When Islam is against idol worship why Muslims worship the Kaaba in their prayer?

Kaaba is the Qibla, i.e. the direction Muslims face during their prayers. It is important to note that though Muslims face the Kaaba during prayers, they do NOT worship the Kaaba. Muslims worship and bow to none but Allah. The Kaaba is NOTHING but a symbol.

It is mentioned in Surah Baqarah:

"We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens: now shall We turn thee to a Qiblah that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque: wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction."
[Al-Qur’an 2:144]

1. Islam believes in fostering unity

For instance, if Muslims want to offer Salaah (Prayer), it is possible that some may wish to face north, while some may wish to face south. In order to unite Muslims in their worship of the One True God, Muslims, wherever they may be, are asked to face in only one direction i.e. towards the Kaaba. If some Muslims live towards the west of the Kaaba they face the east. Similarly if they live towards the east of the Kaaba they face the west.

2. Tawaaf around Kaaba for indicating one God

When the Muslims go to Masjid-e-Haram in Makkah, they perform tawaaf or circumambulation round the Kaaba. This act symbolizes the belief and worship of One God, since, just as every circle has one centre, so also there is only one Allah (swt) worthy of worship.

3. Hadith of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)

Regarding the black stone, its significance is that it is the only surviving stone from the original structure built by Abraham and Ishmael (peace be upon them both). The Ka`bah had been destroyed and rebuilt many times in its history, even before the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Black Stone is the single stone that has survived all the mishaps that have taken place since the time of Abraham and Ishmael. That is the only reason the Prophet, pbuh, cherished it. The fact that the Prophet (peace be upon him) kissed the Black Stone is the only reason we do so today. We kiss it to emulate the Prophet’s practice.

The Caliph `Umar made this clear to the people when he led them in the pilgrimage. He used to kiss the Black Stone when he walked around Ka`bah any say: “I know that you are nothing but a stone. You cannot hurt or help anyone. And if I had not seen the Prophet (peace be upon him) kissing you, I would never have kissed you”.

This is the real application of this rite. It is only a matter of emulating the Prophet, pbuh. It is known for sure that no benefit or harm can be received from the Black Stone.

4. People stood on Kaaba and gave the adhaan

At the time of the Prophet, people even stood on the Kaaba and gave the ‘adhaan’ or the call to prayer. One may ask those who allege that Muslims worship the Kaaba; which idol worshipper stands on the idol he worships?

In the Two Sahihs it is confirmed that the Messenger of Allah said in the Hadith about Al-Isra', after ascending to the seventh heaven:

(Then, I was taken to Al-Bayt Al-Ma`mur. It is visited every day by seventy thousand angels who will not come back to visit it again.)

The angels worship Allah in Al-Bayt Al-Ma`mur and perform Tawaf around it just as the people of the earth perform Tawaf around the Ka`bah. Al-Bayt Al-Ma`mur is the Ka`bah of those who reside in the seventh heaven.

During the Isra' journey, the Prophet saw Ibrahim Al-Khalil, who was reclining with his back on Al-Bayt Al-Ma`mur. It was Ibrahim who built the Ka`bah on earth, and surely, the reward is compatible with the action.

The Ka`bah on earth is a parallel to Al-Bayt Al-Ma`mur and the Houses of worship of the Host of heavens. Every heaven has its own house of worship, which is also the direction of prayer for its residents. The house that is located in the lower heaven, is called Bayt Al-`Izzah. And Allah knows best