========BIBLE=========

LONGING FOR GOD’S HOUSE

How I love your Temple, Lord Almighty!

How I want to be there! I long to be in the Lord’s Temple. With my whole being I sing for the joy to the living god. Even the sparrows have built a nest and the swallows have their own home; they keep their young near your altars. Lord Almighty, my king and my God.

How happy are those who live in your Temple, always singing praise to you.

How happy are those whose strength comes from you who are eager to make the “Pilgrimage” to Mount Zion.

As they pass through the “dry Valley of Bacca.”

[Psalms 84 : 1 -6 ]

=======The Holy Qur’an =========

And remember when Abraham and his son Ishmael were raising the foundations of the house (Ka’ba at Mecca), saying, “Our Lord! Accept this service from us, Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

“Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us all the ceremonies of Pilgrimage and accept our repentance. Truly, you are the one Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.

[Qur’an 2 :127, 128]

Verily, the first House of worship appointed for all mankind was that at “Bacca (Mecca),” full of blessing, and a guidance for mankind.

In it are manifests signs, the place of Abraham; whosoever enters it, he attains security. And Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (Ka’ba) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses; and whoever disbelieves, then he is a disbeliever , then Allah stands not in need of any of the mankind.

Say: “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you reject the Ayat of Allah (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) while Allah is witness over what you do?”

[Qur’an 3 : 96 -98]

NOTE : [The *Hajj* (Arabic حج “Ḥaǧǧ”the pilgrimage) to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.

And around three to three and half million people perform pilgrimage around the world per year.

The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to Allah the Lord of the worlds and all that exists.

“Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah – and He is the All-Mighty, All-Wise.”

His is the Kingdom of heavens and the earth. It is He Who gives life and causes death; and He is able to do all things.

He is the “First” (nothing is before Him) and the “Last” (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is All-Knower of every thing.

He it is Who created the Heavens and the earth in six days and then rose over the “Throne” in a matter that suits His Majesty. He knows what goes into earth and what comes forth from it, and what descends from the heaven and what descends thereto. And He is with you (by His knowledge) wheresoever you may be. And Allah is All-Seer of what you do.

His is the Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth. And to Allah return all the matters for decision.

[The Glorious Qur’an 57 : 1 – 6]