Just to add to above...

We call all mosques/masjids as House of ALLAH... It's metaphorical.... NOT Literal....

It implies a place where we worship ALLAH...

& importance of KABBA is that it'a a place ALLAH has ordered us to face towards, when offering prayers...& to pay visit (pilgrimage) etc...

Originally Posted by sur

Just to add to above...

We call all mosques/masjids as House of ALLAH... It's metaphorical.... NOT Literal....

It implies a place where we worship ALLAH...

& importance of KABBA is that it'a a place ALLAH has ordered us to face towards, when offering prayers...& to pay visit (pilgrimage) etc...

I understand, but the poster I was responding to said Medina was the house of Muhammed and Mecca was the house of Allah. Seeing as Medina is the literal house of the Prophet, one would assume by way of logic, seeing as the poster said Medina was the literal house of Muhammed, Mecca would also be the literal house of Allah. This is nothing but a gross misunderstanding, but seeing as the point of thie thread is to learn, not to get into pointless arguments, may I ask why Muslims face the Kaaba in prayer? I mean, I know the significance of the place, but I just don't understand why God only accepts prayers when the prayer is made facing a certain direction. I understand Judaism and Bahais have similar ideas of a Qibla, could anyone explain to me the thinking behind this? Thanks.

Originally Posted by Supreme

........may I ask why Muslims face the Kaaba in prayer? I mean, I know the significance of the place, but I just don't understand why God only accepts prayers when the prayer is made facing a certain direction. I understand Judaism and Bahais have similar ideas of a Qibla, could anyone explain to me the thinking behind this? Thanks.

We face towards KABBA because ALLAH has ordered us to do so...

In early days, Temporarily, ALLAH ordered Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) to face Masjid-e-Aqsa in Jerusalem, Palestine.... So muslims used to face in that direction...... KABBAH has been Kibla before -&- after this temporary Kibla....

While praying once... Prophet had revelation to turn his face towards KABBAh.... so he & companions turned towards KABBAh during prayer.....
===============================

At least one reason behind facing in one particular direction is "UNITY".....

just don't understand why God only accepts prayers when the prayer is made facing a certain direction

That's WRONG.... GOD accepts prayers irrespective of direction...

Direction is fixed ONLY for formal prayers that are offered 5 times a day.... other than those 5 formal prayers we can pray any time anywhere facing any direction....


Again keep in mind the difference b/w offering formal prayers (direction specified) & praying(direction non-specified)....

Originally Posted by sur

We face towards KABBA because ALLAH has ordered us to do so...

In early days, Temporarily, ALLAH ordered Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) to face Masjid-e-Aqsa in Jerusalem, Palestine.... So muslims used to face in that direction...... KABBAH has been Kibla before -&- after this temporary Kibla....

While praying once... Prophet had revelation to turn his face towards KABBAh.... so he & companions turned towards KABBAh during prayer.....
===============================

At least one reason behind facing in one particular direction is "UNITY".....




That's WRONG.... GOD accepts prayers irrespective of direction...

Direction is fixed ONLY for formal prayers that are offered 5 times a day.... other than those 5 formal prayers we can pray any time anywhere facing any direction....


Again keep in mind the difference b/w offering formal prayers (direction specified) & praying(direction non-specified)....

Thank you very much for this answer. So it's unity. Another question- which is your personal favourite city out of Jerusalem, Mecca and Medina? I mean, I know how each ranks in holiness, but if you had a choice to become imam at either the mosque in Mecca, the Prophet's mosque and the al Asqa mosque, which would you choose and why?

Another question (for it is obvious this is a subject I have vested interest in)- you know the Cave of Hira where Muhammed first recieved the Quran- is that a Muslim holy place and is there a mosque on it/near it and do Muslims consider it especially holy?

Thank you very much for this answer. So it's unity. Another question- which is your personal favourite city out of Jerusalem, Mecca and Medina? I mean, I know how each ranks in holiness, but if you had a choice to become imam at either the mosque in Mecca, the Prophet's mosque and the al Asqa mosque, which would you choose and why?

Another question (for it is obvious this is a subject I have vested interest in)- you know the Cave of Hira where Muhammed first recieved the Quran- is that a Muslim holy place and is there a mosque on it/near it and do Muslims consider it especially holy?

For me its obivously mecca , its where i long to go . Yes cave hira is still there and many people visit that place. Well do muslims consider it holy ? no we consider it to be a precious place but not holy.As in we don't go there for pilgrimage.

Now my simple question is this: why does Allah need a house in the first place? In Christianity, we believe God to be everywhere. He doesn't need a church or a 'house' to live in, such an idea is blasphemous.

Yup.Exactly.Agreed(AboVE).We call it house of Allah because it is the place towards which we prostrate; Kaabah not because Allah lives.
And the house of Prophet means that its the central place of Prophet and he is also buried there.
Why would Allah live on earth when he is the Creator of Universe?

assalamalikum

allah does not need a house to live but as you see that if allah had not ordered hazrat ibrahim(a.s) then allah"s house would not have been built and we muslims would always face the bait-ul-muqadis and pray facing bait-ul_muqadis .allah only ordered his house to be built so that the muslims would be able to pray facing 1 direction not many directions .and making makkah the sacred city.he does not live in that house it is only and direction for us muslims

hope that answers your question

the cave of hira is a place where the prophet used to meditate and pray but as far as the holiness in considered and as far as the question of mosque arises.we may take few things into note.the cave is high up the mountain and not everybody is able to climb there and the cave only has a small place of not more then 2 people to stand .the mosque is not there but ofering two rakats naffil is optional and can be done .the place is an attraction for muslims and can be seen only for knowing the simplicity of the holy prophet .that place is not more then this..we respect that place and its nnot necessary to clim as u may hurt urself and hurting ur self could face u serious injuries so its optional.nothuing more then that

hope that answers ur question

Originally Posted by Supreme

Another question- which is your personal favourite city out of Jerusalem, Mecca and Medina? I mean, I know how each ranks in holiness, but if you had a choice to become imam at either the mosque in Mecca, the Prophet's mosque and the al Asqa mosque, which would you choose and why?

Makkah - Peace felt there is like no other place

Another question (for it is obvious this is a subject I have vested interest in)- you know the Cave of Hira where Muhammed first recieved the Quran- is that a Muslim holy place and is there a mosque on it/near it and do Muslims consider it especially holy?

This is Cave Hira, It's on top of a massive mountain, therefore there are no mosques near it. It is considered holy, yes.

^^^It really is hard to climb the mountain but still something can be done to make arrangements to go up the mountain by the saudi government

I have found this thread very interesting, My dream is to one day visit mecca and medina

i have been to makkah and madina.. 6 years ago this time i was in makkah1 hehe..
and yeh.. i its a really nice place.. i wish i could go there agen!

I was in Makkah and Medina last summer. Visiting the place and witnessing hordes of believers made me change my perspective of life which had gotten corrupt within last 5-6 years when I visited the holy places last time. I still think that I could have gotten more out of my visit but I will next time God willing.

Seeing a believer rushing to the mosque naked feet for prayer on the uneven tarmac made me question the luxuries I take for granted .... these are tiny examples but they have huge impacts on you if you witness them and reflect upon them ....

Insha'Allah i will also visit makkah and madinah one day

Originally Posted by xMuslimSoljahx

Insha'Allah i will also visit makkah and madinah one day

And which do you want to visit more?