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the pilgrims kiss the Stone or po<strong>in</strong>t at it with reverence, they<br />

do so <strong>in</strong> remembrance of Muhammad, the wise peace-maker.<br />

The po<strong>in</strong>t may become clearer by comparison. It is a natural<br />

th<strong>in</strong>g for a good patriot return<strong>in</strong>g from exile, or a fight<strong>in</strong>g<br />

soldier com<strong>in</strong>g back from the battlefield to do certa<strong>in</strong> th<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

upon reach<strong>in</strong>g the borders of his beloved homeland. For ex-<br />

ample, he may kiss the ground at the borders. or embrace<br />

with deep emotions the first few compatriots he meets, or<br />

show admiration for some landmarks. This is considered<br />

normal and appreciable, but no one would th<strong>in</strong>k that the pa-<br />

triot or the soldier worships the ground or deifies his fellow<br />

compatriots or attributes some Div<strong>in</strong>e qualities to the land-<br />

marks. The behavior of the pilgrims should be <strong>in</strong>terpreted <strong>in</strong><br />

a similar way. The Ka'bah at Mecca is the spiritual center of<br />

<strong>Islam</strong> and the spiritual homeland of every Muslim. When the<br />

pilgrim reaches Mecca his feel<strong>in</strong>gs would be like those of a<br />

patriot com<strong>in</strong>g home from exile or a triumphant soldier re-<br />

turn<strong>in</strong>g from a decisive battle. This is not a figurative <strong>in</strong>ter-<br />

pretation. It corresponds with the facts of history. The early<br />

Muslims were expelled out of their home and forced to live<br />

<strong>in</strong> exile for years. They were denied the right to worship <strong>in</strong><br />

the Ka'halu the most Sacred House of God <strong>in</strong> existence.<br />

When they returned from exile, the Ka'bah was their ma<strong>in</strong><br />

dest<strong>in</strong>ation. They joyfully entered the Sacred Shr<strong>in</strong>e, de-<br />

stroyed all the idols and images there<strong>in</strong>, and completed the<br />

rites of Pilgrimage.

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