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thenewgreen  ·  4573 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Black Stone
As I mentioned, my friend simply sent me this photo. It had little in the way of descriptors, but this is to be expected from this friend. He wouldn't dare insult me with a direct and easily digested message, what fun is that?
    5 revolving timezones continually sweep the globe. Any Muslim that find himself or herself in one of those timezones is prostrating towards that 'empty' 'box'. This happens all around the globe, and as the globe turns, different radials are activated and others deactivated. So there is this wonderful dynamic arrangement of souls bowing towards one another, each saying in their hearts (if they are indeed faithful) that "There is no god but God" while they prostrate towards one another.
This is indeed an impressive thing. But to me it's impressive from the standpoint of getting many people to do something in unison. The reasoning behind the gesture is still obscure to me. I realize from what I've read, and from you're comment that the Prophet (SAW) swept the box clean of idolatry and it seems this "purity" is what the followers bow towards. Is this right? If the rock is not the focal point then why do people flock to Mecca for the opportunity to kiss it or be in it's presence? Is it the void that they come to be near? Is it just too tough to kiss a void?

edit: Alright, I feel bad now because the more I think about it the more impressive the gesture is. Not because of the logistics of timing it daily and "time zones" etc, but because getting that many people to do something in a spiritual unification is impressive. This is assuming that the people doing this are in unison on that level. How this could be verified is beyond me.

I wonder if any experiments have ever been done to this end? Having thousands of people focus in unison on some desired outcome?