The Kaaba is Islam’s holiest site. The Qur’an contains several verses regarding the Kaaba’s origin. It states that the Kaaba was the first House of Worship for mankind
and that it was built by Ibrahim and Ismail following Allah’s instructions.
As the first House of Worship, it is fundamental to Hajj, Umrah, and our history as Muslims. It’s also the qibla (direction) towards which we turn in prayer five times a day.
The Kaaba is a cuboid stone structure made of granite, constructed of gray stone and marble, it is oriented so that its corners roughly correspond to the compass points.
During most of the year, the Kaaba is covered with an enormous black brocade cloth, the kiswa.
Who Built the Kaaba?
The Kaaba was built by the prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him), as recorded in the Quran. Not only this, but he did it with his son, Ismail (Peace be upon him).
Allah Subhanah Wa Ta’ala mentions this in the Quran. He mentions the commandment came down to them both and Allah Subhanah Wa Ta’ala also tells
them (interpretation of the meaning)
“And ˹remember˺ when We assigned to Abraham the site of the House, ˹saying,˺ “Do
not associate anything with Me ˹in worship˺ and purify My House for those who circle ˹the Ka’bah˺, stand ˹in prayer˺, and bow and prostrate themselves.”
[Al-Hajj, 22:26] — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran.
And this responsibility stayed with Ismail’s (Peace be upon him) family for many centuries.
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Surely the first House ˹of worship˺ established for humanity is the one at Bakkah—a
blessed sanctuary and a guide for ˹all˺ people.”
[Ali ‘Imran, 3:96] — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran.
We also know that in the heavens there is an equivalent of the Kaaba, known as Al-
Bayt Al-Mamur the populated house.
This is the same Kaaba that the angels do Tawaf around, and Subhan ’Allah we have
the equivalent on this earth in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
What is the Black Stone in Kaaba?
The Black Stone probably belongs to the pre-Islamic Arab religion. Today, it is divided into three large pieces with some fragments. It is surrounded by a stone ring and held together by a silver band. According to an Islam legend, it was given to Adam on his fall from paradise. It was originally white but turned black by absorbing the misdeeds of the pilgrims kissing and touching it.
The Black Stone was given to Ibrahim from Jannah to place on the Holy Kaaba corner. Abd Allah Ibn Abbas – a cousin of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) narrated that the Prophet said: “The Black Stone came down from Paradise and it was whiter than milk, but the sins of Adam’s sons turned it black.”
Throughout Islam’s history, a huge number of Muslims travel to the Holy City of Makkah in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and Hajj every year. While performing Tawaf (circumambulation) around the Holy Kaaba, Muslims find it sacred to touch, kiss, or see the black stone.
Why is the Kaaba Covered in Black Cloth?
Every year, the old Kiswa cloth is replaced with a new one on the ninth day of Du Al-Hijjah (the month of Hajj). This custom of annually draping new cloth over the Kaaba is considered very significant in Islam. It is a testament to millions of Muslims’ faith and dedication.
It is said that the Kaaba was covered with Kiswa (Ghilaf) for the first time in the 7th century. In the era of the Ayyubids, Mamluks, and Ottoman kings, the black cloth of the Kaaba was manufactured in Egypt and transported to Saudi Arabia. This practice continued until 1927. After it, the Black cloth of the Kaaba is prepared in Saudi Arabia.
Kiswa is a silky black cloth that is used as a covering for the Kaaba. Each year on the 9th of Du Al-Hijjah when almost all people travel for Hajj and the Grand Mosque is almost empty, 160 artisans and technicians replace the old black cloth of the Kaaba with the new one.
Old Covering of Kaaba:
The Kiswa was not always black as it had changed over the centuries. It is reported that after the conquest of Makkah in the ninth of Hijri, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) covered the Kaaba with cloth from Yemen. This was when he performed the farewell pilgrimage.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) covered the Kaaba with a striped white cloth from Yemen, while Abu Bakr Siddiq, Umar bin Al-Khattab, and Uthman bin Affan (radhiyallahu anhum) covered it with a white cloth.
Meanwhile, Caliph Ibn Al-Zubayr (683-692 AD) covered the Kaaba with red brocade.
During the Abbasid era (750-1258 AD), the Kaaba was covered once with white cloth and once with red cloth, while the Seljuk Sultan (1037-1194 AD) covered it with yellow brocade.
The Abbasid Caliph Al-Nassir (1180-1225 AD) changed the Kiswa’s color to green and later to black brocade, and this has remained its color to the present day.
Director of the Center of Makkah History Dr. Fawaz Al-Dahas told Arab News, “The Kaaba was covered once in white, once in red, and once in black, and the choice of color was based on the financial means in every era.”
What is Inside the Kaaba?
Technically, Muslims cannot go inside the Holy Kaaba. However, if you are wondering what you will find here, it is roughly 15 meters (50 feet) high and 10 by 14 meters (35 by 40 feet) at the base. Strategically constructed using marble and gray stone, the Kaaba structure was designed to align with the cardinal directions. The enclosed interior of the Kaaba has no windows but just a door called “Bab Al-Tawba” which is made of selected wood and covered with engraved gold and silver. Although it is not the main door, it has stairs leading to the Kaaba’s roof. The roof and half of the walls are covered with green cloth. The remaining half is engraved with Shahada calligraphy, and there is a marking on the floor to highlight the place where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) prayed.