Hey, could you guys help me explain why the Kabba is not pagan and why Islam banished those pagan practices? I have a friend asking about this but I don't know how to explain it well. How do I respond to us circling the Kabba as the pagans did before? I told him that the Kabba was built by Abraham ( pbuh) and the pagans gradually infused the true religion with pagan aspects.

Interesting topic, I think it would help if someone could run us by through the history of Kaaba.

If you told him this then what's the problem?

Brother, you have friends who love asking you 101 questions, you must be busy.

I think it would help if you stopped taking every topic on your head.

Exactly my thoughts.

AntiKarateKid you've answered your own question, it is that simple, the Kabbah was originally built by a Muslim for the worship of Allah, the pagans used it for their own worship, all we did was take it back.

Greatest example now is the bida' of people, think about it, we see so many different things which people do which aren't part of Islam. Yet they do them. Similarly, we can't help but think that the people innovated into Abraham and Ishmaels religion too. Peace be upon them.

Just say what you're thinking, that tawaf around the ka'aba is originally a muslim ritual, just because other people did it, it doesn't mean that we are imitating them. Plus, explain the differences in the pagan hajj and the muslim hajj (i personally don't know all of them, but i'm sure you could research a bit and find out).

I'm not sure what that is, Avar, but if it's not the kaaba (which I'm pretty sure it isn't), then it's not a muslim ritual, no. We're just talking about circumambulation about the kaaba, nothing else.

It's the Sikh Scriptures. I'm stating a point. Just because an ancient ritual may have been used by others before/after, it does not make it exclusive to that religion or way of life.

True, but what I'm guessing the friend meant is that "if islam supposedly abolished all pagan practices, why do you still do tawaf around the kaaba?" So it's just explaining that tawaf is indeed a muslim ritual, not a pagan one...
Am I making sense or did I completely misunderstand you?...heh..

While I understand the concept at work here, namely that Islam always existed so therefore it was a Muslim ritual...from an historical standpoint the Kaaba was a traditional gathering place for pagan tribesmen long before the time of Muhammed. Many of the articles and books I've read that discuss the Kaaba mention Christian Bedoins making a pilgrimage there as well. The site became a center of commerce and trade due to the non-violence pact within twenty miles of the Kaaba. As to the pagan roots, I think it is obvious. However, I'm not sure it matters all that much. As long as people aren't worshipping the meteorite I don't see an issue there. Usually traditional and cultural activities are incorporated into faith.