بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In this post we shall InshaAllah, review the ayahs related to a piece of land declared sacred and forbidden (for fighting) in Quran. The place is a sign of Allah and most people in the world are able to recognize it when they see it. The place is declared guidance for all the world in Al-Quran. As Quran is guidance for all times, people in all eras, can verify the practices established at this place, in case of doubt that some practices may have crept in wrongly in Muslim faith. In this post we will review the ayahs in Al-Quran which help to identify the physical place of the House of Allah:

3:96 إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

The first House appointed for mankind is that at Bakka, full of blessings and of guidance for all worlds.

The first house established for mankind is at Bakka. This house should be considered the first house not as the second ‘Qibla’. The house at Bakka is for guidance for all worlds. Everyone is advised to follow the systems established at that sacred place and leave the alternative systems of their particular sects if they followed sectarian belief system earlier.

Also, important for preservation of Al-Quran is to verify the ‘Qirat’ which is established at this place of guidance. If different versions or so called ‘Qirats’ get canonized (e/g Warsh and Hafz) you would know where to look for guidance i.e which Qirat is established at the House of Allah.

In order not let any confusion with the identity of this sacred place of guidance, Al Quran provides physical characteristics of this place as given below:

1. It is situated in a non-agricultural valley (14:37), where fruits are brought from outside form different parts of the world (28:57)
2. Ancient house (‘Bait ul Ateeq’ in ayat 22:29) around which people circle around. The House at Kaaba is ancient and prehistoric.
3. In a sanctified valley Tuwa (with folds), and practice of taking of one’s shoes at that sacred place (20:12)
4. Near Toor-Sineen, a mountain with broken stones (95:2-3). Near this sacred city is a mountain with broken stones at its top joining to form a certain structure. Several pilgrims visit this mountain as a Holy place.
5. Safa and Marwa (2:158), raised place around which ‘tawaf’ is performed by pilgrims.
6. Spring of water as sign of Allah, All water wells have a limited life time of a few decades and at the most hundred years. However the Zamzam spring is still active as a sign of Allah for hundreds of years with a distinct taste of water from it.
7. Prophet Ibrahim proclaimed Pilgrimage of this place and people flock there on foot or in different type of vehicles (22:27)
8. There is a physical building of Masjid-ul Hararm, 9:19, around which people are provided water.
9. This is a blessed place where you witness ‘barakah’ and security around its surrounding (3:96). Its not a war torn place.
10. A cubic structure with gifts of sacrifice and garlands. When people go around (Tawaf) of the House, looking from above it looks like garlands forming around the house (5:97)
11. The place of the Imam of mankind, where format of salat is preserved, all other mosques face towards this mosque (2:125)
12. People hands are tied around that place due to its sanctity (48:24)
13. People are ordered to make it their direction in their Salat (2:150)

The physical characteristics of this place are described in Quran so that people don’t get misled in believing some other place as the Qibla, the direction of belief and guidance. These characteristics are described in below given ayahs:

Allah’s House is situated in an non-agricultural valley:

14:37  رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

“O’ our Lord surely I have settled from my offspring with a non-agricultural valley near your Sacred House, O’ Our Lord, so that they establish As-Salat, so make the hearts of people loving towards them and provide them with fruits so that they will be thankful.”

Prophet Ibrahim (a.s), who was made Imam and entrusted to keep the House of Allah purified, had some of his off-springs station there and prayed to Allah for ensuring the establishment of Salat at that place. With the system of Salat established there, the people would be rewarded with fruits imported from all over the world in that non-agricultural valley.

The first house blessed and for guidance:

3:96-97  إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ  فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

Without doubt, the first House appointed for mankind is that at Bakka; blessed and of guidance for all worlds. In it are clear ayahs / signs, the standing position of Ibrahim; whoever enters it attains security. And for Allah is pilgrimage of the House on people, those who can afford the journey, but if anyone denies, surely Allah is not in need of any in the worlds.

The first house in the non agricultural valley is blessed and guidance for all worlds.

