House of Abu Jahal

This spot, just outside the present Masah is

believed to be the approximate location of the

house of Abu Jahal. Abu Jahal was a relative of

the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on

him) and one of the worst enemies of Islam. He

was described by the Prophet (peace and

blessings of Allah be on him) as the ‘Fir’awn’ of

this Ummah.

Abu Jahal’s actual name was Amr ibn Hisham

but he was commonly known as Abu Hakam

(“Father of Wisdom”) among the Quraysh as

he was considered a wise man. His relentless

hostility and belligerence towards Islam earned

him the name Abu Jahal (Father of Ignorance)

among the Muslims. He was a member of the

Banu Makhzum clan of the Quraysh.

Abu Jahal was not a real uncle of the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him) [not

his father’s real brother] but his father’s

cousin. He was a staunch polytheist and

greatly disliked the Prophet (peace and

blessings of Allah be on him), taking any

opportunity to rebuke and publicly humiliate

him.

He was one of the greatest persecutors of the

Muslims. When a Muslim convert was

discovered among the hierarchy of a tribe, Abu

Jahal would reprimand the convert and then

ridicule him in front of his fellow tribesmen so

he would lost their respect. When he

discovered a trader had converted to Islam he

gave orders that no one should engage in

business with him. As a result, the convert

trader was unable to sell his wares and

became impoverished.

Convert slaves belonging to the polytheist

Quraysh received the harshest punishment.

Abu Jahal beat Harithah bint al-Muammil

(may Allah be pleased with her), one such

slave, for her conversion to such an extent that

she lost her eyesight. He attacked Sumayyah

bint Khayyaṭ, the mother of Ammar (may Allah

be pleased with him) and inflicted on her

mortal wounds by stabbing her with a spear in

her private parts. This blessed lady was the

first to meet martyrdom in the cause of Islam.

When Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)

embraced Islam, he was determined to

announce his new faith to the Prophet’s

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him)

enemies and the first place he went to was the

house of Abu Jahal. Umar (may Allah be

pleased with him) knocked on his door, Abu

Jahal came out and greeted him, “Welcome!

What brings you here?”

“I have come to tell you that I have embraced

the religion of Allah and His Messenger,

Muhammad,” Umar calmly stated.

Abu Jahal heard this and disgustedly said,

“May God ruin you and what you have

brought! ” and slammed the door shut.

References: Local Makkan guide, When the Moon

Split – Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Fazail-e-

Aamal – Sheik Zakariyya Kandhalvi

, Islamiclandmarks.com

Darun Nadwah

This photo, which is north-west of the Ka’bah,

shows the approximate place where the Darun

Nadwah (Assembly House) was located. The

house functioned as a house of parliament for

the Quraysh and it was from here that they

plotted to kill the Prophet (peace and blessings

of Allah be on him). Note that this area is

located in the new expansion project of the

Haram.

Qusay bin Kilaab built the Darun Nadwah

approximately 150 years before the birth of the

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on

him). The house was used for public meetings;

discussions were held to settle important

matters like war and peace, caravans

assembled before going out, and marriages

and other ceremonies were conducted. It was

also from here that battalions received their

flags before marching in battle.

The leaders of the Quraysh gathered in Darun

Nadwah to scheme against Islam and the

Muslims. When Islam was gathering strength

in Makkah and the Quraysh feared their power

would become undermined they held a special

council to discuss how they could get rid of

the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be

on him).

Iblees (Satan) was also present in this meeting

disguised as Sheik Jaleel of Najd. Some of the

leaders of the Quraysh were of the opinion that

they should banish the Prophet (peace and

blessings of Allah be on him) from their

territory, while others felt they should imprison

him till death. Finally, Abu Jahl put forth his

idea that they should each select a strong

youth from their tribe, arm them with swords

and strike the Prophet (peace and blessings of

Allah be on him) in one go. By assassinating

the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be

on him) in this manner,all of the clans would

have a share of his blood and the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him)’s

protectors, Banu Abdu Munaf could not take on

all of the Quraysh at one time. Sheik Jaleel

(Iblees) commended the plan and the Quraysh

set their trap.

However, Jibraeel (upon him be peace) came

to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah

be on him) and told him of the plot to

assassinate him. That night, the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him) asked

Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) to sleep in

his bed after assuring him that no harm would

come to him and he himself managed to slip

away unnoticed. It was only at dawn that the

Quraysh realised that it was Ali (may Allah be

pleased with him) that was sleeping on the bed

and that they had been tricked. Regarding this

incident Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)

makes mention in Surah al-Anfal: “Remember

how the unbelievers plotted against you to

imprison you, to kill you, or to exile you from

Makkah. They plot and plan, but Allah plans

too, and the best of planners is Allah.” [8:30]

Darun Nadwah came into Muslim control after

the conquest of Makkah. Due to the close

proximity to the Masjid Haram, many Muslim

leaders and Khulafa stayed there when they

performed Hajj and Umrah, among them being

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) on one

occasion.

