prayers, so that the hearts of people yearn towards them, and provide them with sustenance, that they may be grateful.
(Surah 14:37)

The above evidence not only mentioned there is a valley, which is normally a big area hollow between hills but it also showed that the location of the Sacred House is in the same valley. Since God mentioned that the First House for men is at Bakkata, it can be deduced that Bakkata is in the same valley. However Bakkata is part of the valley and not the valley itself as the name of this valley was mentioned in the following verse

And God is the One Who restrained their hands from you, and your hands from them, in the Valley Makkah, after that He granted you victory over them. And God sees well all that you do. (Surah 48:24)

Thus it is without any reasonable doubt that pilgrimage by Abraham was done at Bakkata which is the blessed area by God and its location is in the bigger area of the Valley of Makkah. To add to the authenticity of the place is Makkah the command to Abraham to do the circumambulating and prayers by standing, bowing and prostrating around the Sacred House can be seen only in Makkah and no other area is seen doing similar pilgrimage in any part of the world and the following verses confirmed these rituals

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

Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of God. So if those who visit the House in the seasons or at other times should compass them round, it is no sin in them. And if any one obeys his own impulse to good; be sure that God is He Who recognize and know. (Surah 2:158)

And Moses was not unfamiliar with the pilgrimage seasons as when he escaped from Pharaoh to the land of Madyan he was married to the woman whom he helped to water the animals and the father married him to his daughter with a contract which he said:

“I intend to wed one of these my daughters to you, on condition that you serve me for eight pilgrimage seasons (hijaji); but if you complete ten, it will be grace from you. But I intent not to place you under a difficulty: you will find me, indeed, if God wills, one of the righteous. (Surah 28:27)

And finally the Sacred House is located in the land of the Quraish the Arab tribe who used to overseer the pilgrims in Makkah.

For the tradition of Quraish;
Their tradition of travelling in winter and summer;
So let them worship the Lord of this House;
Who provide them with food lest they should go hungry,
and with security lest they should live in fear. (Surah 116)

Asar