Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
10. The Prophet in Makkah
~ 264 ~
Banu Qusayy say that they are the gate keepers of
the Ka’bah, and I agree with them. They say that it
is their job to bear water for pilgrims, and again I
agree. They claim a place in the Dar al-Nadwah,
and I agree that they have every right to it. They say
that it is their responsibility to carry the standard in
battle, and again I agree. Now they say that there is
a Prophet among them. This I cannot accept.”
32
For some people it was the threat of financial loss,
which prevented them from accepting the message
of Islam. The House of God at Makkah had been
turned into a house of idol worship before the
coming of the Prophet. People of every religion had
placed their idols there. There were even statues of
Jesus and Mary within the walls of the Ka’bah,
which had thus become a place of pilgrimage for
people of all denominations. This was why four
months had been made sacred--so that people
would be free to visit the Ka’bah during that time,
without fear of being harmed or attacked on the
way. During the four months that people used to
flock to Makkah, Makkan traders did exceptionally
good business. Were the idols to be removed from
the Ka’bah, people would stop visiting the city, and