The Abbasi Khalifah, Mu’tadhid Billah included

the Darun Nadwah in the Masjid Haram in the

year 284 AH (897 CE)

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah

– Dr Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, When the

Moon Split – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri,

Al-Islam.org

House of Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him)

This is the approximate area, outside the place of Sa’ee where the house of Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was located. Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was a paternal uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and protected him while he was in Makkah.

Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib was about three years older than his nephew. A wealthy merchant, during the early years of Islam he protected the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) while he was in Makkah, but only became a convert after the Battle of Badr in 624 CE (2 AH). His descendants founded the Abbassid caliphate in 750 CE.

In spite of his noble standing among the Quraysh, Abu Talib, another uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), was quite poor. He had a large family and did not have enough means to support them adequately. His poverty-stricken situation became much worse when a severe drought hit the Arabian peninsula. It was during this time of drought, before his call to prophethood, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said to his uncle, Abbas: “Your brother, Abu Talib, has a large family. People as you see have been afflicted by this severe drought and are facing starvation. Let us go to Abu Talib and take over responsibility for some of his family. I will take one of his sons and you can taken another and we will look after them.”Abbas approved and together they went to Abu Talib and said to him: “We want to ease some of the burden of your family until such time as this distressing period has gone.”Abu Talib agreed and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) took Ali into his household and Abbas took Jafar into his. Jafar stayed with his uncle, Abbas, until he was a young man.

Abbas was one of the youngest brothers of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) father Abdullah. During the early years while Islam was gaining adherents, Abbas provided protection to his kinsman but did not adopt the faith.

He was captured during the Battle of Badr and accepted Islam just before the fall of Makkah, 20 years after his wife, Umm al-Fadl. Umm al-Fadl (may Allah be pleased with her), whose real name was Lubaba bint al-Harith, was one of the earliest converts to Islam and was a close friend of Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), the first wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was given the right to provide Zamzam water to pilgrims, the rights of which was passed down to his descendants. He is buried at the Jannatul Baqi cemetery in Madinah.

The house of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was close to the house of Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him).

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, Wikipedia, MuslimAccess.com

Bab ul-Fatah

This gateway to the Ka’bah is known as Bab-ul-Fatah (Door of Victory). It was from here that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) entered during the conquest of Makkah on Friday, 20 Ramadhan 8 A.H.

When the army of Muslims came towards Makkah, they first halted at Dhu Tuwa, not far from the city but within sight of it. When his camel Qaswa came to a halt, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) bowed his head until his beard almost touched the saddle, in gratitude to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) then drew up his troops to enter Makkah. Khalid bin Waleed (may Allah be pleased with him) took command of the right and entered from the lower part of Makkah. Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) took command of the left wing and entered from the upper part of Kada. The centre part of the army was divided into two; half of it was led by Sa’d bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) and his son, and the other half, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) himself rode, was led by Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who commanded the infantry. The sheer surprise of the attack stunned the Quraysh and very little resistance was put up against the Muslims.

It is reported that Ali, the grandson of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) through his daughter Zainab (may Allah be pleased with him), sat with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) on the camel’s back during the triumphal entry into Makkah.

A red leather tent was pitched for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in which he made wudhu (ablution) and performed eight rakahs of nafl salah, after which he rested for an hour or more. Then he called for Qaswa, and having put on his coat of mail and his helmet, he gird on his sword; but in his hand he carried a staff, and his visor was up. Some of those who had ridden with him that morning were already in line outside the tent, and they made an escort for him as he went to the Haram, talking to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), who was at his side.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) went to the Ka’bah and performed tawaf. Around the Ka’bah were three hundred and sixty idols. With a stick he was carrying he pushed them over, saying: “The truth has come and falsehood has vanished away. Falsehood is ever vanishing”[Quran 17:81]

“The truth has come and falsehood originates not nor brings again”[Quran 34:49]

After performing the circle the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) dismounted from his camel and prayed at the Maqame Ebrahim, then drank from the well of Zamzam. He then asked for the keys to the Ka’bah and went inside for a while. By the time he came out the Quraysh had filled the Haram, awaiting anxiously to see what he would do next.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) stood at the door of the Ka’bah, holding its frame and spoke at length to his former persecutors humbled before him, explaining several laws of Islam and abolishing all pagan practices. Then he asked them, “Men of the Quraysh! What do you think I will do to you?”. They said, “We hope for the best. You are a noble brother and the son of a noble brother!”. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replied, “I say to you what Yusuf said to his brothers, ‘No reproach shall be on you this day.’ Go on your way, you are free.”

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) ordered Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) to climb up on the roof of the Ka’bah and give the athan (it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) himself offered his shoulder for Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) to climb from). It was the first time the leaders of the Quraysh had heard the word of Allah rising up; the valley of Makkah reverberated with the sound.

