QSI: The Significance of Salat: Why we turn towards the Ka’aba? Part 1

“The Holy Quran, says, "Worship neither the Sun nor the Moon, but worship Allah who made them." So, we are not worshiping the Sun. The sun comes from that direction, but we don't worship the Sun. We are turning toward the Kaaba. Why are we turning toward the Kaaba. Because the Kaaba is the oldest house of worship known on the Earth. It was built by Abraham and his son, Ishmael. It is the oldest known house of worship known on earth. 

So, we turn to that house. It is the first house. Since it is the first house, then we should respect the first one. If there was one came before us, and started us in this direction, then we should respect what he did. We should acknowledge that we have this house now, but the first one that was built like this, was built by such and such man, at such and such place. So, since Abraham is the oldest we can date back to, we turn toward that house, and it so happen that, that part of the world which we call the Middle East, was the birth place of many Prophets.”

10-3-75 “The Leading of Prayer” Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, Chicago, Ill