If you haven't, please read the previous part first: Analysis on Islam: The Untold Story (1 of 3)
Lot resided far from Mecca
Holland also questions a few verses of the Holy Qur’an, one of which is verse 138 of Chapter 37 Al-Saffat
[37:138] And surely you pass by them in the morning,
[37:139] And by night…
The context of these verses is of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) and Holland questions that surely Lot and his people resided near Syria and not in Mecca, why then God says you pass by them in day as well as in night when Muhammad resided in Mecca.
Answer
This was the trade route the Disbelievers used to follow day and night. They would see the ruins of the people of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) frequently.
Even if the disbelievers’ trade route wasn’t by the ruins of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him), the statement of the Holy Qur’an holds true. Qur’an is for all people. The people of Mecca and the people who passed by the ruins of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) are all included. We, humans, have been to the moon. Do we not address ‘humans’ as one humanity here? Can the Holy Qur’an not say it too?
Christian Writers
Holland talks about the Christians writers of Jerusalem who wrote about the Arab conquest of Jerusalem. They wrote that the Arabs called themselves believers. They believed in one God and followed an instructor or a guide. Holland questions: believers of what? Who is this instructor?
Answer
This is the exact definition of a Muslim. The Holy Qur’an is full of verses which instruct the Muslims as believers. Is it even worth pointing this out? Who can possibly be the instructor?
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Muslims did not face Mecca
It is alluded that early followers of the new religion (Islam) did not pray towards Mecca according to some Christian writers. They prayed towards a totally different direction.
Answer
Holland doesn’t mention who were those writers nor their era. In any case we know that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) used to pray towards a totally different direction, it was the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Today Al-Aqsa Mosque stands there.
[2:145] Verily, We see thee turning thy face often to heaven; surely, then, will We make thee turn to the Qiblah which thou likest. So, turn thy face towards the Sacred Mosque; and wherever you be, turn your faces towards it…
This verse shows that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) used to pray towards a different direction before turning towards Ka’bah. Great noting is that God himself instructed this change.
Mecca appears once
Holland says Mecca only appears once in the Qur’an and it’s ambiguous.
Answer
It’s true, it only appears once.
[48:25] And He it is Who withheld their hands from you and your hands from them in the valley of Mecca…
This is the verse where Mecca is mentioned. However if we read the next verse which is in the same context:
[48:26] It is they who disbelieved and hindered you from the Sacred Mosque…
Sacred Mosque is mentioned. It becomes self-evident that the Valley of Mecca is a broader landscape that contains a certain Parameter which is referred to as the Sacred Mosque.
Following verses show how the terms: Sacred House, House, Becca, Ka’bah and Sacred Mosque are talking about the same site.
[48:28] Surely has Allah in truth fulfilled for His Messenger the Vision. You will certainly enter the Sacred Mosque…
[2:218] …to hinder men from the Sacred Mosque…
[5:3] …nor those repairing to the Sacred House, seeking grace from their Lord, and His pleasure. And when you put off the pilgrims’ garb and are clear of the Sacred Territory, you may hunt. And let not the enmity of a people, that they hindered you from the Sacred Mosque…
[8:35] And what excuse have they now that Allah should not punish them, when they hinder men from the Sacred Mosque…
[8:36] And their prayer at the House is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands…
[9:7] How can there be a treaty of these idolaters with Allah and His Messenger, except those with whom you entered into a treaty at the Sacred Mosque?...
[9:19] Do you hold the giving of drink to the pilgrims, and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque…
[9:28] O ye who believe! surely, the idolaters are unclean. So they shall not approach the Sacred Mosque…
[17:2] Glory be to Him Who carried His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Distant Mosque…
[22:26] As to those who disbelieve, and hinder men from the way of Allah and from the Sacred Mosque…
[22:27] And remember the time when We assigned to Abraham the site of the House and said, ‘Associate not anything with Me, and keep My House clean…
[5:96] …the same to be brought as an offering to the Ka‘bah…
[5:98] Allah has made the Ka‘bah, the inviolable House, as a means of support…
[2:159] Surely, Al-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the Signs of Allah. It is, therefore, no sin for him who is on pilgrimage to the House…
References to Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) are also mentioned here.
[14:38] ‘Our Lord, I have settled some of my children in an uncultivable valley near Thy Sacred House…
[22:30] ‘Then let them accomplish their needful acts of cleansing, and fulfill their vows, and go around the Ancient House.’
[22:34] In them (offerings) are benefits for you for an appointed term, then their place of sacrifice is at the Ancient House.
[3:97] Surely, the first House founded for mankind is that at Becca, abounding in blessings and a guidance for all peoples.
The word Becca, in arabic, comes from a root word of Baki بكى which means: to cry. Mecca is mentioned as Becca because people used to come as pilgrims and used to cry at Ka’bah. It appears Holland’s knowledge is limited since his research is limited to only English translation of few verses of the Holy Qur’an.
[3:98] In it are manifest Signs; it is the place of Abraham; and whoso enters it, enters peace. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty which men…
[2:126] And remember the time when We made the House a resort for mankind and a place of security; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of Prayer. And We commanded Abraham and Ishmael, saying, ‘Purify My House...
[2:128] And remember the time when Abraham and Ishmael raised the
foundations of the House...
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If, even after this, it feels that mentioning of Mecca is cryptic, please use the comments section below.
This article has been broken into three easily digestible chunks.
The previous part: Analysis on Islam: The Untold Story (1 of 3)
The next part: Analysis on Islam: The Untold Story (3 of 3)
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