10. It has been reconstructed several times
The Kaaba that we see today is not exactly the
same Kaaba that was constructed by Prophets
Ibrahim and Ismail From time to time, it has
needed rebuilding after natural and man-made
disasters.
Of course, we all know of the major reconstruction
that took place during the life of the Prophet before
he became a Prophet . This is the occasion when
the Prophet averted major bloodshed by his quick
thinking on how to place the Black Stone using a
cloth that every tribe could lift up.
Since then, there has been an average of one major
reconstruction every few centuries. The last
renovation took place in 1996 and was extremely
thorough, leading to the replacement of many of
the stones and re-strengthening the foundations
and a new roof. This is likely to be the last
reconstruction for many centuries (insha'Allah) as
modern techniques mean that the building is more
secure and stable than ever before.
9. It used to have two doors … and a window
The original Kaaba used to have a door for
entrance and another for exit. For a considerable
period of time it also had a window situated to one
side. The current Kaaba only has one door and no
window.
8. It used to be multi-coloured
We are so used to the Kaaba being covered in the
trademark black Kiswah with gold banding that we
can't imagine it being any other colour. However,
this tradition seems to have started at the time of
the Abbasids (whose household colour was black)
and before this the Kaaba was covered in multiple
colours including green, red and even white.
7. The keys are in the hands of one family
At the time of the Prophet , each aspect to do with
the rites of Hajj was in the hands of different sub-
groups of the Quraish. Every one of these would
eventually lose control of their guardianship of a
particular rite except one. On the conquest of
Mecca, the Prophet was given the keys to the
Kaaba and instead of keeping it in his own
possession; he returned them back to the Osman
ibn Talha of the Bani Shaiba family. They had been
the traditional key keepers of the Kaaba for
centuries; and the Prophet confirmed them in that
role till the end of time by these words
“Take it, O Bani Talha, eternally up to the Day of
Resurrection, and it will not be taken from you
unless by an unjust, oppressive tyrant.”
Whether Caliph, Sultan or King – the most powerful
men in the world have all had to bow to the words
of the Prophet and ask permission from this small
Makkan family before they can enter the Kaaba.
6. It used to be open to everyone
Until recently, the Kaaba was opened twice a week
for anyone to enter and pray. However, due to the
rapid expansion in the number of pilgrims and other
factors, the Kaaba is now opened only twice a year
for dignitaries and exclusive guests only.
5. You used to be able to swim around it
One of the problems with having the Kaaba situated
at the bottom of a valley is that when it rains –
valleys tend to flood. This was not an uncommon
occurrence in Mecca and the cause of a lot of
trouble before the days of flood control systems
and sewage. For days on end the Kaaba would be
half submerged in water. Did that stop Muslims
from performing the Tawaf? Of course not.
Modern adjustments to the surrounding landscape
and flood prevention techniques mean we may
never see such sights again.
4. The inside contains plaques commemorating the
rulers who renovated it
For years many have wondered what it looks like
inside the Kaaba. Relying on second or third hand
accounts from those who were lucky enough to
enter just wasn't satisfying enough. Then one lucky
person who went inside took his camera phone in
with him and Millions have seen the shaky footage
online.
The interior of the Kaaba is now lined with marble
and a green cloth covering the upper walls. Fixed
into the walls are plaques each commemorating
the refurbishment or rebuilding of the House of
Allah by the ruler of the day. Watch the video below
of the only place on Earth that you can pray in any
direction you want, the House of Allah, the first
place of worship for mankind – the Kaaba.
3. There are two Kaabas!
Directly above the Kaaba in heaven is an exact
replica. This Kaaba was mentioned in the Qur'an
and by the Prophet.
The Messenger of Allah said narrating about the
journey of 'Isra wal Miraaj
“Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma'mur (i.e. Allah's
House). I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This
is Al Bait-ul-Ma'mur where 70,000 angels perform
prayers daily and when they leave they never return
to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily)
.”
2. The Black Stone is broken
Ever wondered how the Black Stone came to be in
the silver casing that surrounds it?
Some say it was broken by a stone fired by the
Umayyad army laying siege to Mecca whilst it was
under the control of Abdullah ibn Zubair.
However, most agree that it was most damaged in
the middle ages by an extreme heretical Ismaili
group from Bahrain called the Qarmatians who had
declared that the Hajj was an act of superstition.
They decided to make their point by killing tens of
thousands of hujjaj and dumping their bodies in the
well of Zamzam.
As if this act of treachery was not enough, these
devils took the Black Stone to the East of Arabia
and then Kufa in Iraq where they held it ransom
until they were forced to return it by the Abassid
Caliph. When they returned it, it was in pieces and
the only way to keep them together was by
encasing them in a silver casing. Some historians
narrate that there are still some missing pieces of
the stone floating around.
1. It's not supposed to be a cube shape
The most famous cube in the world actually started
out shaped as a rectangle.
The Kaaba was never meant to be a cube. The
original dimensions of The House included the
semi-circular area known as the Hijr Ismail.
When the Kaaba was rebuilt just a few years before
the Prophet received his first revelation, the
Quraish agreed to only use income from pure
sources to complete the rebuild. That meant no
money from gambling, looting, prostitution, interest
etc. In the ultimate sign of how deeply mired in
wrongdoing the Jahili Quraish were, there was not
enough untainted money in this very wealthy
trading city to rebuild the Kaaba to its original size
and shape!
They settled for a smaller version of the Kaaba and
put a mud brick wall (called “Hijr Ismail” although
it has no connection to the Prophet Ismail (A)
himself) to indicate the original dimensions.
Towards the end of his life, the Prophet intended to
rebuild the Kaaba on its original foundations but
passed away before he could fulfill his wish. Apart
from a brief interlude of a few years during the
reign of Caliph Abdullah ibn Zubair ®, the Kaaba
has remained the same shape that the Prophet saw
it in.
The history of the Kaaba is not just an interesting
story from our past. The Kaaba is a real and
present symbol that connects all Muslims together
wherever they may be. It also connects us to our
glorious and not-so-glorious past so that we may
derive lessons and feel that we are a part of an
eternal mission. In a day and age where Muslims
are increasingly disconnected from our history,as
well as each other, the Kabaa reminds us of our
shared heritage and bonds. It is a symbol of unity
in an Ummah sorely in need of it.
Please spread the knowledge!!
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