Some people believe that the togetherness of a group of believers is ensured by having common rituals and a common focal point to turn to ie. a point on the earth. This creates a "holy" place here and there and people begin to reverence things other than the God and associate things that should not be associated.

Rather than these man made doctrines and symbols of togetherness here is the right way to ensure togetherness...

3103. Hold on firmly together to the rope of God, and be not divided among yourselves...

And that rope is not a physical one that connects us to the God's support - it is a figurative rope that we hold to. By acting righteously and helping and supporting one another is how we keep a firm hold on that rope.

Nothing physical and earthly can help one in this sense.

Regards.

Are you referring to a certain black cube by any chance?

This is actually a rather difficult question to examine. The Koran does refer to the House built by Abraham which I believe is located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. I believe that there, and at other locations around this globe of ours there are points that have a sort of energy that can be very beneficial in our quest to clean our nafs and in giving us strength of conviction. That is not to say that these places are 'holy' in the sense that God is holy, or that we should worship these places. They are tools given us to by God, rather than things worthy of worship in their own right.

There is also another element that must be considered in the light of the hajj, which I believe is important not for the location, but for the gathering. In gathering for the right reasons, we are able to create together a similar sort of energy that can help each of us clean our nafs and to experience the unity of humankind. But again, this is a tool that has been given to us... just like in any other human endeavour, we can accomplish more together than we can all alone. So yes, I do believe there is a sort of energy at Mecca that has been created by everyone focusing their prayers in that direction, and that this can all be very beneficial - it creates a common connection. However, we must realize why is it that we are doing this and not resort to worshiping or exalting the focal point itself. It is like the difference between realizing that Muhammad was a great man (but still only a man like all of us) and brought us the Koran on one hand, and worshiping him on the other. It is about realizing the reality of the situation and using for bettering ourselves and this world of ours instead of creating false idols for ourselves.