The Ka’bah is the house of God Muslims face when they make their prayers and also the place millions go to every year to perform Hajj, or the major pilgrimage. Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for all Muslims who are physically and financially capable.

A disclaimer is that the house itself is NOT worshipped. It is the House of Allah. It was first created by Prophet Abraham, or possibly even Prophet Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). Then, in the 7th century, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) freed it from the polytheists’ hands and made it the place of worship it was initially intended for.

So what makes its location so special? Well, where is it? In the middle of nothing! Just a scorching hot desert; not a place for tourists to go and sight-see. Also, it was not until the Modern Era that oil was discovered. In fact, during the time of Prophet Muhammad, it was so “worthless” internationally, that the Byzantine Empire was to the West of it and the Persian Empire was to the East of it, yet none of them cared to conquer it.

It’s as if, Muslims say, that Allah chose a place with no value and no attraction, and wanted to make it become a place millions would go to regardless for centuries and centuries. Think about it. God could have chosen any other place – a place more green, with more water, perhaps somewhere in Europe or Asia, but nope! He chose a desert.

The picture below says enough: