Why do muslims pray in ONE direction?

Question

Why do muslims pray facing mecca? Why? Is allah ONLY at mecca? If allah is all over the place, why can't muslims pray in ANY direction???

Obviously, there MUST be something at mecca that muslims are praying to. Do you know what it is? I understand its that stone in the ka'aba.

So, muslims are praying to that stone idol all this while!

Please provide sensible answers and don't say you're not worshipping it despite you fellas kissing it, spending tons of money visiting it, and talking to it everyday. If that is not worship, then what is? You fellas need a jab.

Can the faceless ms smile please check yourself before you post anything, you're occupying space here with your rubbish without answering the question.

Seems like nobody is answering the question...I'm only getting some quacks here.

I didn't know the heavens threw down stones for you to worship! That's new.

Answer 1

One word: UNITY! :-D

Muslims pray TO nothing but God. We pray TOWARD the Kaaba, and the stone has historical importance only. Those who wish to kiss the stone do so because they think it will give them a feeling of being closer to Abraham (saws) and thus closer to God, however it has nothing to do with Islamic teachings. Some Muslims also kiss the Quran, but it doesn't mean we worship it. Muslims also kiss each others cheeks, but that doesn't mean we worship each other, lol!

Edit:
Just in case you didn't already know, the Kaaba was built by Abraham and was the very first house built to worship God. That is why it has such significance in Islam.


Edit:
Why do I get that feeling that you are not looking for answers, but rather looking for support from other ignorant posters? Almost everyone here has given excellent answers, but you refuse to se them because they are not the answers you wanted to hear. Well, life is like that. Sometimes you have to accept a little reality when you want truth.

Answer 2

1. It is a known fact to Muslims that we don't worship the Kaaba but only worship Allah Ta'ala and Him alone. There is sufficient evidence to substantiate our stand and belief. Categorically, we explicitly deny worshipping the Kaaba nor the structure of the Kaaba. Hence, no worshipper (in his right frame of mind) can deny the thing he or she worships. In other words, Muslims deny worshipping the Kaaba and it is not a symbol of worship. The Kaaba is only a direction of worship.
2. When performing Salaat, even if the thought of facing towards the Kaaba is absent from the mind too, the salaat is valid. However, many Musallies that enter the masjid and begin performing salaat without having the faintest idea that they are facing the direction of the Kaaba, still have their salaat intact. Had we been worshipping the Kaaba, then it would have been a prerequisite condition to first intend facing the Kaaba before beginning any salaat.
3. If at anytime the structure of the Kaaba is destroyed then too, it will be compulsory to perform salaat facing the direction of the Kaaba . Therefore, we can say without a shadow of doubt that Muslims do not worship its stone structure, otherwise by its destruction Salaat would immediately come to a temporary stop.
4. If a person decides to perform salaat on the roof of the Kaaba, the Salaat will be valid. Therefore had we worshipped the Kaaba then Salaat performed above it would be incorrect; because firstly, the thing worshipped must appear in front and secondly, it is utterly disrespectful and disgraceful to the thing worshipped by standing on top of it. Imagine anyone standing above their Creator and Maker of this universe.
Imagine if there was no one direction to face then everyone would have faced all directions which may have caused dissent and disunity in the heart of the Muslims. Therefore it was essential to provide a common direction for the Muslims throughout the world.
Why do we face toward the Kaaba in particular and not any other selected direction?
No one has the right to ask such a question. However, Allah (Ta'ala-The exalted) is omniscient and He alone knows what direction is appropraite for us to pray.Allah's intellect is infinite while man is finite

Answer 3

mecca is the city where the kaaba is situated. it is where Muslims point to and pray... Muslims believe in unity and therefore it is better to determine one place to worship towards... often they pray in groups so how would it look that ten people are facing one direction and ten the other.... The Quran also mentions the kaaba as a direction (2:144)
and as far as it being an idol... well Muslims even used to give the Adhan (call for prayer) by standing on top of the kaaba. if it was a symbol for God then Muslims would never have done that... and besides if you are in the middle of a place where it is difficult to determine the direction then one can pray in any direction he wants to bcoz the Quran says that Allah is the lord of all the places(70:40)

Answer 4

We Muslims pray to the direction of Kaaba (in Mecca) for several reasons: 1. Because Allah (the most exalted and high) commanded us to pray facing the Kaaba 2. Because our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed facing the Kaaba While the above two reasons are more than enough proof for us to not question it, the following can also be said as the reason: 3. So that all Muslims pray towards one common point, which reinforces the brotherhood of Muslims all across the world irrespective of color, race, language etc. Not only that, but the call to prayer and the prayer itself has to be in Arabic with no exceptions - also reaffirming this principle of universality 4. To reinforce the association to the prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) and his belief of monotheism - who is central to Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The Kaaba was built by Abraham (peace be upon him) and Ismail (peace be upon him) and the call to Hajj (the annual pilgrimage of Muslims) was first given out by him by the command of his Lord - Allah (the most exalted and high) And finally, a sincere word for you, my friend is that if you seek the truth, you will eventually be led to it. Please listen to scholars like Bilal Philips, Yusuf Estes, Abdurrahman Green and others. These people have searched and found the way to truth, and were not born Muslims. Just give truth a chance and see where it can lead you. Life is too precious to be wasted in mockery and ridicule of faith. May Allah guide you to truth and may He grant you success in this life and the hereafter. Thanks...

