If we Muslims bow down , We bow down to only the lord of the worlds, a creator who created U, me and all that exists. We must bow down in humility to Almighty God only, not his creation which is man made. Physically we should bow down somewhere, and naturally to some direction. If we were to do it right now, we would be bowing towards a random direction. our physical presence on earth forces this upon us as a prostrating Believer to GOD almighty, whether you like it or not. The bowing down to God Almighty in the direction of the KAABA or the city of Mecca in general is a way to UNIFY all MUSLIMS to bow down to God Almighty, as one body and one unity, towards ONE DIRECTION & towards the mosque.
As to WORSHIPING the cubic black bldg. the Kaaba, We absolutely DO NOT WORSHIP IT. I will repeat what aharkul mentioned : Umar RA came near the black stone and kissed it and said \ NO doubt, I know that YOU are a STONE and Can neither Benefit anyone NOR Harm anyone. Had i not seen ALLAH's apostel (Prophet Muhammed pbuh) kissing you, I would not have kissed YOU.
While there are traditions about kissing or touching the stone, its real significance is a MARKER of the point at which one starts the tawaaf (Circumambulation) .. A stone is just a stone."
If we Muslims bow down , We bow down to only the lord of the worlds, a creator who created U, me and all that exists.
We must bow down in humility to Almighty God only, not his creation which is man made.
Physically we should bow down somewhere, and naturally to some direction. If we were to do it right now, we would be bowing towards a random direction. our physical presence on earth forces this upon us as a prostrating Believer to GOD almighty, whether you like it or not.
The bowing down to God Almighty in the direction of the KAABA or the city of Mecca in general is a way to UNIFY all MUSLIMS to bow down to God Almighty, as one body and one unity, towards ONE DIRECTION & towards the mosque.
As to WORSHIPING the cubic black bldg. the Kaaba, We absolutely DO NOT WORSHIP IT.
I will repeat what aharkul mentioned : Umar RA came near the black stone and kissed it and said \ NO doubt, I know that YOU are a STONE and Can neither Benefit anyone NOR Harm anyone. Had i not seen ALLAH's apostel (Prophet Muhammed pbuh) kissing you, I would not have kissed YOU.
While there are traditions about kissing or touching the stone, its real significance is a MARKER of the point at which one starts the tawaaf (Circumambulation) .. A stone is just a stone."