Attributes of the Holy land and house:

As Allah has many attributes highlighting different aspects of His personality (e.g Ar-Rehman, Ar-Raheem, Al-Jabbar), this sacred place and its surroundings are also mentioned with different attributes in Al-Quran. Some of the attributes are given below:

• Al-Bait (The House)
• Al-Kaaba (The cube)
• Bait ul Ateeq (Ancient House)
• Bait ul Haram (Sacred House 5:97)
• Masjid ul Haram (The Sacred Mosque) 9:19
• Makkah
• Bakkah (root word B K K, meaning busy place)
• The sacred valley of Tuwa (valley of folds)
• Ummul Qura (The mother of towns) 42:7
• Al-Ardh (The land), 21:71 , a piece of blessed land.
• Balad-il-Ameen (City of security) and Allah swears by it 90:1-2
• Mashar-il-Haram (الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ) 2:198, The place to remember and retrospect, after dispersing from ‘Arafat’ with other people, during ‘Hajj’

Blessed piece of Land:

21:71 وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَلُوطًا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا لِلْعَالَمِينَ

And We delivered him (Ibrahim) and Lut to the land which We have blessed for all worlds.

90:1-2 لَا أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ وَأَنتَ حِلٌّ بِهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ

I swear by this city and you (the messenger) are free to dwell in this city.

Cube shaped house:

5:97  جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الْكَعْبَةَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ قِيَامًا لِّلنَّاسِ وَالشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ وَالْهَدْيَ وَالْقَلَائِدَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

 Allah has made the Kaaba, The Sacred House, a place of standing for people, and the sacred month, and the gift, and the garlands/orbits, That you may know that Allah has knowledge of what is in the heavens and in the earth and that Allah is well-acquainted with all things

The cube shaped house i.e Kaaba, has been sanctioned by Allah. Kaaba is recognizable with its cubic structure and the standing of people in prayers (the system of salat is established in that place), and system of Hajj with association of month of Hajj and the offerings at Hajj. The people do tawaf/orbits around Kaaba. These orbits appear as garlands around the Kaaba when seen from above.  

Physical building of Masjid ul Haram:

Masjid-ul-Haram is a physical building in which the cube shaped House of Allah is situated and the pilgrims are provided water around it.

9:19 أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوُونَ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Do ye consider providing drinking water to pilgrims and the building of the sacred Mosque, equivalent to like those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and strive in the cause of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoers.

Symbols of Safa and Marwa:

Safa and Marwa are raised spots near the Sacred house, symbols for its recognition. One who goes for the visit of the sacred House, would circle around them as part of the pilgrimage.

2:158  إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

Surely! Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah, so if any who goes for Hajj or Umra of the House, It is no sin on him, that he goes round them and whoever voluntarily does good, so surely Allah is He who is thankful and knowing.

The valley of folds:

20:12  إِنِّي أَنَا رَبُّكَ فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى

(O’ Moosa) Surely I am your Lord so take off your shoes. Surely you are with the Holy Valley of Tuwa /folds.

The Holy valley is called with the name of ‘Tuwa’ i.e a valley of folds in Quran. The practice of Prophet Moosa (a.s) to take off his shoes in the sacred valley, is followed by pilgrims when entering the House of the Lord.

Spring of Zamzam:

The well/spring of Zamzam is a sign associated with the Kaaba the House of the Lord. This well supplies water and quenches thirst of millions of pilgrims and has been active for thousands of years without drying up. The well retains its water level in matter of minutes.

While the average life span of a well is at most a few decades, the well of Zamzam is a sign of Allah and has been providing water for centuries and is still active in arid desert surrounding.

23:50 وَجَعَلْنَا ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ آيَةً وَآوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَىٰ رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ

And We made the son of Mariam and his mother, a Sign. We gave them shelter on raised ground of tranquility and water.

Prophet Essa (a.s) and his mother Mariam (a.s), also are associated with the Holy land. The signs mentioned will always be there, e.g the well of Zamzam for spring of water and the raised spot of Safwa and Marwa.

Spirit of Hajj:

Prophet Ibrahim was shown the place of the Sacred House and he was entrusted to establish the system of Salat and Tawaf in the house. 

22:26  وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

And when We pointed out the place of the House to Ibrahim “associate not anything with Me; and purify My house for those who go around, and who stand and bow, prostrate.”