Many eminent members of Quraysh, former bitter enemies, came into the fold of Islam on this day including Abu Sufyan and his wife Hind who had during the battle of Uhud chewed the liver of Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him).

References: When the Moon Split – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, Fazail-e-Aamal – Sheikh Zakariyya Kandhalvi, Muhammed the last Prophet – Sayyed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi

House of Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her)

This is the approximate region, outside the Marwah exit, where the house of Ummul Mu’mineen Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) was located. It was here that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) lived from the time of his marriage to her until he emigrated to Madinah.

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) married Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), he moved out from the house of his uncle Abu Talib and into the house of his bride. At the time of their marriage he (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was 25 and Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) was 40 years old. They stayed together for 25 years.

Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) was the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) first wife, he married none other during her lifetime. She bore all his children except for Ebrahim, who was born to Mariya Qibtiya (Mary the Copt). All of the children were born at her home. They were named (in order of birth) Qasim, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthoom, Fatima, Abdullah, and Ebrahim (scholars, however, disagree about the exact number and order of births). All the sons passed away during childhood, but all the daughters lived to see their father become a prophet. Each daughter embraced Islam and migrated to Madinah, and all but Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) died during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) died six months after her father’s death.

As well as their immediate family, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) also had extended members of their household. Barakah (who later became more commonly known as Umm Ayman), was the freed African slave the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) inherited from his father and whom he would sometimes affectionately address as ‘mother’. Zaid bin Haritha was a slave boy given as a bridal gift to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) by Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her); he was set free by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) but Zaid chose to stay with him and became an adopted son. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) also took his cousin Ali into his household on account of the financial hardships his uncle Abu Talib was experiencing.

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) received the first revelation of the Quran on Mount Hira he came back home and said to Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), “Wrap me up, wrap me up.”Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) wrapped him up in a blanket. When he (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) regained peace of mind after a short while, he related to Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) what had happened to him with the remark, “I feel my life threatened.”Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) replied, “By no means, I swear to Allah that He would never put you to shame. You join the ties of relationship, you speak the truth, you bear people’s burdens, you help the destitute, you entertain guests and you mitigate the pains and grief suffered for the sake of truth.”She unhesitatingly believed in him, and accepted Islam immediately.

The boycott of the Muslims in She’eb Abi Talib took a heavy toll on the health of Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), and shortly after it was ended she passed away. She was the Prophet’s trusted advisor and loyal companion, and was known by the title ‘Mother of the believers’. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) once said of Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), “When no one believed me, she believed in me, when people accused me of lying, she affirmed my truthfulness, and when people tried to impoverish me, she made me a partner in her wealth.”

When the idolaters of Makkah plotted to assassinate the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) they surrounded his house at night. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was inside along with Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) told Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) to sleep in his bed and cover himself with his green garment and assured him full security under Allah’s protection and that no harm would come to him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) then came out of his house and cast a handful of dust on the assassins and managed to work his way through them reciting these verses of the Quran: “And We have put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up, so that they cannot see.”[36:9]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) made his way to the house of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) from where they set off on the Hijrah to Madinah. Unaware of the Prophet’s escape, the would-be assassins waited for him to come out of his house. Only at dawn when Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) awoke and came out did they realize that they had been tricked. They interrogated him about the Prophet’s whereabouts, but he pleaded ignorance. They then dragged him to the Ka’bah and kept him captive there, but he divulged nothing.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) stayed in the house of Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) for around 29 years.

Please note that the location shown above is only an approximation and it is highly unlikely that the house existed at the same ground level.

References: Local Makkan guide, When the Moon Split – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, Muhammad – Martin Lings , thesunnivoice.com

The House of Sayyida Khadija was rediscovered during the Haram extensions in 1989, then hurriedly covered over so as to obliterate any trace. This was the house where the Prophet Muhammad (saw) received some of his first revelations and it is also where his children Umm Kulthum, Ruqqaya, Fatima, Zaynab, Qasim and ‘Abdullah were born. The House of Sayyida Khadija was located just outside Safa and Marwa and which now falls under the paved area. Above it, the Wahhabi hardliners have built public toilets(Naudhubillah). ( http://thesunnivoice.com/2007/11/16/the-house-of-sayyida-khadijahtul-kubra-raa/ )

Daarul Arqam

This area, at the foot of Mount Safa was the approximate area where Daarul Arqam (The house of Arqam) was located. It was here in the initial period of Islam that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) secretly preached Islam.

The house belonged to a Sahabi named Arqam bin Abu Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him). For some time after the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) proclaimed his Prophethood, this house was the secret centre of propagation. It was here that the Muslims gathered to perform salat and to learn about Islam. As it was a short walk away from the Ka’bah and its bustling crowds, the pagans who lived nearby did not take notice of the many people who used to gather here.

