The Kaaba is a cuboid-shaped building in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the holiest site in Islam and is a destination for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
According to Islamic tradition, the Kaaba was built by the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) on the orders of God. The original structure was a simple unroofed rectangular building, but it was destroyed by the flood during Noah's time. The Kaaba was then rebuilt by the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son Ismail (peace be upon him) on the orders of God. but it has been rebuilt several times over the centuries.
The first major rebuilding of the Kaaba took place in 608 CE, when the Quraysh tribe, who ruled Mecca at the time, demolished the old structure and rebuilt it with alternating courses of stone and wood. This is the structure that is still standing today.
The Kaaba has been damaged by fire and flood on several occasions, and it has been rebuilt each time. The most recent rebuilding took place in 1631, after a flood destroyed the previous structure.
The current Kaaba is a simple rectangular building, measuring 13.1 meters (43 feet) high, 12 meters (39 feet) wide, and 10 meters (33 feet) deep. It is made of gray granite and has a black cloth covering called the kiswah. The kiswah is made of silk and embroidered with verses from the Quran.
The Kaaba is divided into four chambers, each of which is open to pilgrims. The most important chamber is the one in the center, which is called the Maqam Ibrahim. This is the spot where the Prophet Ibrahim is said to have stood while building the Kaaba.
The Kaaba is a symbol of unity for Muslims all over the world. It is the direction in which Muslims face when they pray, and it is the destination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The Kaaba is a reminder of the importance of faith and obedience to God.
Here is a list of the major rebuildings of the Kaaba:
608 CE: The Quraysh tribe rebuilds the Kaaba after it had fallen into disrepair.
683 CE: The Kaaba is damaged by fire during the siege of Mecca by the Umayyads. It is rebuilt by the Umayyads the following year.
930 CE: The Kaaba is captured by the Qarmatians, a radical Shiite sect. They loot the Kaaba and remove the Black Stone. The Black Stone is returned to Mecca two years later.
1631 CE: The Kaaba is destroyed by flood. It is rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire the following year.
However, there is some disagreement among Muslim scholars about whether the Kaaba was actually built by Adam. Some scholars believe that the Kaaba was already built on Earth before Adam, and that Adam simply rebuilt it. Other scholars believe that the Kaaba was built by Adam from scratch.
And it has a number of Important Parts. These include:
- The Black Stone: The Black Stone is a sacred stone that is embedded in the eastern corner of the Kaaba. It is believed to have been brought to Earth by the angel Gabriel.
- The Maqam Ibrahim: The Maqam Ibrahim is a stone slab that is located in the center of the Kaaba. It is believed to be the spot where the Prophet Ibrahim stood while building the Kaaba.
- The Kiswah: The Kiswah is a black cloth covering that is draped over the Kaaba. It is made of silk and embroidered with verses from the Quran.
- The Mihrab: The Mihrab is a niche in the Kaaba that indicates the direction of the qibla. This is the direction in which Muslims face when they pray.
- The Multazam: The Multazam is the area between the door of the Kaaba and the Black Stone. It is believed to be a very blessed spot, and many pilgrims come here to pray and make supplications.
- The Hatīm: The Hatīm is a semi-circular wall that is located opposite the Kaaba. It is believed to be the original site of the Kaaba, and it is not entered during the tawaf.
These are just some of the most important parts of the Kaaba. There are many other smaller features that are also significant to Muslims. The Kaaba is a sacred site for Muslims all over the world, and it is a place of great spiritual significance.