Question: Explain to me how bowing to the Kaaba IS NOT bowing in worship and adoration to the cubic black building there, thus making Islam an idol-worshiping religion???
Answer: First of all, please visit this link,
http://www.answering-christianity.com/kaaba.htm, to see how in the previous Scriptures, all Prophets of GOD Almighty bowed down to Him, the Almighty, in the direction of His Holy Temple or House. It's all over the Bible and outside the Bible. Here is an example from the Bible:
"I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. (From the NIV Bible, Psalm 138:2)"To simply put it: You must bow down in humility to GOD Almighty. That's a must and a given.
So, you must physically bow down somewhere, and naturally to some direction! If you were to do it right now, you would be bowing towards a random direction. Your physical presence on earth forces this upon you as a prostrating Believer to GOD Almighty, whether you like it or not. The bowing down to GOD Almighty in the direction of the Kaaba, or the city of Mecca in general, is a way to unify all Muslims to bow down to GOD Almighty, as one body and one unity, towards one direction and towards His Holy Temple.
As to worshiping the cubic black building, the Kaaba, we absolutely do not worship it. The Prophet of Islam said that the spilling OF A SINGLE DROP OF BLOOD from a Believer is
more dearer to Allah Almighty than the demolishing of the entire Kaaba. In other words, a single drop of blood from a Muslim Believer is more dearer to Allah Almighty than the entire black cubic building:
لهدم الكعبة حجراً حجراً أهون من قتل المسلم "Demolishing the Kaaba completely is much more preferred to Allah Almighty than shedding the blood of a Believing Muslim." (
Source)
So it is not something we worship. It is only a point and a direction that brings us together as one. Again, visit the link that I provided above.
Take care,
Osama Abdallah
