Inside The Kaaba: History and Significance

 Placed in the middle of the Masjid Al Haram or Great Mosque of Makkah, Kaaba is the holiest shrine in Islam. It is also written as Kaʿbah and is the most significant shrine. Muslims worldwide follow the Qiblah and pray while facing the holy Kaaba. Kaaba is also an important part of the Hajj and Umrah rituals. Pilgrims are required to perform is to circle seven times around the Kaaba during Umrah. 

 

Khana Kaaba Inside

In Arabic, the meaning of Kaab is a Cube, thus it's a cubical structure made of grey stone and marble 50 feet in height, and about 35 by 40 feet at its base. The Kaaba stone is believed to be from the time of Adam and Eve. It is said to have been given to Adam on his dismissal from heaven in order to seek forgiveness for his sins. Hence, is said to be the first house of God. Know more about Inside the kaaba.

This black stone structure in the middle of the Masjid al Haram in Makkah is elegantly draped in a cotton and silk veil. According to the Islamic traditions, Prophet Mohammad kissed the stone inside Kaaba thus, pilgrims try to kiss it when performing Hajj or Umrah. It is also the final destination for the pilgrims.

 

History of the Black Stone

The history of the black stone is older than the rise of Islam. There is a lot of ambiguity regarding the early history of Kaaba. The Kaaba is believed to be is as old as the time of Adam and Eve.

As mentioned in the holy Quran, the first construction of Kaaba was done by the Prophet and his son Ismail. The main objective behind it was to provide mankind with the first house of worship. The black stone is said to have been brought by Ibrahim during the construction of the Kaaba. And the angel Jibreel placed it in the Kaaba’s eastern corner. The black stone is the only original structure of the Kaaba. The remaining structure has been dismantled and rebuilt many times for maintenance over the many years of the history of Kaaba.

Importance of the Kaaba

For the followers of Islam, Kaaba is the holiest place on the Earth. There are many verses in the holy Quran that refer to Kaaba as the first house of worship for mankind. On the completion of the construction of the Kaaba, Allah adjured Ismail’s ascendants to perform the annual pilgrimage of Hajj. The surrounding area of the holy shrine has been transformed into a sanctuary where violence and bloodshed were forbidden. The primary structure of the Kaaba included a simple unroofed structure in a rectangular shape. The shrine was built again in 608 CE with wood and masonry blocks by the Quraysh tribe, which used to rule the pre-Islamic Makkah.

The religious scholars and popular legends not only emphasize but reiterate the significance of the Black Stone and the Kaaba. It is the holiest place on Earth for all Muslims. It is the house of Allah, where everyone must surrender and pray to the one Almighty. At this holy shrine, all prayers are accepted, and all sins are forgiven. This sacred place is a road to the path to paradise, where there is no sadness, sickness, pain, grief, or suffering and one can only eternal happiness.