In the practice of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s), we are to purify the House of the Lord of evil associations in the minds of people. There are stories in people’s mind that at some point in time the House of the Lord was not pure. That there were physical idols placed inside the House and people used to go around the House, naked.  All these notions are false made out of distorted history. The House of the Lord must always been clean and a place of getting guidance as it is the first House established for mankind for their guidance.  

2:125  وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى ۖ وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

And when We made the house a place of reward and safety for people, and you take from the standing position of Ibrahim, the Musalla (prayers performed). And We covenanted with Ibrahim and Ismaeel that both of you purify My house for those who go around and those who intent upon (do Aetikaf) and those who bow and prostate.

• Please note the system of Masjid Haram identified with:
  Tawaf
• Aetikaf
• Salat (Ruku & Sujood)

When a person disassociates with alternative religious teachings, leaves the sectarian belief system, adopts the guidance of Allah and enters the House of the Lord physically and spiritually, he surely enters into peace and security. He leaves behind him sectarian hatred and enmity.

When you exit from your previous beliefs i.e the beliefs held before the clarity of ayahs, you should redirect your self towards the Masjid Haram and become part of it, so that people cannot argue with your way of salat/prayers. Also, please note that Masjid ul Haram is a physical place we saw in ayahs earlier in this post.

2:150  وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِي وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

And from wherever you come out, so revert yourself to the intersection / portion of the Sacred Mosque  and wherever you are, revert yourselves to its intersection/portion that there would be no ground of dispute over you from the people except those of them that are bent on wickedness, so fear them not but fear Me and that I may complete My favors on you and that you may be guided.

The people who insist that the system of Salat and Tawaf in the Masjid ul Haram/Sacred Mosque is not right, and instead their system is right, should see below ayahs:

8:34-5  وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلَّا يُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُوا أَوْلِيَاءَهُ ۚ إِنْ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ  وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِندَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةً ۚ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ

But what plea they have, that Allah should not punish them when they are in opposition about the Sacred Mosque and they are not its protectors (Walis). No one can be its protectors except those who take guard, but most of them do not understand. Their Salat/prayer near the House is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands, “Taste the penalty because you rejected”.

If you do not follow the system of salat which is established at the Holy House, it is just like whistling and clapping in the eyes of Allah

Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) is the Imam/leader for the mankind and the symbol of pure monotheism and Idol breaker in Quran. He announced Hajj of the House of Allah to the mankind. However this invitation is for those who’s belief is that Allah is the Lord of the House. Those who don’t believe in Allah as the Lord of the House, why bother.

People who intend for the Hajj would seek many means of transportation to plan their arrival at the sacred place. 

22:27  وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ

“And proclaim the Pilgrimage to mankind. They will come to thee on foot and riding from all remote places.”

The place of pilgrimage is identifiable with the forbidding of hunting and damage to flora and fauna of the sacred area.

5:95  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَقْتُلُوا الصَّيْدَ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ ۚ وَمَن قَتَلَهُ مِنكُم مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاءٌ مِّثْلُ مَا قَتَلَ مِنَ النَّعَمِ يَحْكُمُ بِهِ ذَوَا عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ هَدْيًا بَالِغَ الْكَعْبَةِ أَوْ كَفَّارَةٌ طَعَامُ مَسَاكِينَ أَوْ عَدْلُ ذَٰلِكَ صِيَامًا لِّيَذُوقَ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهِ ۗ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَمَّا سَلَفَ ۚ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَيَنتَقِمُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انتِقَامٍ

O you people who believe! Do not kill the game/hunt when you are in Ahram/pilgrim state. If any one does so intentionally, the compensation is an offering similar to the animal killed, brought to the Ka’ba, as adjudged by two just honest men among you; or the atonement is the feeding of the indigents; or its equivalent in fasts. That he may taste of the penalty of his deed. Allah forgave what was past. For the one who repeats, Allah will avenge from him and Allah is exalted, Lord of retribution.

For the pilgrims intending Hajj, keeping sanctity of this sacred place and all its symbols such as ‘Safaa’, ‘Marwa’, ‘tawaf’, etc, is important. The people of various groups and sects will come there with a common cause of getting good pleasure of Allah. At Hajj, the pilgrims are not to show acrimony with any group even if they have problems and hatred with that group before Hajj. In all matters of piety and righteousness, pilgrims are ordered to co-operate with one another and not to co-operate in any matter of rancor, hatred and sin.

