2:127, but that it was only a reconstruction of a fallen building is shown by 2:125, where the purification of the house of idols that had been placed in it is mentioned before its construction in 2:127. Even Muir ascribes “an extremely remote age” to the Ka‘bah. The Ka‘bah, being thus the first mosque on earth, all mosques are built to face it. This practice is based on an express injunction contained in the Holy Qur’ān. The first injunction relating thereto appears in connection with Abraham: “And when We made the House (the Ka‘bah), a resort for men and a place of security; and take ye the Place of Abraham (the Ka‘bah) for a place of prayer”12 (2:125). And, further on, more expressly: “And from whatsoever place thou comest forth, turn thy face towards the Sacred Mosque; And wherever you are, turn your faces towards it” (2:150). This order that all places of worship should converge towards the Ka‘bah had an underlying purpose which is hinted at in the Holy Qur’ān in connection with the subject of the Qiblah,13 “And everyone has a goal to which he turns (himself), therefore vie with one another in good works; wherever you are, Allāh will bring you all together” (2:148). The bringing of all together clearly means the making of all as one people, so that beneath the ostensible unity of direction lies the real unity of purpose. Just as they have all one centre to turn to, they must set one goal before themselves. Thus the unity of the Qiblah among Muslims stands for their unity of purpose, and forms the basis on which rests the brotherhood of Islām. Hence the Holy Prophet’s saying: “Do not call those who follow your Qiblah (ahl Qiblah) disbelievers (kāfir)” (N. art. Kufr).

Building of the mosque

The only requirement of the law of Islām regarding the building of a mosque is that it should face the Ka‘bah. Ḥadīth, however, further recommends that the building should be as simple as possible. All adornments are generally avoided, in accordance with a saying of the Holy Prophet: “I have not been commanded to raise the mosques high” (AD. 2:11). To this Ibn ‘Abbās adds: “You will surely adorn them as the Jews and the Christians adorn (their places of worship).” According to another ḥadīth, the Holy Prophet is reported to have