Daarul Arqam was also known as Daarul Khaizaraan. It was here that the following verse from Surah al-Anfal was revealed: “O Prophet, Allah is sufficient for you, and for those who follow you among the believers.”[8:64]

When Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wanted to take his Shahadah (declaration of the faith of Islam) he asked Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) where he would find the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Upon hearing of his desire to accept Islam, Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) exclaimed,“Umar, I have hope that Allah hath chosen thee through the prayers of His Prophet, whom yesterday I heard pray: ‘O Allah, strengthen Islam with Abu Hakam (Abu Jahal) the son of Hisham or with Umar the son of Khattab!”. “O Khabbab,”said Umar, “where will Muhammad now be, that I may go to him and enter Islam?”Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that he was at the house of Arqam near the Safa Gate with many of his companions.

Umar went to Safa, knocked at the door of the house, and said who he was. The Sahabah had been warned that he was coming but they were struck by the subdued tone of his voice. One of the companions went to the door and looked through a chink and came back in some dismay. “O Messenger of Allah”he said, “it is indeed Umar and he is girt with his sword”. “Let him come in,”said Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him). “if he has come with good intent, we will give him a wealth of good; and if his intent be evil, we will slay him with his own sword.”The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) agreed that he should be admitted and, advancing to meet him, he seized him by the belt and pulled him into the middle of the room saying, “What has brought thee here, O son of Khattab? I cannot see thee desisting until Allah sent down some calamities upon thee”. “O Messenger of Allah,”said Umar, “I have come to thee that I may declare my faith in Allah, and in his Messenger and in what he has brought from Allah”. “Allahu-Akbar!,”said the Prophet, in such a way that every man and woman in the house knew that Umar had entered Islam; and they all rejoiced.

Because the valour and courage of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was acknowledged by all, it was after his conversion to Islam that the Muslims started performing salah in the open and Islam was propagated in public.

References: Muhammad – Martin Lings, Virtues of Hajj – Sheikh Zakariyya KandhalviThis area, at the foot of Mount Safa was the approximate area where Daarul Arqam (The house of Arqam) was located. It was here in the initial period of Islam that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) secretly preached Islam.

The house belonged to a Sahabi named Arqam bin Abu Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him). For some time after the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) proclaimed his Prophethood, this house was the secret centre of propagation. It was here that the Muslims gathered to perform salat and to learn about Islam. As it was a short walk away from the Ka’bah and its bustling crowds, the pagans who lived nearby did not take notice of the many people who used to gather here.

Daarul Arqam was also known as Daarul Khaizaraan. It was here that the following verse from Surah al-Anfal was revealed: “O Prophet, Allah is sufficient for you, and for those who follow you among the believers.”[8:64]

When Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wanted to take his Shahadah (declaration of the faith of Islam) he asked Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) where he would find the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Upon hearing of his desire to accept Islam, Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) exclaimed,“Umar, I have hope that Allah hath chosen thee through the prayers of His Prophet, whom yesterday I heard pray: ‘O Allah, strengthen Islam with Abu Hakam (Abu Jahal) the son of Hisham or with Umar the son of Khattab!”. “O Khabbab,”said Umar, “where will Muhammad now be, that I may go to him and enter Islam?”Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that he was at the house of Arqam near the Safa Gate with many of his companions.

Umar went to Safa, knocked at the door of the house, and said who he was. The Sahabah had been warned that he was coming but they were struck by the subdued tone of his voice. One of the companions went to the door and looked through a chink and came back in some dismay. “O Messenger of Allah”he said, “it is indeed Umar and he is girt with his sword”. “Let him come in,”said Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him). “if he has come with good intent, we will give him a wealth of good; and if his intent be evil, we will slay him with his own sword.”The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) agreed that he should be admitted and, advancing to meet him, he seized him by the belt and pulled him into the middle of the room saying, “What has brought thee here, O son of Khattab? I cannot see thee desisting until Allah sent down some calamities upon thee”. “O Messenger of Allah,”said Umar, “I have come to thee that I may declare my faith in Allah, and in his Messenger and in what he has brought from Allah”. “Allahu-Akbar!,”said the Prophet, in such a way that every man and woman in the house knew that Umar had entered Islam; and they all rejoiced.

Because the valour and courage of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was acknowledged by all, it was after his conversion to Islam that the Muslims started performing salah in the open and Islam was propagated in public.

References: Muhammad – Martin Lings, Virtues of Hajj – Sheikh Zakariyya Kandhalvi

House of Umme Hani (may Allah be pleased with her)

This area, on the side of the Bab-e-Abdul Aziz gate is believed to have been the location of the house of Umme Hani (may Allah be pleased with her), the cousin of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the daughter of Abu Talib. It was from here that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was summoned by Jibraeel (upon him be peace) and taken to Bayt Al-Maqdis in Jerusalem. This incident is known as ‘al-Isra’ (the night journey) and occurred around 621 CE.

