Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca

About two million Muslims take part in the annual pilgrimage to Arabia, known as "Hajj". The journey of Hajj begins from the city of Mecca and ends up in Mena. By the fourth day, the Pilgrims and also the Muslims around the world celebrate their Feast of Sacrifice by slaughtering a sheep or cattle. Yearly in the Hajj dozens, if not hundreds of pilgrims die in accidents directly or indirectly related to their religious event. For Muslims, dying in the Hajj is a blessing and an honor for them from Allah. They believe that when a person dies in performing his Hajj duties, it is like being martyred in a holy war, "Jihad", as a sacrifice. His soul will go directly to paradise and escape Allah's judgment day. The Hajj to Ka'ba is the 5th Pillar of Islam. Muslims are obligated to perform it at least once in their life time, except if they have a financial or physical disability (out of Allah's mercy for them).

Salvation in Islam has a lot to do with Ka'ba by daily bowing towards it several times and by visiting it at least once. Therefore Ka'ba is a literal image of Allah and his residency. The Hajj is the most sacred religious event for Muslims. Meanwhile it is also a social gathering and a business appointment. In this period of time, Muslims fulfil their most sacred religious duty, meet to extend their relationships and build unity and use the opportunity to develop business and make material profit. The territorial triangle composed of Mecca, Medina and Jeddah is designed to be the capital religious-social-commercial center of the Islamic world. The period between the 7th, 8th and 9th days of the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar is the time set for the Hajj. The feast of sacrifice is held on the 10th.

FACTS:

Allah of Islam is not a Father. Calling Allah "Father" or Jesus "Son of G-d" is a blasphemy that Allah and his servants hate and punish by capital death.

Muslims Call Jesus "'Isa." However, His name in Arabic is "Yasu'e". 'Isa is a twisted name for Jesus. It is actually "Esau". It is also said that "Isa" was the name of a false god! The point is that Satan in Islam is not even willing to spell Jesus' name correctly. That means that he fears even the name of Yeshua.
Most Muslims never heard about the person of the Holy Spirit and even those who have, believe that He is their prophet Muhammad and falsely interpret John 14:16-17, 25-27. This one of the major keys they also use to deceive weak Christians and lead them to believe that Muhammad is a true prophet. In Matthew 24:26, Jesus clearly warned about a prophet in the desert and that he is a deceiver and an antichrist (that clearly fits with Muhammad).
The spirit of pride and false honor: One of the 99 names of Allah is "Al-Mutakabbir", it means the Prideful one. Therefore, Muslims honor pride and stick to it even to death. YHWH (or Yeshua) never described Himself as a prideful G-d. Instead He says that He opposes the proud. The spirit of religion of Islam: Islam is a religion that promotes the work of the flesh and defends it with zeal even to death. The spirit of self-righteousness: Muslims boast about their religious rituals and Hajj. A Hajj becomes like a holy man, a sinless person after performing his pilgrimage. The spirit of a one world system: Islam is a very well structured religion. Its goal is to unify the whole world under it in all the aspects of the human activities, religion, politics, society and trade. Hajj is a yearly opportunity to stimulate that spirit. The spirit of fear: Allah is a fearful god who requires total submission to his rules and rituals. For example, if a Muslim doesn't pray to Allah daily, before going to heaven he must pass by hell and perform those missed duties. Muslims worship Allah out of fear of punishment on earth and in heaven. The spirit of Babel: The Arabic language of Koran is considered as the language that is going to unify men again under it. The Koran urges Muslims to learn Arabic because it is the very language of Allah!

Muslims believe that Koran is the sign that the curse of Babel has been broken by Allah and a call by him to return to one universal language, the Koran Arabic language. Amazingly, there is a verse in Koran which challenges men and demons to use science to escape from earth and the heavens. He urges them to use science for that purpose. The sign of Babel can be seen also in mosque towers. There is a competition right now going between mosques to see which one will reach the highest levels (Hassan II in Casablanca is the one that breaks the record with its minaret that reaches 170m.) (See Genesis 11:1-9). I discern that Muslims are bound by the spirit of Babel and are under the curse of G-d. I believe that is why Muslims have a lot of conflicts amongst themselves, and can never have peace, even according to the physical dimension. The spirit of the antichrist: Koran denies the deity of Jesus (John 2:22-23). It also denies the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Him, which is the very heart of G-d's message to human beings. Islam fits into all of the characteristics of the antichrist. The body of Islam is a body which is directly designed to be an adversary to the body of Christ and a competitor with it. Islam is a clear picture of the allegory of the beast of the sea in Revelation 13:1-10. The spirit of tradition: Muslims are often controlled by their traditions. They may not believe that they are good but still they feel that they must follow those rules out of duty and by fear of the curse of Muhammad and their forefathers.

The city of Mecca

Mecca is a city in the South West part of the present Saudi Arabia, not far away from the Red sea. Centuries before the rise of Islam, Mecca was serving as the main religious, cultural and commercial center for all of the Arabic tribes. An amazing detail about the city is that it is surrounded by seven hills.

