The Excellence of Looking at al-Ka‘bah

“I, once, was sitting near abu Ja’far (a.s.), while he was sitting in an Ihtiba’ position (holding one’s knees against one’s belly with one’s arms or a piece of cloth) facing al-Ka’bah. He (the Imam) said, ’Looking at al-Ka’bah is an act of worship.’ At this time a man from Bajilah people who was called ‘Asem ibn ’Umar came to abu Ja’far (a.s.), and said, ’Ka’b al-Ahbar would say, “Al-Ka‘bah every morning prostrates before al-Bayt al-Maqdis (the holy house in Jerusalem).”’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.), then asked, ‘What do you say about what Ka’b has said?’ He (the man) replied, ’He has spoken the truth, the word is what Ka’b has said.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.), then said, ‘You have spoken lies. Ka’b al-Ahbar has spoken lies along with you.’ He (the Imam) became angry. Zurarah has said, ‘I never found him (the Imam) facing someone say, “You speak lies” except him (this man).’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has not created any site on earth more beloved to Him than al-Ka‘bah.’ He (the Imam) then pointed with his hand to al-Ka’bah and said, ’There is not anything more graceful before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, than al-Ka’bah. For this (al-Ka’bah) Allah made the sacred months, in His book, on the day He created the skies and earth. Of these months, three are consecutive: the months of Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa’dah and Dhu al-Hajjah, and one is alone for performing ‘Umrah (and it is) the month of Rajab.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, has one hundred twenty blessings around al-Ka’bah of which sixty are for those who perform Tawaf, forty for those who perform salat (prayer) and twenty for those who look at al-Ka’bah.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that for al-Ka’bah, there is a moment every day in which forgiveness is granted to those who perform Tawaf around it, or whose hearts incline toward it or are prevented from visiting it for a good reason.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that as long as one keeps looking at al-Ka’bah, one good deed is written for him and one bad deed is deleted until he turns away from looking at al-Ka’bah.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that looking at al-Ka’bah is an act of worship; looking at parents is an act of worship; and looking at the Imam is an act of worship. For one’s looking at al- Ka’bah, one good deed is written for him and ten of his bad deeds are deleted.”

“The one who looks at the Kabah with an understanding, so he recognises from our rights and our sanctity, is like the one who recognises from it (Kabah’s) rights, and its Sanctity. Allah would Forgive for him his sins, and suffice him for the concerns of the world and the Hereafter.“