Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/28

22 The Tradition about Kabeh, tle Holy Temple in Mecca. Adam one day, in the depth of his sorrow and repentance, raised his hands and eyes to heaven and implored the kindness of God that a shrine might be granted to him similar to that which he had worshiped while in Paradise, and around which the angels used to move in adoring processions. The prayer of Adam was heard and a tabernacle formed of radiant clouds which was lowered down by the angels. Toward this shrine Adam thenceforth turned when in prayer, and around it he daily made seven circuits in imitation of the angelic procession. At the death of Adam it passed away or was drawn up to heaven, but another of the same form and on the same spot was built of stone and clay by Seth. This was swept away by the deluge.

After many generations, when Hagar and her child, Ishmael, were near perishing from thirst in the desert, an angel revealed to them a spring of water near the ancient site of that tabernacle. This spring or well, called Zemzem, is held sacred by the descendants of Ishmael to the present day. In process of time, by the command of God, Ishmael undertook to rebuild the Kabeh, assisted by his father, Abraham. While they were thus occupied the angel Gabriel brought them a stone which was originally the guardian angel appointed to watch over Adam in Paradise, but changed into a stone and thrown out with him as a punishment for not being more watchful. This stone Abraham and Ishmael received with proper reverence and put it in a corner of the exterior wall of the