265. Saudi Arabia: The Mystery of the Kaaba

Join Tom and Dominic for their World Cup episode on Saudi Arabia, where they discuss 'the most famous structure in global Islam' - the Kaaba in Mecca.
Tune in to hear about the Prophet Mohammed, Abdul Malik, and the origins of the most sacred site in Islam.
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[@Nosmaclear]

-The stone is an iron meteorite. Iron meteorites are relatively pure in iron, which you will never find in a rock from Earth, and as such have always brought people to explain them with whatever story they can summon. Small item meteorites tended to get melted down and turned into ceremonial axe heads or daggers, but larger meteorites were too heavy to move. Hoba, Namibia hosts a nice one.

[@bebobebobeb]

Greatest podcast I've added to my feed in many years. Also learned a ton thru this world cup series

[@sarabrebesh7716]

Wow , as an Arab I've learned new information I didn't know before !!! I'd like to help and translate this episode to Arabic please let me know if you're interested .

[@tonyholmes962]

You looking for trouble?

[@beback_]

Same! I'm Iranian and Holland's had me fascinated with a secular, objective look at the early history of Islam. Looking for book recommendations so lmk if you come across a good one!

[@beback_]

@tonyholmes962 there are millions of atheists in the Middle East you little fool.

[@waynemcauliffe2362]

How can with modern science anyone believe these legends. Thanks mate.

[@AP-nj1mr]

I greatly enjoyed this. Especially the objective second half.

[@user-yg1zj5dz9f]

early mosques were aligned with petra..i have read that the venetians had ability to carry out precious metal trade with india via egypt between 700 and 900ad.perhaps they went to sudan then turned left to the red sea opposite mecca...perhaps mecca was held by arabs to block europeans travelling this way

[@KALKI-fc3eh]

Crisp and concise information. Bravo..

[@shamsam4]

Very interesting.

[@youknow6968]

There's a lot of mix of facts and interesting, and strange interpretations.

[@MayorMcC666]

Brad pit yelling "WHATS IN THE BOXXX"

[@user-yg1zj5dz9f]

eusebius says something about the queen of saba (near yemen) going to tyre to find a sacred stone.perhaps they lost the stone after a conflict..the other side of the kabaa is called the yemeni corner

[@sierraleone365]

If Abdul Malik built the Dome of the Rock decades after Mohamed’s death, then that casts serious doubt on the Muslim tradition of the Mirage. Mohamed was supposed to have tied his NASA horse at the Dome.

[@hamadalkhalifa2323]

Get educated. The Mosque and the Dome of the Rock were built 2000 bc and that's 4000 years ago. What an Islamophobe.

[@skp8748]

Nope not the same building

[@thisasiankidistrashfordram374]

Not really. There was likely another building/structure there at the time of the Prophet's death, which Abdul Malik later replaced with the Dome of the Rock. After all, Jerusalem's been a busy place for millenia I'm agnostic, but even from a secular view, its not hard to see how Jerusalem became the site where many Prophets or Holy Men chose to stay & preach till their deaths. Its on the Levant in the Eastern Mediterranean, its a bridge where Africa meets Asia, its a buzzing hive of activity situated above the Arabian Peninsula. According to Jewish tradition, this is where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac before hearing the voice of God. For the Jews, this is where their Kings established the foundation of the Jewish state & their identity. For Christians, its where Jesus, also a Jew, stayed to preach & be crucified. For Muslims, its where Muhammad spent his last days on earth. The tradition of the Miraj is no different from the Christian belief that Jesus ascended to heaven. Some of the faithful (whether for Jesus or Muhammad) believe they literally ascended to the sky, while others believe it was metaphorical. Like their souls/spirits did. I do Biochem research & even scientists & engineers can be religious.

[@joejohnson6327]

Hey diddle diddle, The Cat and the Fiddle, The Cow jump'd over the Moon, The little dog laugh'd to see such Craft, And the Fork ran away with the Spoon.

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

@@thisasiankidistrashfordram374 Aye, I suppose we are all entitled to our fantasies, even Biochem scientists. carry on then!

[@youknow6968]

Kaaba is not what Muslims are praying to, it's merely a direction of prayer, there's a difference. Please at least try to understand the basic concept of an issue before attempting to discuss it in a serious podcast. You've just reinforced a ignorant understanding. That's just wrong.

[@Chunkieta]

the whole thing is BS anyway

[@youknow6968]

@@Chunkieta by your logic life itself is BS, what's the point of anything, what are you doing here, go do something useful with your life.

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

Woooooooooooooooo nippy sweetie 🤡

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

@@youknow6968 For sure you & the religious tyrants certainly don't have any answers & don't kid yourself otherwise.

[@youknow6968]

@@KeithWilliamMacHendry what the heck are you talking about? Sweetie, or didn't you take your medicine today. It's OK I'll be home later to treat you really well, so don't confuse your pretty head with things you don't understand. 😘

[@hamadalkhalifa2323]

Tom holland is the biggest liar.

[@joejohnson6327]

Muhammad was a schizophrenic warlord.

[@Brendan47051]

Huh??

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

Only in the mindset of fools, fantasists & most of all, hateful religious bigots that are conditioned by a cult religion & all its falsity.

[@alexjoy9693]

How?

[@timespace1524]

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