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SINCE times immemorial pilgrims have been visiting the Ka‘bah in Makkah. There’s nothing new in the Ka’bah as it is well known to almost every Muslim as Bayt-Allah (House of Allah), and as the Qiblah (Direction of Prayer) for Muslims all over the world.
Construction of the Ka’bah
Traditionally considered as the foundation laid by Adam, and by Ibrahim and Isma’il (peace be upon them all), originally the Ka‘bah was roofless and not more than 6.30 meters in height. This oblong structure houses at one corner the Black Stone (Hajr al-Aswad) believed to be brought by Archangel Jibra’il. Since then it has seen demolition and renovation at the hands of several rulers down to the period just before the commissioning of the Prophet Muhammad. He was made arbiter among the tribal chieftains disputing over the honour of placing the Black Stone in its place. The Quraysh raised its door two meters high from the ground-level to restrict entry, and placed the roof resting on pillars. There are some reports which say that the Prophet, Usamah and Bilal (two former slaves), prayed inside when the Ka’bah had six pillars. The Ka’bah has also faced an attempt at demolition by Abrahah, the vizier of the Abyssinian ruler Negus at Yemen, in the year of the Prophet’s birth. This he attempted in order to make people perform pilgrimage to a magnificent cathedral he built at Sana’a instead. The incident is re-called in one of the short chapters of the Qur’an (al-Fil).
Structure of the Ka’bah
The Ka’bah has the height of 14 m, its length on the side of al-Multazim (the area between the door and the Black Stone) being 12.84 m, its length on the side of al-Hatim being 11.28 m, length between Yemenite Corner and al-Hatim being 12.11 m and the distance between the two corners being 11.52 m. The Black Stone is placed at the height of 1.10 m. A structure, originally part of the Ka’bah, called al-Shadherwan about half a meter length and breadth surrounding the Ka’bah, was left out by the Quraysh and allies during the Prophet’s time. Caliph ‘Abd-Allah ibn-Zubayr while restoring the Ka’bah on the foundations of Ibrahim had it set up in order to prevent rainwater from entering it.
Kiswah
According to the best authorities, the first Kiswah – the covering over the Ka’bah, was draped in 400 CE, 220 years before the Hijrah, by the King of Himyar (Yemen) titled Tubba’. The Kiswah by him was made of date-palm leaves. At a later date, the Kiswah was made of silk and, since then has seen various colours such as red, green, yellow, and finally black which was adopted during the time of the ‘Abbasid Caliph al-Nasir (1179 CE). The Kiswah today is prepared by about 200 workers by hand and machine and is done at Makkah. It is replaced during the time of Hajj every year. The Kiswah is held by the rings fixed to what is known as al-Shadherwan – that part of the Ka’bah where the rings become visible.
Interior of the Ka’bah
The Prophet, peace be upon him, had once said that if not for the fear that the rulers might make it a habit of demolishing and renovating the Ka’bah at will, he would have placed two doors for the people to enter through one and pass through another. As it is not feasible for millions of pilgrims to go into the Ka’bah, having the capacity for about 50 people, the pilgrims are assured of the same reward as that of praying inside the Ka’bah. They can also pray within the al-Hatim/al-Hijr area, i.e. the semi-circular structure on the north-west side of the Ka’bah, because it was originally part of the Ka’bah when built by Ibrahim and Isma’il. It was left out by the Quraysh due to lack of lawful funds.
The King or his representative, the Governor of Makkah, and some dignitaries sweep the floor, and wash the interiors with Zamzam and apply perfume. As one enters through the Ka’bah door – the doorkeepers of which are the descendents of the tribe of Bani Shaybah appointed by the Prophet – one can see three wooden pillars supporting the roof accessible by step-ladder through al-Tawbah door at the right. The pillars are 1.75 m apart from either side of the wall, and there is a 2.35 m distance between the pillars. The walls and floor of the Ka’bah are of marble. Lamps of gold and silver – quite very old, hang from the cross beam, and therein is a prayer-mat and a copy of the Qur’an (not an ancient print). Some portions of the interior walls of the Ka’bah too are draped with cloths embellished and embroidered with verses of the Qur’an.
Allah says in the Qur’an, “Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and guidance for mankind and jinn. …And Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, for those who are able to undertake the journey….” [Aal-‘Imran: verse 96-97]
Last update : 18-09-2006 19:45
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