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 If God is intangible, why do Muslims turn to Kaaba during salah?

If Allah is intangible and transcendent in according with Islamic Theology, to whom, then, the muslims direct their prayers?

Answer:

Allah is free from space

Being Creator requires “being free of place”. Because, for a Creator’s creating and directing the whole events occurring all over the universe simultaneously, He must be limitless, eternal and indivisible.

Let’s think about the events occurring or having the possibility to occur at this moment; just this moment, just one moment… Trillions of creatures which we are not aware of the existence and which we are unable to see… and their activities…

Doesn’t anything in the universe need the existence and intervention of Allah any time? In order to say “They don’t need Allah, we should accept that anything, even atoms, have power, mind, a great knowledge and free will. Accepting this is equivalent to accepting that even just an atom, a cell or an erythrocyte is much more clever and intelligent than a humanbeing even more than Plato! Since the universe exists and changes any moment, it needs an Entity who intervenes it with His eternal knowledge and unlimited power. Therefore, a wise man definitely knows that the One who can carry out these unlimited actions must be “One” and “Free of place”. Otherwise, how can an entity limited in a certain place and certain dimensions create and direct all dimensions, all places, all creatures and all events? How can a finite entity surround almost all infinite things simultaneously all the time? Such Entity Who is aware of even a small piece of falling leaf must definitely be free of place and must surround every point of this universe with His eternal knowledge, unlimited power and excellence .

 

Then why do Muslims turn towards Kabaa while performing prayer?

As Allah (swt) is need of no place, no direction, He is beyond having limits placed on Him. He is the Owner of the whole universe, whole creatures, whole beings, anything, everything… His power is eveywhere. However, man cannot be everywhere. Man needs place, direction, time, anything, everything to maintain life. So he cannot be everywhere and He cannot turn everywhere simultaneously. He has to turn and face a direction deliberately or randomly.

As to salah, the direction where he should turn while performing salah is not up to choice, but has  been determined by Allah (swt) who has legislated the prayer. Then the question is “Why has Kaaba been chosen?”

As stated in the ayahs and hadiths, Kaaba has some important features that make it superior to other buildings;

Kaaba Is the first house on earth built for worship

“Lo! the first Sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Becca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples;

Wherein are plain memorials (of Allah's guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth, (let him know that) lo! Allah is Independent of (all) creatures.” (Surah Al-I Imran, 96-97)

Kaba is the direction that is dear to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

"And now verily We shall make you turn (in prayer) toward a Qibla which is dear to you. So turn your face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship (the Kaaba of Makkah)." (Al Baqarah 2:144)

Narrated Al-Bara' (bin 'Azib):

When the Prophet came to Medina, he stayed first with his grandfathers or maternal uncles from Ansar. He offered his prayers facing Baitul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months, but he wished that he could pray facing the ka'ba (at Mecca). The first prayer which he offered facing the ka'ba was the 'Asr prayer in the company of some people. Then one of those who had offered that prayer with him came out and passed by some people in a mosque who were bowing during their prayers (facing Jerusalem). He said addressing them, "By Allah, I testify that I have prayed with Allah's Apostle facing Mecca (ka'ba).' Hearing that, those people changed their direction towards the ka'ba immediately. Jews and the people of the scriptures used to be pleased to see the Prophet facing Jerusalem in prayers but when he changed his direction towards the ka'ba, during the prayers, they disapproved of it. (Sahih Bukhari; Book 2, Hadith 39)

In the Quran, Kaaba is called as “Al bayt al Ateeq” in the 29 and 33th ayahs of Sura al Hajj which means the earlist, the ancient; precious, esteemed and liberated, cause it has been protected from the tyranny throughout the history.  Even during the flood of Noah, it has been preserved.

All the verses and narrations agree on the dignity and the immunity of the sacred Kaaba. Kaynak: http://askaquestionto.us - If God is intangible, why do Muslims turn to Kaaba during salah?