The event of the night journey to Jerusalem is mentioned in Surah al-Isra (also known as Surah Bani-Israeel) in the Quran:“Glory be to the One who took His Slave for a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the furthest Mosque, whose precincts we have blessed. “[17:1]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had prayed the evening prayers with Umm Hani and her family, then they all went to sleep. At dawn he said to them,“I prayed the evening prayers with you in this valley, then I went to Jerusalem where I prayed, and here I am praying the dawn prayers with you.”“Messenger of Allah,”said Umm Hani, “do not tell people this lest they reject and injure you.”. “Indeed I shall tell,”said the Prophet.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) went to the Ka’bah where he began to recount his miraculous journey and ascension to heaven. The Makkan pagans, of course, ridiculed his claim. Some ran to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and told him the story, thinking that it would shake his faith in the Prophet. “If he said so,”Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “it must be true.”Abu Bakr’s answer as to why he believed is inspiring to all generations of Muslims. Since he had believed Prophet was indeed a prophet, one to whom an angel brought revelations from Allah, Lord of the worlds, why should he not also believe the Prophet’s account of his travel through space and time? From that day onwards, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was called ‘Siddeeq’, one who believes.

In an attempt to prove that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was lying, those Makkans who were familiar with Jerusalem and the Sacred Mosque (al-Aqsa) quizzed him about his journey. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) described everything in detail, and no one could fault his description. Additionally, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) told the Makkans about a caravan travelling from Jerusalem to Makkah, mentioning the number of camels, their condition, and the time that they would arrive in Makkah. The caravan from Jerusalem appeared exactly when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said it would, and everyone saw that his description was accurate. But the pagans remained fettered to their disbelief.

Some scholars are of the opinion that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) went to sleep at night in the house of Umme Hani (may Allah be pleased with her), then rose after a brief while and went to the Ka’bah, for he loved to visit it during the night hours. While he was there, the desire to sleep came over him again and he lay down in the Hijr. It was from here that Jibraeel (upon him be peace) awoke him.

Umme Hani’s real name was Fakhita. She grew up with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

References: When the Moon Split – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, Muhammad: his life based on the earliest sources – Martin Lings, The Life of Muhammad – Tahia Al-Ismail

Safa/Marwah

Safa and Marwah are the two mountains between which Hajra (upon her be peace) rushed seven times to see if she could spot any water or anyone from whom she could get some in order to give to her infant Ismail (upon him be peace). This action is copied by all pilgrims performing Hajj or Umrah and is known as Sa’ee. The strip of ground between Safa and Marwah is referred to as the Mas’aa.

Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) makes mention of the Safa and Marwah mountains in the Quran in Surah Baqarah: “Verily Safa and Marwah are among the landmarks (distinctive signs) of (the Deen of) Allah.”[2:158]

When Hajra (upon her be peace) was passing through the valley between Safa and Marwah in her search for water she kept her eye on her baby son, Ismail (upon him be peace). However, for part of the valley he was hidden from view and she ran this length. It is in emulation of this action that men are required to rush through the same section of the Mas’aa. The area where she ran is today clearly demarcated by green lighting.

Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) climbed up Mount Safa when Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) revealed the verse in Surah Shu’ara: “And warn your tribe (O Muhammad) of near kindred.”[26:214]

After ascending the Safa mountain he shouted: “Ya Sabahah!”(an Arabic expression when one appeals for help or draws the attention of others to some danger). When the people of Makkah had gathered around him the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said to them, “If I told you that horsemen were advancing to attack you from the valley on the other side of this mountain, will you believe me?”. “Yes”, they replied, “We have always found you truthful.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, “I am a plain warner to you of a coming severe punishment.”After this vivid analogy the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) asked them to save themselves by declaring that Allah was one and that he, Muhammad, was his messenger. He tried to make them understand that if they clung to polytheism and rejected the message he had brought to them, they would face Allah’s punishment. Abu Lahab (his uncle) said, “May you perish! You gathered us only for this reason? “Then Abu Lahab went away. Upon this ‘Surah al-Lahab’ (Perish the hands of Abu Lahab!) was revealed.

After conquering Makkah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) went to the Hajar al-Aswad and then started performing Tawaaf. After completing the Tawaf, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) climbed Mount Safa, faced towards the Ka’bah and after praising Allah, he started making du’aa. It was from here that he announced (to the local Makkans), “Whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyaan has amnesty and whoever closes the door of his house has amnesty.”

Abu Sufyaan’s (may Allah be pleased with him) house was situated close to Marwah.

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, When the Moon Split – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri

Mataf

The Mataf refers to the open white area immediately around the Ka’bah where tawaf takes place.

With reference to it, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) mentions in the Quran:

“We commanded Ebrahim (upon him be peace) and Ismail (upon him be peace) (saying), “Clean (remove idols from) My house (the Ka’bah) for those who perform Tawaf, those who stay in it, those who bow (in Ruku) and those who prostrate” (referring to those who perform salah there).”[Surah Baqarah, verse 125]

Abdullah bin Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first to cement this area. It’s width then was approximately 5m and since then it has been expanded from time to time. It was in the year 1375 A.H. that it was extended from 40m to 50m in a circular shape. In the interests of the people performing Hajj and Umrah, the pulpit, the platform used for Adhaan and some pathways were removed from the Mataf. Even the Zamzam well was moved down to the basement so that Tawaaf could be performed above it. The buildings in the Mataf and the dome of the Maqaam Ebrahim were also demolished so that the Mataf could accommodate even more people. Towards the end of the expansion, a rare quality of marble was used to pave the Mataf that does not heat up even in the intense heat, thus making it possible for people to perform Tawaf barefoot even on the hottest days.