5:2  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحِلُّوا شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ وَلَا الشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ وَلَا الْهَدْيَ وَلَا الْقَلَائِدَ وَلَا آمِّينَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَانًا ۚ وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَاصْطَادُوا ۚ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

O you people who believe! Do not violate the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, nor of the sacred month, nor of the gift nor the garlands (crowd formation of garland shape around Kaaba in Tawaf), nor the people resorting to the sacred house, seeking the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But when you are clear (of the sacred precincts and of pilgrim garb), you may hunt and let not the hatred of some people in preventing of the Sacred Mosque, lead you to transgression. Co-operate in righteousness and piety, but do-not co-operate in sin and rancor. Fear Allah, for Allah is strict in punishment.

Allah has bound everyone’s hands in Makkah from fighting in this sacred valley. So whoever succeeds in reaching the valley, then he should not fight and argue with those present there.    

48:24  وَهُوَ الَّذِي كَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ عَنْهُم بِبَطْنِ مَكَّةَ مِن بَعْدِ أَنْ أَظْفَرَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا

And it is He Who has restrained their hands from you and your hands from them in the belly of Makkah, after that He made you successful over them, and Allah sees well all that you do.

Although situated in non-agricultural valley, fruits from all over are brought to this place.

28:57  وَقَالُوا إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدَىٰ مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَا ۚ أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا آمِنًا يُجْبَىٰ إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رِّزْقًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

They say. “If we were to follow the guidance with thee, we should be snatched away from our land.” Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary, to which are brought as tribute fruits of all kinds,- a provision from Ourselves? but most of them understand not.

 Although, the sacred place is a place of peace, some people still get pick pocketed from its surrounding.

29:67  أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَمًا آمِنًا وَيُتَخَطَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْ ۚ أَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ يَكْفُرُونَ

Do they not then see that We have made the ‘Haram’ a place of security, and people are being snatched away from around it? Then, do they believe in that which is vain, and reject the bounty of Allah?

Notes:

Root of Bakka, are B K K, which gives the meaning of a busy place.

2. Some people think that the sacred place is actually ‘Jerusalem’ and not Makkah. The reasoning they give is that according to 2:145-146 the people given al-kitab means the followers of all Abrahmic religions, including Jews, Christians and Muslims. Some think that the ‘zameer’ in يَعْرِفُونَهُ, refers to Qibla and the Qibla common to people of the book should be ‘Jerusalem’. However, even if we assume that the recognition of people like their sons is for ‘Qibla’ and not for the ‘Book’, the majority of Muslims don’t recognize Jerusalem as well as they recognize ‘Kaaba’ in Makkah. A great majority of them cannot distinguish the so called ‘Masjid Aqsa’ with the Dome of the rock and will be confused between the two. So, these ayahs actually negate ‘Jarusalem’ as Qibla. Quran declares the Masjid the environment around it is blessed. We can very well see that the environment around ‘Jerusalem’ is not blessed and is a strife and war torn area.

2:145-146 وَلَئِنْ أَتَيْتَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ بِكُلِّ آيَةٍ مَّا تَبِعُوا قِبْلَتَكَ ۚ وَمَا أَنتَ بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَتَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا بَعْضُهُم بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَةَ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ۙ إِنَّكَ إِذًا لَّمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِّنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Bible vs Quran:

Psalm 84:6 says, “As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools“. 

While Quran identifies its location in a non-agricultural valley.

Ancient house (‘Bait ul Ateeq’ in ayat 22:29) around which people circle around. the House at Kaaba is ancient and prehistoric, while the mosque considered Masjid-ul-Aqsa by majority of people was constructed in Jerusalem between 685 and 715 CE by the Umayyad caliphs Abd al-Malik and his successor al-Walid 1. 

Why physical identification of Kaaba is important, as once you identify it then there is no denying of the guidance emanating from it. You are then committed to the guidance from it. You can not then say that, yes Kaaba is the House of God, but the guidance of the systems established there e.g (Salat and Hajj) are not the correct one- or they are corrupted in my time. It is as if replying to God, God, thank you for your guidance in ayat 3:96, but no thanks, I have better understanding and knowledge than what you have advised, so I will follow what I know is right.

