Brittany Wissen -- The Axis Mundi

In chapter one of Beldan C. Lane’s book Landscapes of the Sacred, Lane speaks of the axis mundi in society, which is not a geographical center but a focal, or “fixed point [that] becomes the center of the world, the navel of the earth … by which passage can be obtained to the cosmic region beyond, from where all meaning derives” (20). This idea relates closely to a lot of reading I did for my research paper on the Muslim Hajj. The Ka’aba is clearly the axis mundi of the Islamic religion, and the most sacred site in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is a building which predates Islam and the Muslim religion was built around its very spot. The Five Pillars of Faith require that each Muslim visit the Ka’aba at least once in their lifetime, if they are physically and financially able. During the last day of the Muslim’s pilgrimage, it is hard to ignore the importance of the “Cube” inside the mosque built around it throughout their ceremonial rituals, including the circumambulation and the tawaf. Other Pillars relate to the Ka’aba as well: during their daily five prayers, a Muslim must pray facing Mecca—and more importantly, the Ka’aba. Though it is incredibly simple in structure, it holds great importance that might seem weird and mundane to the non-Muslim. Despite, the origin and continuous inclusion of the Ka’aba in ritual is a big part of the Islamic religion, and therefore it can be easily understood why this sacred building is seen as the Islamic axis mundi.

source:

Lane, Beldan C. Landscapes of the Sacred: Geography and Narrative in American Spirituality. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001.