People go through all hardships so as to come to visit the...

People go through all hardships so as to come to visit the Kaaba with love and as soon as their eyes fall on the House of their Beloved, they start prostrating themselves and forgetting all hardships.

They will say lovingly: “O Lord of the House, the House is Yours and the servant is Yours.” How lovingly pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba Speaking about Hajj in the last part of sermon I of Nahjul Balagha, Imam ‘Ali (as) describes people as such: يَرِدونهُ وُرودَ الأنعامِ ويألَهونَ إليهِ وُلوهَ الحَمامِ . “...

The people go to it as beasts or pigeons go towards spring water.” Like thirsty camels reaching water or pigeons flying towards their chicks in the nest, the pilgrims rush towards the House of the Beloved so enthusiastically that one has the impression that they have lost their control.

People’s inclination towards the Kaaba, unusual By thinking about what the Holy Qur’an and Imam ‘Ali (as) have said, we will realize the fact that inclination towards the Kaaba (for those who are sound instinctively) is not ordinary inclination, rather there is a divine attraction in it. There is the same attraction towards the household of the Holy Prophet (saw) being the result of Prophet Ibrahim’s supplication and God’s answering him: فَاجْعَلْ أفْئِدَةً مِنَ النّاسِ تَهوي إلَيْهِم. “..

Therefore, make the hearts of some people yearn towards them... (the Holy Qur’an; 14:37)” When, carrying out God’s order, Prophet Ibrahim (as) brought his wife Hagar and the infant Ismaeel (Prophet Ishmael) to al-Hijaz desert and had to leave them alone there, raising his hands towards the sky, supplicated: رَبّنا إني أَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرّيّتِي بِوادٍ غَيْرِ ذي زَرْعٍ عِنْدَ بَيْتِكَ المُحَرَّمِ رَبّنا لِيُقيموا الصّلاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أفْئِدَةً مِنَ النّاسِ تَهوي إلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُمْ مِنَ الثّمراتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرونَ.

“O our Lord! Surely, I have settled a part of my offspring in a valley unproductive of fruit near They Sacred House, our Lord! That they may keep up prayer; therefore, make the hearts of some people yearn towards them and provide them with fruits; haply they may be grateful. (The Holy Qur’an; 14:37)” Why should guardians of spirituality be settled in a desert Why should the offspring of Prophet Ibrahim (as) be settled in an uncultivated land far from civilization? What is the advisability?

Is it because they are the guardians of the spirituality of human society, keeper of prayer, God’s remembrance, and secret of servitude in the world?

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