Mecca is also the city which gave birth to Muhammad (the strongest antichrist ever to appear throughout the last 2000 years) and to his religion of Islam. It became the capital of the Islamic empire and the official residency of Allah. Therefore, and since then, Mecca gained the title of being called "almadina almukarrama" (the bountiful/honored city). Muslims' prayers are required to be directed toward the city and its shrine of "Ka'ba." It is also their duty and one of their five pillars of faith to visit the city at least once in their lifetime. Non-Muslims are strictly forbidden to touch the (holy) soil of Mecca. If someone is caught, he will definitely be put to death.

The shrine of Ka'ba

Ka'ba is a cubic shrine in the middle of the city of Mecca. The shrine is covered by an expensive dark cloth made out of silk and satin, embroidered with golden koranic verses (and decorated by gems). On one of the corners of Ka'ba, there is a black stone covered by gold. This stone looks like a kind of meteor that can be found in the asteroid belt. The room inside Ka'ba is a forbidden place to visit. Only the king of the nation, the Imam (priests) of the city, and on rare occasions Muslim kings and princess are allowed to enter that room, (Nobody else knows what is displayed in its interior). Surrounding the shrine from four sides is the huge mosque called "alMasjid alharam". It is capable of holding around two million people at once. Ka'ba and the mosque are considered the most holy places on earth and the represent first direction for prayer. Islam teaches that Allah (the god of Muslims) chose the site of Ka'ba and commanded Adam to build a sanctuary there for the purpose of worship. This event was supposed to have happened right after Adam and Eve were thrown out of the Garden of Eden. Allah gave the black stone to Adam (in order to use it as the corner stone) for building the shrine.

(It is important to notice that, in the Koranic version of the story of Adam's fall, there is no mention of G-d's provision of skin garment 'sacrifice' [Genesis 3:21]. From this window one can see that Islam is a religion that is 100% designed to support the work of the flesh as the requirement for salvation. The blood and sacrifice of a substitute has absolutely no room in Islam). According to Islam, Adam and his descendants for generations worshipped at the 'holy' shrine, but when Noah's flood came the shrine was destroyed and its location remained unknown until the time of Abraham. Furthermore, according to Islam, Allah commanded Abraham and his son Ishmael to rebuild the shrine at the same site and use the black stone remaining there as the corner stone. Meanwhile they restored monotheism by calling all men to worship Allah and to gather at the site for Hajj every year.

According to the Koran, it was Abraham and Ishmael who instituted "Islam". Muhammed came to restore what was corrupted in Islam (that includes Judaism and Christianity) and to seal all prophecies. They also believe that the Well of Zamzam was dug by Ishmael. They believe that the water of Zamzam can heal them from all kinds of diseases. (There is no mention in the Bible that Abraham and Ishmael ever went down to that area. There is no archeological or historical evidence that can prove that Ka'ba existed since the time of Abraham and his son.)

Some other questions can be raised here. For example, if the story was true, why didn't G-d ask Moses and Israel to go to Ka'ba and worship there, instead of making a tabernacle? Why didn't Allah tell David (if he had ever spoken to him) that he already had a house down in Arabia? Why wasn't Jesus ever dedicated to G-d at Ka'ba instead of at the temple? Or at least, why didn't he need to go to fulfill His 'duty' of Hajj as Allah has commanded?).

The best speculation a sincere and logical person can come up with is that Ka'ba was undoubtedly established and Hajj instituted some time during the early AD centuries. There is, in fact, evidence that can prove this speculation. For example, the examination of pre-Islamic Arab poetry....

When Muhammad appeared, Ka'ba was already there and was considered a religious, political and commercial center. Prior to Islam, some 360 idols surrounded it and Allah was their chief god. Interestingly, during Muhammad's early adulthood (before his "prophethood"), Ka'ba had to be renovated and, of course, it was he who had the privilege and honor to re-install the black stone as the corner stone for the new building. Afterward, Muhammad used this fact to prove to the Arabs of his time that he was the messenger of Allah. The moving of the black stone, according to Muhammad, was a sign from Allah to the people that he was Allah's true messenger. Ka'ba has been renovated at least twice during the past 1,400 years. The most recent renovation was just before last year's Hajj. Now, Ka'ba stands anew again like a young, 'beautiful' and strong woman. (She is still ready to receive more and more people to share in her arrogance and adultery. She is using the oil, gold, money and luxury to seduce them and make them her slaves.)

When Muhammad received his prophethood from Allah, he urged his followers to perform the Hajj, even during the time of his escape to, and exile in, Medina. When he defeated the Meccans and seized their city and shrine, he decreed the Hajj and made it a pillar of Islam. He also instituted the rituals relative to it and the times to perform them. Those rituals are the same ones that Muslims perform to this day. However, there are two kinds of Hajj. There is a regular, 'small' one called "Umra", and then the 'great' Hajj, which is officially called "Hajj". Umra can be performed at any time of the year and takes only one day, but Hajj is to be performed only once a year and takes several successive days.

