Dear pilgrim, remember the sanctity of the Sacred House

It is not hidden from people the sanctity of Makkah and the status of the Ancient House because that is something which Allah explained in His Great Book in many Ayahs. Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) explained it in many Hadiths, and scholars explained it in their books, rituals, and in the books of Tafsir.

1- The matter is clear, but there is no mind to mention the issue again through the following points: Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) says in His Manifest Book : "Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-'Alamin (the mankind and jinns).In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqam (place) of Ibrahim (Abraham )."[Surat Al `Imran: 97 ].

Allah (Glory be to Him) explained in these Ayahs that the Ancient House was the first blessed House that was laid for people, and it is guidance for mankind. This is a great honor and a high status for this House. It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and others from the Hadith of Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the first house that was laid for people. He replied: Al Masjid Al Haram. I asked: Which was next? He replied: Al Masjid Al Aqsa. I asked: How long the interval was between the two? He replied: Forty years. I asked: Which was next? He replied: Wherever you catch Salah, perform it, for this will be a masjid .

2- This Ancient House was the first house that was laid for people to worship and obey Allah. There were many houses built for housing but that was built for the worship of Allah and for people to circumambulate it. It was built by Abraham (peace be upon him) and his son Ishmael. Then the second house that was laid for worship was Al Masjid Al Aqsa which was built by Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham (peace be upon them all). The duration between building the first and the second house was forty years then it was inhabited by Solomon (peace be upon him).

3- This Ancient House is the best house existed on earth and the first House laid for people to worship Allah. Moreover, it is a blessed House for the great reward of offering Salah therein and circumambulating it. All these are causes for atoning and removing sins. Allah (Glory be to  Him) says: "And (remember) when We made the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) a place of resort for mankind and a place of safety. And take you (people) the Maqam (place) of Ibrahim (Abraham) [or the stone on which Ibrahim (Abraham) stood while he was building the Ka'bah] as a place of prayer (for some of your prayers, e.g. two Rak'at after the Tawaf of the Ka'bah at Makkah), and We commanded Ibrahim (Abraham) and Isma'il (Ishmael) that they should purify My House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I'tikaf), or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer)." Allah (Glory be to Him) made this House a direction for people who never get bored of visiting it, but whenever they leave, they yearn to it because of the love and yearning which Allah cast in their hearts and because of the great reward, the raising of degrees, the doubling of good deeds, and atoning of sins.

4- Allah (Glory be to Him) made His Ancient House secure for people and for animals. The game which was made lawful for Muslims to eat outside the House is forbidden to hunt inside the sanctuary of the House until it leaves the House. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Whosoever enters it, he attains security." He must be given security and we should not harm him. People of Pre-Islamic Period knew that and when a person meets the killer of his father or the killer of his brother, he did not harm him until he leaves the House.

5- As Allah (Glory be to Him) made this sanctuary secure for people, He commanded His Prophet Abraham and Ishmael to purify it for those who circumambulate it, those who seclude therein for worship, those who kneal down, and those who prostrate as Allah says in the Ayah: "And (remember) when We showed Ibrahim (Abraham) the site of the (Sacred) House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) (saying): Associate not anything (in worship) with Me, [La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Islamic Monotheism], and sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it, and those who stand up for prayer, and those who bow (submit themselves with humility and obedience to Allah), and make prostration (in prayer, etc.)"

The Prophet (peace be upon him) drew the attentions of people on the day of opening Makkah for Islam that Allah made His Sanctuary secure on the day when He had created the heavens and the earth. The Prophet (peace be upon him) added: Its games are not hunted and its trees are not cut, there is no blood should be shed there, and its found money should not be picked up except for searching for its owner. Therefore, Muslims have to glorify and respect this House as it was for Abraham, Ishmael, and all Prophets including Muhammad (peace be upon him). Muslims have to be careful not to harm or oppress Muslims therein whether they perform Hajj or `Umrah, and they have to purify the House for visitors and worshippers.

6- Muslims have to purify the House and beware not to disobey Allah, and not to harm one another or fight one another therein because sins are multiplied therein in regard to its punishment because the general rule is: A bad deed is recorded one bad deed, but a bad deed committed in the Sanctuary is not as equal as a bad deed committed outside it, therefore Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong (i.e. practise polytheism and leave Islâmic Monotheism), him We shall cause to taste from a painful torment ."

Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the beginning of this Ayah : "Verily! Those who disbelieve and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, and from Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there [as regards its sanctity and pilgrimage (Hajj and 'Umrah )]."

This confirms to us that the House is sanctified and there is no difference between a dweller and a visitor. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) opened Makkah for Islam, he addressed the people saying: This country is sanctified [prohibited to fight therein] by Allah on the day when He had created the heavens and the earth but the people did not consider it sanctified. However, Allah (Glory be to Him) made it lawful for me to fight therein for an hour of the day then its sanctity returned as it had been before, so let the attendent inform the absent. He added: It is not lawful for anyone to shed blood, cut a tree, frighten a game, or pick up something lost except with the intention of searching for its owner: If the game and trees are respected therein, how about a Muslim. The sanctity shall be severer because it is prohibited for anyone to do anything in the Sanctuary to harm people by words or actions, but they have to respect it, to abide by the Shari`ah of Allah, and to glorify His Limits. Moreover, a Muslim should love goodness for his brethren, hate evil for them, and help them for goodness, forbid them from evil, and do not harm anyone by words or actions because it contains: "manifest signs (for example), the Maqam (place) of Ibrahim (Abraham)"

So, Allah made therein manifest signs which scholars explained by Maqam Abraham. The entire Sactuary is considered Maqam where Abraham worshipped his Lord. Of rites of the Sanctity are: `Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina which are all parts of Maqam Abraham in addition to the stone which he used in building. So, Muslims have to protect, preserve, and maintain this Sanctuary from every harm. Scholars agreed upon protecting the House from every harm and sin, facilitating Hajj and `Umrah, helping others for goodness, and stoping harm. The people who harm Muslims inside this Ancient House do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day or at least do not know the rulings of Allah, so they shall have terrible punishment for harming and oppressing others. As for those who believe in Allah and in the Last Day, their faith prevents them from everything that Allah forbade because that place is the greatest on earth. The best place on earth is Makkah then Medina, then Al Masjid Al Aqsa because these three places were given special honor from Allah as they are the best masjids on earth.

We ask Allah with His Beautiful Names and High Attributes to guide Muslims everywhere to things that please Him, reform their hearts and actions, and guide them to fulfill His Rights and keep away from things which He prohibited. We ask Him to grant Muslim good understanding of their religion and to guide our rulers to things which reform the country and the people and to help them fulfill their duties and protect His House and the Medina of the Prophet (peace be upon him) from every harm. We ask Him also to fail the plots of the enemies of Islam and to make them busy with themselves, and to make their destruction in their plots. We ask Him to protect Muslims from their harm, for He is the Most Generous, the All-Hearing, and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.