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani

Zamzam Well

The photo shows the source of the Zamzam water within its well. The Zamzam well has provided some 4000 years of almost continuous water supply, a living miracle.

Ebrahim (upon him be peace) took his son Ismail (upon him be peace) and the child’s mother Hajrah (upon her be peace) to Makkah where he left them with only some water and dates as provisions. Once the provisions ran out, mother and son became thirsty and restless. Hajrah (upon her be peace) climbed up Mount Safa to see whether she could sight any people from whom she could get water. When she saw nothing, she crossed the valley and then climbed up Mount Marwah for the same reason. When she saw nothing here either, she started running from Safa to Marwah and back again in her anxiety. When she had done so seven times and was atop Mount Marwah, she heard a sound. When she returned (to where her son lay), she saw that an angel had struck his wing on the ground, causing water to gush forth from the spot. The name of the well comes from the phrase ‘Zome Zome’, meaning ‘stop flowing’, a command repeated by Hajra (upon her be peace) during her attempt to contain the spring water.

When the Jurhum tribe from Yemen arrived in Makkah some time afterwards, they settled there and Ismail (upon him be peace) married one of them. It was the children of Ismail. (upon him be peace) who had the honour of looking after the Ka’bah and after them the Jurhum tribe assumed responsibility. However, once these people started violating the sanctity of the place, the Zamzam well dried up as a form of punishment for them and eventually no sign was left of it. For centuries, people did not even know where it was located. The well was rediscovered by Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was a young boy and playing with other children near Haleemah As-Sadiyah’s house, Jibraeel (upon him be peace) appeared and made him lie down. He then opened up the boy’s chest, took out his heart and extracted a lump of flesh from it, saying: “This is the portion of Shaitan in you”. Then he put his heart in a golden tray filled with Zamzam water, washed it and replaced it in his chest. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) later said that he saw the scar on the Prophet’s chest where it had been sewn back together.

There is healing power in Zamzam. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, “The best water on the face of the earth is the water of Zamzam. In it is complete nourishment and healing from sickness.”[At-Tabarani]

Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) says, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) say: ‘Zamzam is a cure for any purpose for which it is drunk’.”Another Hadith states, “If you drink it to quench a thirst, it will do so, and if you drink it to fill the stomach in place of food, it will do so, and if you drink it for a cure from some illness, it will do so.”[It-Haaf]

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) drank Zamzam he said the following prayer: “O Allah, grant me beneficial knowledge, abundant sustenance and a cure from all diseases.”

The Bible makes a reference of the miracle of Zamzam when it talks about the passing through of Ismail (upon him be peace) and his mother through the valley: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the ways of them who passing through the valley of Bacca make it a well.”[Psalm 84:5-6. Note that the Quran also refers to Makkah as Bakkah]

The Zamzam well is approximately 30m deep. Up until 1953 water was drawn by bucket, electric pumps now pump water into tanks.

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, Holy Makkah – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, When the Moon Split – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, Virtues of Hajj – Sheikh Zakariyya Kandhalvi, Muhammad – Martin Lings, Wikipedia

Maqame Ebrahim

The Maqame Ebrahim refers to the stone on which Ebrahim (upon him be peace) stood on while he was building the Ka’bah. As Ismail (upon him be peace) passed stones to Ebrahim (upon him be peace), and as Ebrahim (upon him be peace) continued laying them in place the Maqame Ebrahim miraculously continued rising higher and higher as the walls rose. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) caused the trace of his footprints to remain on the stone as a reminder to the believers among his descendants.

It has been reported from Sa’eed bin Jubair (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said: “The stone is the station of Ebrahim. Allah made it soft and made it a mercy. Ebrahim would stand on it and Ismail would hand the stones up to him.”[Muthir Al-Gharam]

Ebrahim and Ismail (upon them be peace) used to mention the following Quranic verse as they were constructing the Holy Ka’bah,“Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: for you are the All-Hearing, The All-Knowing.”[2:127]

Ebrahim (upon him be peace) constructed the Ka’bah using rocks from five mountains; Hira, Thubayr, Labnaan, Toor and Jabalul Khayr. Toor Seena (Mount Sinai) is actually situated in the eastern desert of Egypt.

