what did muhammad do the the kaaba the central shrine in mecca
Muhammad, the founder of Islam, is believed to have played a significant role in the history of the Kaaba in Mecca. Prior to the emergence of Islam, the Kaaba was a polytheistic sanctuary where pagan idols were present. According to Islamic tradition, when Muhammad received the revelations of the Quran from Allah through the angel Gabriel, he began preaching the message of monotheism and called for the eradication of idol worship.
After the Islamic conquest of Mecca in 630 CE, Muhammad entered the city and immediately proceeded to the Kaaba. He circled the sacred structure seven times and then went inside, as per Islamic tradition. There, he saw and ordered the destruction of the various idols that were present, cleansing the Kaaba from any form of idolatry.
Muhammad then rededicated the Kaaba to the worship of Allah alone and reinstated it as the central sanctuary of Islam. Muslims recognized it as the holiest site in their faith and it became the focal point of their daily prayers, which are directed towards the Kaaba no matter where in the world they are.
It is important to note that the Kaaba itself predates Muhammad and Islam, with its origins believed to date back to Abraham and Ishmael. However, Muhammad's actions significantly transformed its purpose and restored the worship of the one God in the Kaaba.