Answering Questions Through The Holy Qur'an: Do Muslims worship the moon, the Kaaba, or a black stone?

Do Muslims worship the moon, the Kaaba, or a black stone?

41:37 And of His Signs are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun and nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allah , Who created them, if it should be Him alone that you worship.

(It is explicitly forbidden to worship the moon (41:37)) (Allah knows best)

37:95 He said, "Do you worship that which you carve 37:96 While Allah created you and that which you do?"

(It is explicitly forbidden to worship something carved (e.g., the Kaaba) (37:95)) (Allah knows best)

2:143 And thus We made you a community of the middle way so that you will be witnesses over mankind, and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We didn’t make the direction of prayer (l-qib’lata) which you were used to except that We make evident (he) who follows the Messenger from (he) who turns back on his heels. And indeed, it was certainly a great (test) except for those whom Allah guided. And Allah will not let go waste your faith. Indeed, Allah is Full of Kindness towards mankind, the Most Merciful. 2:144 Indeed, We see the turning of your face towards the heaven. So surely We will turn/direct you (falanuwalliyannaka) to the direction of prayer (qib’latan) that pleases you. So turn/direct (fawalli) your face towards the direction (shatra) of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. And wherever you are, (so) turn/direct (fawallu) your faces towards its direction (shatrahu). And indeed, those who were given the Book, surely know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.

(The Qur’an does not say that you must worship the Kaaba; rather, the Verse confirms that it is a “direction of prayer.” While disbelievers falsely claim that Muslims worship the Kaaba, Verse 2:144 explicitly commands: “turn your face towards the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam.”) (A “direction / its direction” (shatra / shatrahu) implies the line, course, or point toward which you move to get somewhere. It also means the “front part” or “facing someone or something,” etc.) (“Facing” implies being “turned/orientated toward” something as a matter of obeying God, rather than worshiping a place on earth) (In Verse 2:144, the word for “turning” (Waw-Lam-Ya), translated as “turn” or “direct,” is used in the imperative form (fawalli), functioning as a command to orient oneself in one direction) (In Verse 2:144, it is noted that the Prophet was previously turning his face towards the heaven; this did not mean he worshiped the heaven. Similarly, turning toward the Kaaba implies obeying God, not worshiping the creation) (In conclusion, you turn toward/follow a certain direction/course/route that ends at Al-Masjid Al-Haraam to fulfill God’s command. Nowhere does the Qur’an tell you to worship none other than God; turning your face towards that direction is an act of worship directed solely to Him) (Another point is that a “direction of prayer” does not say or imply that the earth is flat. See the link below: “Does the Qur’an say the Earth is flat?”) (The root of “qib’lata” (direction of prayer) is “Qaf-Ba-Lam” and it means “to accept, to face someone / something, the front part; qabala – turn towards; qibala – in the direction of, toward, etc.”) (The root of “shatra” is “Shiin-Tay-Ra” and it means “the direction of, towards, etc.”) (And the root of “wallu” is “Waw-Lam-Ya” and it means “turn, follow, etc.”) (Allah knows best)

28:29 Then when Moses fulfilled the term and was traveling with his family, he saw a fire in (the) direction (of) Mount Tur. He said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I perceive a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there some information or a burning wood from the fire so that you may warm yourselves." 28:30 But when he came (to) it, he was called from the right side (of) the valley in the place even, blessed, from the tree [that], "O Moses! Indeed, I Am Allah, (the) Lord (of) the worlds.

(A direction is an earthly place you can go to (28:29-30)) (Allah knows best)

2:115 And for Allah (is) the east and the west, so wherever you turn, there is the face of Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.

6:52 And (do) not send away those who call their Lord in the morning and the evening, desiring His Countenance. Not (up)on you (is) anything of their account, and not (up)on them (is) anything of your account. So were you to send them away, you would then be of the wrongdoers.

3:95 Say, Allah has told the truth, then follow the religion of Abraham, upright; and he was not of the polytheists. 3:96 Indeed, the first House set up for mankind was that at Bakkah, blessed and a guidance for the worlds. 3:97 In it are clear signs, the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it - is safe. And to Allah upon the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to it a way. And whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.

66:6 O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over it are Angels, stern (and) severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He Commands them but they do what they are commanded.

(Stones are creation (e.g., the black stone is a creation). Muslims do not worship the black stone. It is forbidden to worship none other than God (6:164)) (Allah knows best)

21:52 When he said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?" ... 21:66 He said, "Then do you worship besides Allah that which does not benefit you in anything nor harms you?

(Statues can be made of stone. According to these Verses, you cannot worship statues) (Allah knows best)

21:98 Indeed, you and what you worship besides Allah are the firewood of Hell. You will come to it. 21:99 If these had been gods, they would not have come to it. And all will abide therein forever.

38:75 He said, "O Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating to (one) whom I created with My Hands? Are you arrogant or are you of the exalted ones."

(According to Verses 38:75 and 7:12, “prostration” is not about “worshiping the creation,” but about worshiping God / obeying God’s Command. So, it is a matter of obedience (e.g., you are commanded to prostrate), not a matter of committing idolatry) (Allah knows best)

7:12 (Allah) said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" (Iblees) said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and You created him from clay."

(For example, Christians, Jews and Hindus are those who worship the creation (polytheism); by following what their monks and rabbis invent, or invoking the creation as if it were a deity, or making stone images of Buddha or Jesus, etc. See the links below: “How the Qur’an corrects Christianity?”, “How the Qur’an corrects Judaism?”, “How the Qur’an corrects Buddhism?”, and “How the Qur’an corrects Hinduism?”) (Allah knows best)

13:36 And those to whom We have given them the Book, rejoice at what has been revealed to you, but among the groups (are those) who deny a part of it. Say, "I have only been commanded to worship Allah, and not associate partners with Him. To Him I call, and to Him is my return."

3:51 Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is the straight path."

4:116 Indeed, Allah does not forgive to associate partners with Him, but He forgives other than that for whom He wills. And whoever associates partners with Allah, then surely he lost the way, straying far away.

4:48 Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives other than that for whom He wills. And whoever associates partners with Allah, then has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.

16:49 And to Allah prostrate whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures, and the Angels, and they are not arrogant.

2:198 There is no sin upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord. And when you depart from Mount Arafat, then remember Allah near the Sacred Monument. And remember Him as He has guided you, though, before that, you were surely among those who went astray.

(You remember God while directing yourself towards a monument or being near a monument (2:198). Remembering God implies “praying to God” (2:238-239), rather than worshiping the creation) (Muslims also mention the name of Allah over cattle (22:36); this does not mean that they worship the cattle, but rather the context is obedience to God and being grateful to God (22:36-37)) (Allah knows best)

19:42 When he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and does not benefit you in anything?

(Muslims do not worship that which does not hear or does not see (e.g., stones)) (Allah knows best)

4:58 Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Indeed, Allah excellently advises you with it. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

37:86 Is it falsehood - gods other than Allah - (that) you desire?

See also: Why was the direction of prayer (Qibla) changed?

http://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2016/04/why-did-allah-change-direction-of.html

See also: Does the Qur’an say the Earth is flat? How can a Muslim face the Qibla/Mecca/Kaaba?

http://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2017/04/is-earth-spread-out-and-flat.html