Petra:

A theory proposed by Dan Gibson in recent times suggests that Petra in Jordan is the actual location of the city of Makkah. While some people believe in this theory, there are several points that contradict it.

The major assertion made by Dan Gibson was that early mosques were built in the direction of Petra and not Makkah. However, this claim was refuted by scholar David King in his paper “The Petra Fallacy.” King’s research demonstrates that the early mosques were constructed with the intention of facing the Kaaba, not Petra. This research can be googled on internet. King argues that Gibson’s methodology is flawed because it assumes that early Muslim qibla orientations were based on modern cartographic precision, rather than historical methods of determining direction. King emphasizes that early Muslims used simple folk astronomy, local traditions, and regional conventions to determine the qibla, rather than precise geodetic calculations which was not the available technology to them at that time. He provides extensive historical evidence showing that different regions had varying qibla directions due to different interpretative methods, such as using astronomical risings, wind directions, or approximations based on available knowledge at the time. Ultimately, King asserts that Gibson’s conclusions are based on a misinterpretation of historical practices and that his supposed Petra alignment is a result of selective data and miscalculated assumptions rather than an actual historical reality.

Petra is be easily identified in Quran as the center of people of ‘Thamud’. This nation bore the wrath of Allah for their disobedience and their dwellings are left as a sign of the penalty of Allah. The nation was expert in carving buildings out of mountain which can be verified in Petra. Their houses of carved mountains are preserved as a sign of the Wrath of Allah how this mighty nation was destroyed for their disobedience.

7:74 وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ مِن بَعْدِ عَادٍ وَبَوَّأَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِن سُهُولِهَا قُصُورًا وَتَنْحِتُونَ الْجِبَالَ بُيُوتًا ۖ فَاذْكُرُوا آلَاءَ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ

“And remember how He made you inheritors after the ‘Ad people and gave you habitations in the land. you build for yourselves palaces and castles in (open) plains, and carve out homes in the mountains; so bring to remembrance the benefits (you have received) from Allah, and refrain from evil and mischief on the earth.”

26:149 وَتَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا فَارِهِينَ

“And ye carve houses out of (rocky) mountains with great skill.

26:158 فَأَخَذَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

But the Penalty seized them. Verily in this is a Sign. but most of them do not believe.

Furthermore, the Nabateans were known to be polytheists and statues of their deities were found as well. When Allah declares His House for guidance of all worlds, then its becomes Allah’s responsibility to protect it as well. E.g the ‘Zikr’ of Allah is protected by Divine intervention. Similarly the protection of His ‘Shaair’ and signs is Allah’s responsibility. Quran is Allah’s guidance for all times, past, future and present. One cannot vouche for what happened in the past, but one in his present time can definitely witness the same. For example, the distorted history have let people believe that in some era the House of the Lord was filled with physical Idols. This is definitely against Quran, Quran never state that. House of Allah which is for guidance of mankind for all times, cannot harbor idols at any point in time and this can be witnessed by people living in this era.

Some people contend that the nation of prophet Lut was destroyed near the city of House of Allah and their dwelling was on a major route as per ayat 15:79. Petra is thought to be a major trade route therefore Petra should be the actual Makkah. However, they forget that historically Petra was not a trade route at the time of Prophet Lut. Also, Quran should be talking about a spiritual route i.e Pilgrims route which is can be verified at this time and should be for past and future as well as Quran is valid for all times. Petra had been a hidden city for several hundred years. A person lets say born a couple of centuries before what kind of guidance he could get from Petra and where would he find Kaaba in Petra for pilgrimage. Allah’s ‘Deen’ is established in all times, it is called Deen-an-Qiyaman, which is established and will remain established in all times. It is not possible that the House of Allah which is guidance for all worlds, remains hidden from majority for centuries.

6:161 قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۚ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

In conclusion, the claim that Petra is the real Makkah is highly questionable and lacks substantial evidence to support it. The historical and religious evidence strongly points to Makkah as the true location of the House of Allah.

https://muslimheritage.com/the-petra-fallacy/