Quran Garden

Session 425

Chapter 3

Verse 96

A continuation

The first House of worship to be established for humankind was the one at Bacca.  It is a blessed place and a source of guidance for the whole worlds.  (Chapter 3: Verse 96)

Here is a fascinating question: since the Ka'aba was built before Adam, who built it?  We note that the passive phrase "established for humankind" was used in the verse.  In other words, the subject was not named.  So, who established the House?  Was it the angels?  This could be true; the angels may have received a command from God to establish the site.  But we also note that Allah describes the Ka'aba as "a source of guidance for the whole worlds," a phrase that includes the angels.  Thus, we conclude that the most likely answer to the question "Who established God's House on earth?" is God Himself! 

Now we ponder over the location of the Sacred House, which God refers to as "at Bacca." We know that the city of the Sacred House today is known as "Mecca." Some scholars believe that the letters M and B are interchangeable; this is especially true in a person suffering from the flu because they pronounce Ms and Bs very similarly.  

But we prefer an explanation that considers the linguistic origins of both words, "Mecca" and "Bacca." "Bacca" is derived from Bak, which refers to a very crowded place.  This is a perfect description of the location of the Holy Ka'aba because it is always packed with people.  If you were blessed with a visit to Mecca for Hajj or Umrah, you know well that the circumambulation (Tawaf) close to the Ka'aba can be a very challenging proposition.  

"Mecca," on the other hand, is derived from Mak, which refers to a hungry calf that dries up the mother's milk.  Mecca is a city in the middle of the barren desert that does not offer much water or food.  Visitors often arrive hungry and thirsty and draw on its resources.  Thus, we understand that Mecca refers to the city that houses Bacca, while Bacca is the ground where the Sacred Haram is built.  

As for the word "blessed," derived from the Arabic root ب ر ك (Ba Ra Ka), it means something that is steady and stable.  We often say, "This money is blessed" (or "has barakah"), meaning that there always seems to be more, no matter how much you spend.  We use similar words to describe a pond that collects rainwater and continually replenishes itself.  Likewise, "blessed is God" means that God is the truth; He is the ever-constant and perpetual, the One and Only.  Allah described the location of His Sacred House as blessed.  How, you may ask?  We answer that the Ka'aba is the most generous place to its visitors because it multiplies the rewards of good deeds by a thousandfold or more.  Is there a blessing better than this?  It is also "guidance for the whole worlds," because it guides people to Paradise. 

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, "He who performs Hajj and refrains from obscene or immoral acts, will return to his family free from sin as the day his mother gave birth to him."  And, in another Hadith, "Allah will expiate the sins committed between performing two Umrahs.  A Hajj, performed properly, has no reward but Paradise." Lastly, Aisha, may God be pleased with her, said that she heard the Prophet say, "There is no day in which more people are pardoned from Hellfire than the Day of Arafa.  God is close to the pilgrims on that day.  He boasts before the angels and says, 'Look at my servants: they made it here from all places, ragged and tired, seeking My mercy.  I want you to bear witness that I have forgiven them.' The angels would say, 'Our Lord, among them is so and so who has overburdened himself with sin.' Allah answers, 'I have forgiven them.'"

We ask, is there a more blessed place, or a place that guides people to their salvation more than this?  God says:

The first House of worship to be established for humankind was the one at Bacca.  It is a blessed place and a source of guidance for the whole worlds.  (Chapter 3: Verse 96)