Editorial

Showing Reverence to the House of Allah

The Ka’bah is the heart, and Makkah is the mother of cities. It is the homeland of humanity, the dear home of the most beloved servant of Allah, and a haven for all who seek the safety Allah promises. Entering such a sacred place is not without its requirements, however. Visiting the holiest site brings with it the overarching precept of maintaining the utmost adab, upholding the finest possible manners encased in humility and kindness, diligently striving to follow the principles, and fulfilling the duties of this magnificent journey. Every step we take during this journey should be with reverence to the sanctity Allah has vested in these special places and times. We must be mindful of our thoughts and actions while we are guests in His house because His house is His domain, His sovereignty. From another perspective, we are, in fact, in His sovereignty at all times. All creation is His property, and there is nowhere in the universe that we can find an exception to this. So, that begs the question; can we afford to not be wary of what we think and do in His sovereign domain and under His all-encompassing gaze?

Despite the immensely exalted worth of the Ka’bah in the eyes of Allah, there is something worthier still in His sight: the heart of a believer. This is evidenced by the hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam): “O Ka’bah! How good you are and how good your fragrance; how great you are and how great your sanctity. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the sanctity of the believer is greater before Allah than your sanctity.” Yet if we argue and fight with other Muslims and break their hearts, especially in extraordinary times and places where we are supposed to be strengthening our unity, won’t that be a greater offense than one committed against the Ka’bah? Indeed, as friends of Allah have said: “Breaking a believer’s heart is worse than tearing down the Ka’bah.” What should we do to ensure that such a grievous wound isn’t opened on a Muslim brother’s heart by our hands then? The answer is simple but challenging to implement. We need to sacrifice our nafs along with all its desires, pride, ire, and obsessions just as we sacrifice udhiyah on Eid al-Adha.

As it is the season of hajj, Muslims are already beginning to amass in the holy cities of Haramayn, namely Makkah and Medinah, to visit the house of Allah and the sacred sites, hopefully, to have their hearts purified and their faces brightened with the downpour of mercy and forgiveness. Those of us gifted with the opportunity to be at the heart of this holiest of places in this hallowed season should try and make the most of this unique gift to please Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), not just with our actions but with our adab and intentions as well.

May Allah grant us a mabrur hajj, a blessed Eid al-Adha, and help us succeed in pleasing Him with our efforts during this time. See you in the next issue inshallah.

M. Galip Dönmez