When Ebrahim (upon him be peace) completed the construction of the Ka’bah he was commanded by Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He): “And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).” [22:27] Ibn Kathir says in his commentary that this verse means: ‘Proclaim (O Ebrahim) the Hajj to the people, calling them to come on pilgrimage to this House which We have commanded you to build’. It was mentioned that he said, “O Lord, how can I proclaim it to the people when my voice does not reach them?” He said, “Call and We will convey it.” So he stood at his Maqam (station) – or according to some narrations on al-Safa, or on mount Abu Qubays – and said: “O people, your Lord has taken a House, so come to it on pilgrimage.” And it was said that the mountains lowered themselves so that his voice could reach all parts of the earth and those who were still in the wombs or in men’s loins also heard, and everything that heard him, cities, nomad encampments and trees, and everyone whom Allah has decreed should perform Hajj until the Day of Resurrection responded (saying) “Labbayk Allahumma labbayk (Here I am, O Allah, here I am)”. This is the summary of what was narrated from Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, ‘Ikrimah, Saeed ibn Jubayr and others (may Allah be pleased with them).

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) fulfilled three wishes that he had. One of these was his proposal to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that the Maqame Ebrahim should be made a place for performing salah (prayer). Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) revealed the following verse in the Quran in Surah al-Baqarah: “Take the Maqam of Ebrahim as a place of salah (a place behind which you perform two rakahs of salah after Tawaf)” [2:125]

At the time of Ebrahim (upon him be peace) the Maqam was attached to the Ka’bah. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), seeing that leaving it where it was would make the space too crowded for Tawaf or for prayers had it moved to the place it is in now to make it easier for people. There was consensus among the Sahabah for this action of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), for he was the one who had suggested it should be taken as a place of prayer. 

Juhm bin Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him), a Sahabi who was present when the Quraysh rebuilt the Ka’bah as well as when Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) rebuilt it says that the blessed footprints of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) very closely matches those of Ebrahim (upon him be peace). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) also mentioned: “From all the children of Ebrahim (upon him be peace) it is I who resembles him the most.” [Bukhari]

Although the Arabs worshipped stones during the Period of Ignorance, no one ever worshipped the Hajar al-Aswad or the Maqame Ebrahim even though the Arabs revered them. It appears that it was Allah’s explicit intention to protect the Maqame Ebrahim from Shirk and all types of worship. 

Note that the significance of the Maqame Ebrahim is that it is a place for the performance of salah and not for touching or kissing. When there are lots of people performing tawaf it is better to perform salah some distance away from the Maqame Ebrahim to avoid causing unnecessary inconvenience to others.

References: The History of Makkah – Dr Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani , Holy Makkah – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri

Hateem/Hijr Ismail

The Hateem is the crescent shaped area immediately adjacent to the Ka’bah. Part of it is also known as the ‘Hijr Ismail’ as this was the place where Ebrahim (upon him be peace) constructed a shelter for Ismail (upon him be peace) and his mother Hajrah (upon her be peace).

The grandfather of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), Abdul Muttalib, loved to be near the Ka’bah and he would sometimes order a couch to be spread for him in this space. One night, when he was sleeping there a shadowy figure came to him in a vision and instructed him where he would find the Zamzam well, which had laid buried from the time of the Jurhum tribe.

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was 35 years old, a devastating flood damaged the Ka’bah and, as it had already been weakened by an earlier fire, was in danger of collapsing. Seeing that their house of worship was under threat, the Quraysh decided to rebuild the Ka’bah. They resolved not to taint the project with resources gained through usury (interest), prostitution or thieving. They came to know of a Roman ship that had become wrecked at a nearby port and a contingent went to purchase the wood of the ship. They also contracted a carpenter, named Baqoom, who had been one of the passengers on the ship to come and reconstruct the walls. The construction started with each tribe being allocated specific duties. The nobles among them carried pieces of stone and piled them up in one place. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his uncle Abbas were among those carrying stones. However, the tribes were unable to collect enough money to rebuilt the Ka’bah completely so a small wall was built showing the boundaries of the original foundation laid by Ebrahim (upon him be peace). This small wall enclosed an area on the northern side of the Ka’bah.

Some scholars have mentioned that the graves of Ismail (upon him be peace) and his mother Hajra (upon her be peace) lie buried beneath the Hijr Ismail. However, others have dismissed the narrations as being Da’eef (weak).

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that when she asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) whether the Hateem was part of the Ka’bah, he replied that it was. When she further asked why it was then not included in the walls of the Ka’bah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replied, “Because your people (the Quraysh) did not have sufficient funds.”[Bukhari]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says, “When I expressed the wish to perform salah within the Ka’bah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) took me by the hand and led me into the Hijr (Hateem) where he said, ‘Perform salah here if you wish to enter the Ka’bah because this is part of the Baytullah.’”

It must be noted here that an area of approximately 3 meters adjacent to the wall on the side of the Hateem actually constitutes as being part of the Ka’bah, the rest falls outside the Ka’bah. It is however clear that Tawaf must be performed outside the complete area of the Hateem.

