In the business area of Manhattan in New York, a new Bar is opening in the name of Apple Mecca which is
similar to Kaaba in shape. This Bar will be used for supply of Wine and Drinks.
The Muslims of New York are pressurizing the US Government and the New York Government not open this Bar.
Apple Store and the Ka'baLet’s nip this in the bud. There’s news going around that some Muslims have called to protest Apple’s 5th Avenue New York City store (top) for being similar to the religion’s primary holy site, the Ka’ba (bottom). While the two share some obvious features, primarily a cube-like construction, there are inaccuracies in the original story.
Yes, while the store was under construction, it did resemble the Ka’ba, but with the black paneling on the outside removed, that resemblance is limited only to the shape. The contention that the store, like the Ka’ba, is open 24 hours is nothing more than sheer coincidence.
And yes, while some did refer to the store as Apple’s “Mecca” (us included), it was never anything more than a name devised by Apple fans, not by the company itself. Furthermore, the initial report uses blatantly untrue facts, such as suggesting that alcohol is served in the store (alcohol is forbidden by Islamic law).
I did a bit of searching around as well and though the page I’ve linked to suggests that the call to protest came just yesterday, the issue has been floating around since the store’s opening in May. Moreover, Apple has publicly commented on it:
“It has come to our attention that a couple of blogs refer to the store as “Mecca” and others have observed that, during construction, when the clear glass entrance was protected by a black covering, it looked like the Kaaba,” the company said in statement to Asharq al Awsat.
“Apple has never referred to the new store as Mecca and the entrance is not an attempt to look similar to the Kaaba. We respect all people’s cultures and religions, and regret that the comments of these independent bloggers have offended anyone,” it added.
As a former student of both Islamic culture and the Arabic language, I think this is nothing more than an unfortunate confluence of events; to read any deliberate insult into it is, I think, merely looking for trouble.
Sources internet