The main point to emphasize is that the city of Mecca and its abominable shrine of Ka'ba have covered and fulfilled most of the characteristics of the Bible's 'harlot'. If you compare the information about Mecca from the physical, historical and spiritual dimensions, it's amazing to note how she perfectly fits into the harlot's picture, as described by John in Revelation 17! Ka'ba as a whole is indeed a literal idol of the false god Allah. She doesn't look like an image or statue, but two strong elements that prove her idol status are the fact that Muslims have to bow their heads toward her and worship her black stone.

During the 1st day of Hajj, pilgrims must spend the day at Mecca and perform the ritual called "Tawaf". They are required to turn seven times around the Ka'ba and try to touch and even kiss the black stone. Kissing the stone is considered a blessing, privilege and honor. Pushing, shoving and elbowing their way, strong pilgrims can reach their goal, but weaker ones are cast out or even stepped on and crushed under the feet of others who are trying to get near the stone. The bodies of those who die in that ritual are to be immediately buried. According to Muslims, this is not barbaric torture, but a sacrifice "Jihad" for the sake of Allah. Of course, the victims' relatives viewthe death of their family member as Allah's blessing for their loved ones and something that gives them honor and pride as well.

Special events

Every Friday afternoon after the "Jumu'a," those who have been sentenced to death, or hand cutting or whipping are to be punished in public, so that people can learn the fear of Allah and his horrible judgments about sin and disobedience. The punishments are held outside the city on a hill. Unfortunately, several Christians, who have been found guilty of worshipping Jesus or giving testimony about him, have been decapitated at that same spot....

One of the other necessary rituals of Hajj is called "Tawafu Assa'y". During the "Tawafu Assa'y" ritual, pilgrims have to walk as fast as they can, back and forth between places called "Assafa" and "Almarwa", chanting verses from the Koran and making their wishes to Allah. Those weak people who have survived the Tawaf of Ka'ba (7 circles around the shrine), are exposed to yet another risk of being trampled beneath the feet of the strong. Therefore, more pilgrims will be 'sacrificed' to Allah on the path between Assafa and Almarwa.

According to Islamic beliefs and tradition, the area between Assafa and Almarwa is the very place where Genesis 21:15-20 took place. Hagar (Allah's chosen wife for Abraham), was the first one who performed that ritual and was supposed to have made a wish to Allah to provide water for her son. Meanwhile, her little boy, who was sitting on the ground and crying, dug a hole in the sand and, miraculously, the water came out as a result of Allah's answer to Hagar's wish. Then, according to Islam, she called the well "Zamzam" (which means hush baby, don't cry anymore!) The story goes on to say that it was at that time Hagar realized why Allah sent her and her son to that desert place. It was supposedly the site where Allah's shrine had rested before. Later, it is said that Allah showed Ishmael and his father the black stone and commanded them to rebuild the shrine and call people to worship Allah there.

Many details in Allah-Muhammad's version of Genesis 21:1-21 contradict the Bible and its original details. There is no mention in the Bible of Mecca being a place of worship of the true G-d at all. According to the Bible, Ishmael lived far from Mecca, in the desert of Paran (around Beersheba). There is no historical evidence that can support any fact that either Hagar, Ishmael or Abraham had ever reached the soil of Mecca. However, Muslims believe that the Jews have twisted the Biblical account out of hatred and jealousy toward Ishmael and his descendants.

According to Muslim belief, Allah's promise of a savior was made to Abraham about the seed of Ishmael, not of Isaac. They claim that Muhammad's version of the story in the Koran is the true and genuine one, and that Jews should be punished and even exterminated for their 'perversion of the truth', although, again, there is no historical evidence to prove their version of the story.

(Note: Please be aware that Allah and the True G-d of Israel are not one and the same, even though Muslims claim that they are.)

The day at Mount Arafat

After finishing the duties of Hajj at Ka'ba and Mecca, pilgrims head toward Minan and then to Mount Arafat to perform another duty of their Hajj. They have to spend the whole 9th day (of the last month in the year, according to Muslim calendar) in the wilderness. Most of the time they have to stand under the scorching heat of the sun and listen to a sermon given by the Imam (high priest) in commemoration of Muhammad's last sermon. They also have to perform their five daily prayers on that spot as one of the Hajj duties before heading toward a place called "Almuzdalifa" to spend the night prior to returning to Mecca to end their official Hajj.

According to Muslim beliefs, the day of Arafat is a type of judgment day, where Allah will judge all men, whether they are believers (Muslims) or unbelievers (non-Muslims). The ritual is somehow a kind of training for Muslims to be able to stand and wait for their turn to be judged according to their works. In Islam there is no guarantee for salvation or hope to escape that horrible day of judgment. In one of Muhammad's Hadiths (sayings), he said that even he, 'the prophet of salvation', can't guarantee the escape from hell for himself.