Answer 5

That stone my stupid friend is known as the Hujr-e-Aswad and it was sent from the heavens when Abraham was building the House of God at Mecca. The Muslims do not pray to this stone they gather at the house of Allah to pray to him and Muslims all over the world face the Kaaba which is in Mecca to pray that is the way Allah decreed upon the wish of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Answer 6

Originally the point of adoration, to which a Jew or Muslim would turn to pray was Jerusalem. Muhammad indicated to those in his court one day that the Davidic King, King of all Israel, who was present at the time, was their lord. The Israelite converts in attendance took that to mean that when Muhammad passed on He would leave them in charge. Muhammad cleared the matter up later declaring that all would be equal before God and that the Israelites would not be left in charge. The Israelites turned on Muhammad at that point to betray and murder Him. They joined with Abu Sufian who was attempting to assasinate Muhammad. Muhammad prevailed however and as a result of the traitorous actions of the Israelites changed the point of adoration to Mecca. Imagine how things would be today if the point of adoration were still Jerusalem. Our view of religion would be significantly different. We would have come to see Islam and the religion of Moses as one religion.

The Muslims only pray to God. There is One God only. The God of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad is the same God.

Answer 7

Question:When Islam is against idol worship why do the Muslims worship, and bow down to the Kaaba in their prayer?

Answer:

Kaaba is the Qibla i.e. the direction Muslims face during their prayers. It is important to note that though Muslims face the Kaaba during prayers, they do not worship the Kaaba. Muslims worship and bow to none but Allah.
It is mentioned in Surah Baqarah:

“We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens: now shall We turn thee to a Qiblah that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque: wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction.” [Al-Qur’an 2:144]

1. Islam believes in fostering unity
For instance, if Muslims want to offer Salaah (Prayer), it is possible that some may wish to face north, while some may wish to face south. In order to unite Muslims in their worship of the One True God, Muslims, wherever they may be, are asked to face in only one direction i.e. towards the Kaaba. If some Muslims live towards the west of the Kaaba they face the east. Similarly if they live towards the east of the Kaaba they face the west.

2. Kaaba is at the Centre of the World Map
The Muslims were the first people to draw the map of the world. They drew the map with the south facing upwards and north downwards. The Kaaba was at the centre. Later, western cartographers drew the map upside down with the north facing upwards and south downwards. Yet, Alhamdullilah the Kaaba is at the centre of the world map.

3. Tawaf around Kaaba for indicating one God
When the Muslims go to Masjid-e-Haram in Makkah, they perform tawaf or
circumambulation round the Kaaba. This act symbolizes the belief and worship of One God, since, just as every circle has one centre, so also there is only one Allah (swt) worthy of worship.

4. Hadith of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)
Regarding the black stone, hajr-e-aswad, there is a hadith (tradition), attributed to the illustrious companion of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).
According to Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, book of Hajj, chapter 56, H.No. 675. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Prophet (pbuh) touching (and kissing) you, I would never have touched (and kissed) you”.

5. People stood on Kaaba and gave the adhaan
At the time of the Prophet, people even stood on the Kaaba and gave the ‘adhaan’ or the call to prayer. One may ask those who allege that Muslims worship the Kaaba; which idol worshipper stands on the idol he worships?

Answer 8

Hhhhmmm...you do point out some good facts. I would assume they pray to the east because of Mecca.

Now, as a Jew, we pray to the east because of the city of Jerusalem: The holiest place on earth. It's where the remenance of the Temple stands...and the Dome of the Rock: Both are great places for both the Muslims and Jewish faith.

Answer 9

u don't want to know anything, u hate Islam and Muslims, fine! just don't judge people without having enough proofs,
u r so arrogant.
and u know what we r happy as we r, happy with our pray, happy with our prophet (pbuh) happy with our religion, happy with our history, and if it wasn't a right and great religion u wouldn't find that every day so many people all over the world are becoming Muslims, some of them are Christians, Jewish, and from all the religions, and none of all of us change his religion of being Muslim to being christian or any other religion, and never have.
so what do u really want? u don't want to educate yourself about Islam or Islamic history, u just want to judge us coz u hate us, coz u think we're all terrorists, well there are terrorists of all religions, and we never think that being a terrorist is right or religious, we hate it too, and Allah didn't say kill people. so don be a discriminator, accept others and other cultures and religions, and don judge people.

Answer 10

at the beginning of Islam Muslims , Jews and Christians all were facing Jerusalem when they pray and then later Muhammad ask Muslims to face Mecca. It is sort of independence for Muslims from other religions.