Editorial Staff
In the first part, we elaborated on the direct references to Makkah (Mecca) in the Bible. In this second part, we will highlight the indirect references to Makkah in the Bible.
Indirect References to Makkah
New Jerusalem
The indirect references to Makkah in the Bible involve a “New Jerusalem”, “Way of Holiness”, “Villages of Kedar”, and “Cornerstone”
When Jesus Christ was asked about the place where worship must be conducted, he stated that worship will be conducted at a new place other than Jerusalem. In the New Testament, we read:
The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. (John 4:19-21)
Way of Holiness
Again, the Bible tells us about a well of water gushing out in the desert and a way called “Way of Holiness” over which the unclean shall not pass and those who walk on it shall not go astray. In the Bible, we read:
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:5-10)
Villages of Kedar
The Bible commands singing the praises of God at the villages inhabited by Kedar, in reference to Talbiyah, Takbir and Tahlil in Makkah. It is noteworthy that Kedar is a son of Ishmael and a forefather of Arabs. His offspring lived in Arabia. We read:
Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. (Isaiah 42:10-11)
In spite of the claim that the sixtieth chapter of Isaiah talks about an alleged Zion, the descriptions given therein are more applicable to Makkah. It is Makkah to which nations come from afar and kings come to the brightness of its rising and all gather together according to the following Qur’anic verses:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], “Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.
And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass (Al-Hajj 22:27-28)
It is Makkah to which the abundance of the sea is turned and the wealth of the nations shall come according to the following Qur’anic verse:
Have we not established for them a safe sanctuary to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us? But most of them do not know. (Al-Qasas 28:57)
It is Makkah which is covered by a multitude of camels and to which flocks of Kedar are gathered according to the following Qur’anic verse:
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful. (Al-Hajj 22:36)
It is Makkah whose gates are open continually, day and night, and are not shut, according to the following Qur’anic verse:
And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for all people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], “Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer].” (Al-Baqarah 2:125)
It is Makkah where neither violence, devastation, and destruction shall not be heard, according to the following Qur’anic verse:
And al-Masjid al-Haram, which We made for the people – equal are the resident therein and one from outside; and [also] whoever intends [a deed] therein of deviation [in religion] or wrongdoing – We will make him taste of a painful punishment. (Al-Hajj 22:25)
Cornerstone
The New Testament quotes Jesus as referring to a stone rejected by builders, becoming the cornerstone where the kingdom of God will be taken away and given to a people producing its fruits. We read:
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. (Matthew 21:42-43)
We also read: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:22-23)
The Bible also tells us about a stone, breaking images into pieces and becoming a great mountain filling the whole earth. We read: “As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:34-35)
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References:
1- The Glorious Qur’an (Sahih International Translation)
2- The Holy Bible (Visit biblegateway.com)
Read Also:
Makkah (Mecca) in the Bible (1/2)
Hajj (Pilgrimage) between Symbolic Worship and Responsiveness to Abraham’s Call to Monotheism