Inside Mecca

Mecca, an Islamic holy place in Saudi Arabia, has the Great Mosque, the Ka'ba and the Hajj pilgrimage. The muslims do not worship the Kaaba. the Muslims worship and bow to none but Allah. Muslims often narrate that they take Non Muslims to a tour of their mosque. After the tour is finished, the Non Muslims would start looking around the mosque and the Muslims would ask them. Bro! Anything special you are looking for? The Non Muslims asks, "where is the idol you worship?" The Muslim has a good laugh at that and then explains that we Muslims do not worship any idol, we worship the One true God. Islam is against idol worship. A question then asked by Non Muslims is that when Islam is against idol worship why do the Muslims worship, and bow down to the Kaaba in their prayer? This is a valid question, so lets analyze wheter the Muslims really worship the Kaaba or not. Kaaba is the Qibla i.e. the direction Muslims face during their prayers. It is important to note that though Muslims face the Kaaba during prayers, they do not worship the Kaaba. Muslims worship and bow to none but Allah. It is mentioned in Surah Baqarah Chapter 2 Verse 144, "We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens: now shall We turn thee to a Qiblah that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque: wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction."