Language Barrier - Part 7

3 views
Skip to first unread message

Pondering Mind

unread,
Jun 24, 2007, 4:22:55 AM6/24/07
to understanding-qur...@googlegroups.com

I am herein reproducing the article of Brother Ayman in parts which one could access in full at the following link: http://www.free-minds.org/articles/science/language.htm

Language Barrier - (Part - 7)

KAABA(T)

There is absolutely zero evidence of a "pre-quranic" shrine called Kaaba(t). There is an abundance of "pre-quranic" shrines in Arabia and none of them is described as Kaaba(t) in any of the thousands of inscriptions on or around those shrines. In fact, the name Kaaba(t) cannot be found in any "pre-quranic" inscriptions or manuscripts.

We know from the great reading that the "pre-quranic" Arabs adored idols named Allat, Aluzza, and Manwat (see 53:19-20). Those are all Nabataean idols. While Greco-Roman people have always represented their deities with human form, the Nabataeans represented their deities with geometric forms such as square stone blocks, sacred meteorites, or square shapes carved into a stone wall and sometimes enhanced with schematic eyes and nose. Historical sources, such as the Suda Lexicon, state that the Nabataean idol Dhu Al-Shaara's statue is an un-worked square black stone. Maximus of Tyre comments in his book Philosophoumena in the 2nd century AD, that the Arabs had a statue, which was a square stone. There is abundant archeological evidence that stone cubes like the one in the town presently called Maka(t) whose height is slightly longer than the other dimensions is a representation of the idol Dhu Al-Shaara. The pictures below depict some of the archeological evidence in Northern Arabia and Nabataean outposts.

Notice that the stone block on the right bears the name "Dusari", which is Dhu Al-Shaara in Greek. The name Kaaba(t) is never found on or associated with any of the "pre-quranic" Arab cubes, on the other hand we see that the name Dhu Al-Shaara is associated with such cubes. This leads us to the conclusion that in "pre-quranic" times the stone cube was not named Kaaba(t) but it was named Dhu Al-Shaara.

In the fourth century AD, Epiphanius, the bishop of Salamis, Cyprus wrote a letter describing cults such as the Nabataean cult and their celebration of the festival of the birth of Dhu Al-Shaara around the winter solstice. It is interesting that the birth celebrations culminated with bringing forth from beneath the earth the image of the male infant idol, which was carried seven times around the inner sanctuary of the pagan temple. [See Langdon, S., Semitic Mythology, The Mythology of All Races, Vol. V. Boston: Archaeological Institute of America, Marshall Jones Company, 1931, page 19.]

By renaming Dhu Al-Shaara to Kaaba, the pagans have managed to continue the practice of spinning seven times around Dhu Al-Shaara to this day under the guise of following the great reading.

Like the town presently called Maka(t), the stone cube idol was renamed from Dhu Al-Shaara to Kaaba(t) to match the common noun "kaaba(t)" in the great reading. Like the common "maka(t)", which has a meaning that fits in the context of 48:24, as a common noun "kaaba(t)" has a meaning fits in the context of 5:97.

The term "ka3b" is used in Arabic to describe the heel/base of the shoe. In rural areas of Northern Arabia, people still use the expression "ka3b al-wadi" to denote the base of the valley. Hence, the meaning of "kaaba(t) is "base". That meaning fits the context of 5:95 and 5:97:

5:97. The God has made the base the restriction house maintenance for the people and the restriction month and the gift/guidance and the means of control so that you know that The God knows what is in the heavens and the earth and that The God is knowledgeable with everything.

The house is the "base" where people can assemble safely.

2:125. And We made the house an assembly for the people and a safety and take from the persistence of Ibrahim a lesson and We made a covenant to Ibrahim and Ismail that cleanse my house for the passers by, and the remaining, and the humbly hearing and obeying.

This is a natural non-forced meaning like the house of representatives is the base of legislation where they assemble safely to make laws.

Historians differ on what Dhu Al-Shaara is. Some think that it is a mountain in Arabia while others think that it is heavenly body such as the sun or Venus. The Nabataeans were expert astronomers and they even used a calendar based on the Zodiac. They were also sea-faring people who traveled to all corners of the ancient world. Thus, they must have seen many mountains all over the world that are higher and more majestic than any mountain in Arabia. Hence, it is highly unlikely that Dhu Al-Shaara was some mountain in Arabia. Archeologists also have evidence that the idol Al-Uzza was Venus. Thus, this leaves us with the sun as the most likely Dhu Al-Shaara. The celebration of the idol's birth around the winter solstice is also an indication of a relationship to the sun. The present cube structure of Dhu Al-Shaara in Saudi Arabia also has evidence of its pagan purpose. For example, the cube is aligned such that the Southeast corner is in the direction of the winter sunrise. Interestingly, in that corner lies the so-called Black Stone, which is the most revered object by sectarians who love to kiss and fondle it.

Facing the winter sunrise during prayer was the common pagan practice. It was also the common Christian practice as evident from early Christian churches such as Hagia Sophia and Hagia Irene.

The Jews on the other hand, faced Jerusalem.

1 Kings 8:44

"When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name"

The Jewish Talmud also has references to facing Jerusalem.

Tosefta Brachot 3:16

"Those in the north face the south, those in the south face the north, those in the east face the west and those in the west face the east so that all Israel prays toward one place"

Archaeological evidence confirms that synagogues from the "pre-quranic" era were roughly oriented to face Jerusalem. [For example, see: Avi-Yonah, M., Synagogue Architecture. In Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 15, New York: Macmillan, 1971.]

The niche of early congregational sites such as the one in Fustat in predominantly Christian Egypt was aligned with the direction of the winter sunrise. Similarly, other early congregational sites are oriented in a direction too far north of present day Makka(t) and are closer to Jerusalem, indicating that perhaps they were converted synagogues. Yet other congregational sites such as one recently found in Aqqaba, Jordan (The Oriental Institute News and Notes, No. 141, Spring 1994) and the one in 'Ana's castle in Iraq show that the direction of the niche was haphazard. Thus, two alternative conclusions can be made:

The direction of prayer was not important back then as it is now. Hence, people didn't bother to change the niche of early congregational sites that were originally churches or synagogues to face a new location.

Some of the early converts only converted superficially but continued in their Christian, pagan, or Jewish practices.

By studying the great reading, we already found out that a physical direction is not important. (see: What's in the name? ). The archeological evidence simply confirms what we already found out.

(To be Continued)

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

2:2. This is the book no doubt in it, a guidance for the forethoughtful.

This article reflects my personal interpretation of the verses of the reading as of February 3, 2005. I will try to improve my understanding of the great reading and the universe, except if The God wills and perhaps my Lord guides me to what is nearer in rationality. Please verify all information within for yourself as commanded in 17:36, and remember that simply "none" is the forethoughtful answer to 45:6. If The God willed, the outcome of this article will be beneficial .

Our Other Projects:

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages