According to the traditions, Allah dictated that Ka’baa to
be built in heaven in Baitul Ma’amoor. Allah in His infinite Mercy dictated
that a similar House be built on earth. Hence Prophet Adam built the Ka’baa. It
is a simple structure of grey blue stones collected from around the city of Makkah .
It is a cube of 60 feet. The four corners roughly face four points of compass.
At the East is the Black Stone (Ruknel Aswad), at the North is Ruken al Iraqi,
at the West is Ruknel Shami, and at the South is Ruknel Yamani. The four walls
are covered with black brocade curtain (Kiswa) with the “Shahada” weaved in the
fabric. About 2/3rd of the way up, runs a golden embroidered band
covered with Qur’anic texts. It has six sides representing every direction
meaning as Allah is every where, His House represents infinity! Its sanctity
and antiquity is older than history itself. It is mentioned in Bible and Old
Testament also.
A door is fixed about 7 feet above the ground. The “Black Stone” (Hajre Aswad), about 12
inches in diameter, was fixed into its Easter Corner. Opposite the North
West wall is a semi circular wall of white marble,
about 5 feet thick and 3 feet high. The space between Ka’baa and semi-circle
wall is the place where the graves of Prophet
Isma’el and his mother Bibi Ha’jira
are situated. Inside the Maqam-e-Ibra’him, is a stone preserving the foot
prints of Prophet Ibrahim said to have been made during the rebuilding of
Ka’baa. In front of the building is the “Maqaam-e-Ibrahim” – an arch shaped
structure, and The Well of “Zam Zam”.
Just outside are the hills of “Safa” and
“Marwa”. The distance between the hills is about 500 yards.
References of Ka’baa
in the Noble Qur’an:
“While Ibrahim and
Ismael were raising the foundation of the House, they prayed: “O Allah! Accept
our labor. You are All-Hearing and All-Knowing.” (2:127)
“We made the House in
(in Makkah) as a place of refuge and sanctuary for men. (People), adopt the
place where Ibrahim stood as a place for prayer. We advised Ibra’him and Isma’el
to keep My House clean for the pilgrims, the worshipers, and those who bow
down and prostrate themselves in worship.” (2:125)
“Safa and Marwa are
reminders of Allah. It is no sin for one who visits the Sacred House (Ka’baa)
to walk seven times between (them). Who ever, willingly, does a good deed in
obedience to Allah will find Allah All-Knowing and fully Appreciative.” (2:158)
“The first House of
Worship that Allah assigned to men was in Bakkah (another name of Makkah). It
is a Blessed one and a guide for all people.” (3:96)
“In (Bakkah), there
are many clear signs (evidence of the existence of Allah). Among them is the
place where Ibra’him stood. Whoever seeks refuge therein, will be protected by
the laws of amnesty. Those who have the means and ability, have a duty to Allah
to visit the House and perform the Hajj (pilgrimage) rituals. The unbelievers
should know that Allah is Independent of all creatures.” (3:97)
“Allah has made the
Ka’baa, the Sacred House, the sacred months, the unmarked and marked sacrificial animals for the welfare of men
and in order to inform you that Allah knows all that is in the heavens and the
earth.” (5:97)
Ever since Prophet Isma’el built this House along with his
father, it remained in the custody of his descendants.
Even during the life time of Ibra’him, people started putting
idols in Ka’baa. It was over four thousand years later that after the famous “Victory of Makkah”, the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) along with the Commander of the Faithful, destroyed all the idols.
Imam Ali was asked by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) to stand on Prophet’s
shoulders to break a huge idol. So the Vilayat
was on the shoulders of the Chief of the Prophets! The Holy Prophet was
reciting the Ayah: “Say, Truth has come
and falsehood has been banished; it is doomed to banishment.” (17:81)
During early period of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), before
proclaiming prophet hood, there was a flood in Makkah, and Ka’baa was damaged.
After reconstruction, the Makkans quarreled over who should re-install
Hajr-e-Aswad in the wall. Ultimately, they agreed that whoever enters the
precincts of Ka’baa, will decide. Next morning the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)
entered. He advised that the Hajr-e-Aswad be placed in a cloak and it should be
lift by heads of every tribe and bring it near the wall. Then the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) picked up the Hajr-e-Aswad and placed it in the wall.
After the massacre of the family of the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) at Karbala, Yazid ibn Muawiya sent a huge contingent under Haseen
bin Namir to Madinah who destroyed the sacred Mosque of the Prophet and then
proceeded to Makkah and demolished the four walls of Ka’baa (including the
curtain embroidered with Qur’anic verses) and martyred thousands of Muslims who
objected to the heinous crime!
The Ka’abaa was rebuilt by Abdullah ibne Zubair and his
associates. Later on Umawi forces
returned to Makkah and killed Abdullah Ibne Zubair, hung his body on the gates
of Ka’baa for three months. We must always remember that Yazid’s grand father
Abu Sufyan accepted Islam when the sword was hanging on his head after the
Victory of Makkah! In the Battle
Birth of the
Commander of the Faithful:
Imam Ali (a.s.) had the unique distinction of being the
first and the last baby to have been born in the Sacred House of Allah. His
mother, Bi Fatima Binte Asad (s.a.) was pregnant and was circumambulating the
Ka’baa, when the signs of Imam Ali (a.s.)’s birth became imminent. She prayed
to Allah for help and the wall of Ka’baa cracked open, she entered inside and the
wall returned to normal. Imam Ali (a.s.) was born inside Ka’baa and they both
remained inside for three days. One can imagine the purity of the baby! Later,
he was one of the participants of “Ayat-e-Tatheer”
which reads: “O People of the House! Allah wants to keep away all kinds of
uncleanness from you and to Purify you thoroughly.”
When Abraha came with the intention of destroying Ka’baa,
his army looted 200 camels of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib, he went for its recovery.
Abraha said that he was not worried about Ka’baa. Hazrat Abdul Muttalib replied
that it will be protected by its owner! Allah sent bands of small birds
carrying 3 stones which they struck on the Abraha’s army including some
elephants and destroyed his army. The story is described in Surah al-Feel which
is Elephant.
Reference:
The Noble Qur’an
The Story of
Holy Ka’baa and its people by:
Syed Muhammad Raza Shabbar
Muhammadi
Trust, London U.K.
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