How can you explain hadiths that limit the verses that the Kaaba has been preserved? For example, it is stated in reliable hadiths that this blessed building will no longer be protected when Doomsday approaches.

Although it is stated in the verses that the Kaaba has been preserved, there are also many hadiths that limit this verse. For example, it is stated in reliable hadiths that this blessed building will no longer be protected when Doomsday approaches and that “a thin-legged man from Abyssinia will devastate the Kaaba”. (Bukhari, Hajj, 47, 49; Muslim, Fitan, 57-59) So, is it not possible to consider some events that took place in history as one of the signs of Doomsday?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Makkah’s being a safe city has different aspects.

- There were bandits everywhere in that period and they used to grab things and kill, or enslave people.

However, due to the fact that the Kaaba was in Makkah, Makkah and the Makkans had a very respected place in all Arab regions.

The confidence they gained due to this prestige shows that Makkah is a safe city.

- The defeat of the Abraha army, which attacked Makkah in the Incident of the Elephant, by the Ababil birds as a heavenly army, shows that Makkah was under divine protection in this incident.

- The Quran, which is a universal and trustworthy message sent to Muhammad (PBUH), the Trustworthy, through Jibril, the Trustworthy, and which also contains the basic messages of the previous heavenly books, was revealed in Makkah, which is a secure (trustworthy) town, making it a center of safety spiritually.

- Even living beings and plants were given a special status in Makkah, which was completely surrounded by a protection circle and called the “Haram Region” during the Islamic period and which was also shown respect in the previous periods. This status still continues, especially during the hajj season. In this respect, Makkah is a Safe City.

- The fact that Makkah has been protected from heavenly disasters such as earthquakes throughout history is a proof for its security.

- However, the protection of Makkah is not an ontological protection like the protection of the earth and sky. In other words, it is not a protection based on a law of creation that can never be broken.

Therefore, the fact that people’s violating security there does not indicate that the aspect of security emphasized by the Quran does not exist. We can open explain it as follows:

In his farewell sermon, the Messenger of Allah said, “People’s lives, property, chastity and honor have a dignity like the dignity of four months and the dignity of Makkah, and they are under protection.” This protection was provided in terms of the principles of the religion of Islam. Otherwise, it does not mean that Allah will not allow anyone to commit murder or theft because testing necessitates free will.

So, people can break the circle of protection in those issues; they can also violate the respectable status of Makkah. They will be called to account for those deeds in the hereafter.

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