All mankind were once one single community (ummah); [then they began to differ -] whereupon God raised up the prophets as heralds of glad tidings and as warners, and through them bestowed revelation from on high, setting forth the truth, so that it might decide between people with regard to all on which they had come to hold divergent views. Yet even after all evidence of the truth had come unto them, some people continued to disagree out of selfish rivalry and mutual envy[1]. The Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.), an exemplary leader of the mankind (imam[2]) and an ummah[3] in himself laid the foundation of the Sacred House in Makkah which was supposed to bring the whole mankind to some common ground. That is why, it is no coincidence that when Allah mentioned the Sacred Masjid of Makkah in the Quran, whether calling it the Sacred House (الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ) or the Cube (الْكَعْبَةَ)[4] or the Sacred Masjid (الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ)[5], He mentioned that it has been made for (the benefit of[6]) mankind (لِلنَّاسِ) and NOT (just) for the Believers (لِلمومنین) or the Muslims (لِلمسلمین).

He has called it a rendezvous for the mankind to get together[7] (مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ)[8]; a sanctuary (أَمْنًا)[9] (for refuge or asylum); a source of Guidance or Direction for the nations of the world (هُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ)[10]; a source of uplift of the mankind (قِيَامًا لِّلنَّاسِ)[11].  It was proclaimed to mankind to make the Pilgrimage to this House to witness the benefits that laid therein for them[12] (لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ). It may be a good food for thought for the Muslim custodians of the Sacred House to ponder whether they are making this place to play the role in the world that it was envisaged to play according to the Quran. They need to ponder if their lack of thought in this respect has led to the transfer of some of the key roles to the United Nations Organization.