Another narration states that Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, “O Aisha! Had your people not very recently been in the Period of Ignorance, I would have had the Ka’bah demolished and included the left-out portion within its walls. I would have also brought the inside of the Ka’bah to ground level and added two doors, with one on the eastern wall and the other on the western wall. In this manner, it would be according to the building and foundation of Ebrahim (upon him be peace).”In the year 65 AH, Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him had the Ka’bah constructed according to this wish of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

There is a water outlet that channels water from the roof of the Ka’bah down to the Hateem area. This was first constructed by the Quraysh and is known as the ‘Meezab-e-Rahmah’ (the water outlet of mercy).

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, Holy Makkah – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, When the Moon Split – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri

Musallah Jibraeel

These brown marble pieces mark the spot where the angel Jibraeel (upon him be peace) taught the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) how to pray.

Reference:

ZiyaraGPS.com

Meezab

The Meezab is the golden spout from where rainwater on the roof of the Ka’bah falls onto the Hijr Ismail. It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) supplicated under the Meezab.

It is commonly referred to as the ‘Meezab-e-Rahmah’ (The water outlet of mercy).

The Quraysh were the first to construct a roof on the Ka’bah and therefore the first to attach this downpipe. Before their construction, there was neither a roof nor a downpipe.

The Meezab was remodelled when the Ka’bah was renovated in the year 1417 A.H. The dimensions were retained as they were when the Ottoman Emperor Sultaan Abdul Majeed Khan renovated the Meezab in the year 1273 A.H.

References: Guide to visiting Makka and Madina – Sh. Abdul Aziz Ahmed, The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani

Rukan Yamani

This corner of the Ka’bah is called the Rukan Yamani because it is situated on the side of the Ka’bah which faces the land of Yemen. It is on the wall opposite to that of the Hajar al-Aswad.

Because this corner is still standing on the foundation that Ebrahim (upon him be peace) built, the narration of Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) made ‘Istilaam’ of it.

‘Istilaam’ refers to the touching of the corner whether this is done by hand or by kissing. As the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) touched the Rukn Yamaani by hand, this practise is Sunnah. However, there is no harm if one is unable to touch it due to the crowds.

It was the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that when he passed between the Rukn Yamani and the Hajar al-Aswad, he recited the following du’a: “O Rabb, grant us (all that which is) good in this world, (all that which is) good in the Aakhirah and save us from the punishment of the fire (of Jahannam).”[Surah Baqarah, verse 201]

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani

Door of Ka’bah

This is the entrance of the Ka’bah on its eastern side. Originally it was at ground level but was raised when the Quraysh rebuilt the Ka’bah.

When Ebrahim (upon him be peace) built the Ka’bah, the openings of the Ka’bah were on ground level. People entered from the eastern opening and exited through the western opening.

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) once asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) what reason the Quraysh had for raising the door above the ground. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replied, “Your people did it so that they could permit into the Ka’bah only those people whom they approved of and could prevent those whom they pleased. Had your people not been recently removed from ignorance and had I not feared that they would be averse to change, I would have included the Hateem within the Ka’bah and brought the door level with the ground.”

At the top of each door is inscribed:“Allah Jal jalaalah Muhammad sallallaahu alaihi wasallam”. Beneath all of this is inscribed:“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.”“Enter with peace and safety”[Surah Hijr, verse 46]” Allah has made the Ka’bah the sacred house, as well as the sacred months a means by which (the physical and spiritual safety and well-being of) mankind is maintained.”[Surah Maa’idah, verse 97]Say, “O my Rabb! Allow me to enter a pleasant place, allow me to leave pleasantly and grant me such authority from Yourself that is coupled with (Your) assistance.”[Surah Israa, verse 80]“Your Rabb has made mercy (towards you) compulsory upon himself.”[Surah An’aam, verse 5]

Your Rabb says, “Supplicate to Me and I shall respond.”[Surah Mu’min, verse 60]

Beneath all of this is inscribed: Say, “O My bondsmen who have wronged their souls (by committing kufr or other sins)! Never lose hope of Allah’s mercy.”[Surah Zumar, verse 53]

The words “Allahu Akbar”is inscribed on the two rings and Surah Faatiha has been engraved beneath the lock.

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani

Multazam

The area between the Hajar al-Aswad and the

Door of the Ka’bah is called the Multazam. It is

approximately two metres wide and is a place

where du’as (supplications) are accepted.

The Multazam is an area where du’as are

accepted. It is sunnah to hold on to the wall of

the Ka’bah in such a manner that a cheek,

chest and hands are against the wall. It is

reported that Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be

pleased with him) once completed the Tawaf,

performed the salah and then kissed the Hajar

al-Aswad. Thereafter, he stood between the

Hajar al-Aswad and the door of the Ka’bah in

such a manner that the cheek, chest and hands

were against the wall. He then said, “This is

what I saw Rasulullah (peace and blessings of

Allah be on him) do.”

Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with

him) says, “The signs of acceptance for any

du’a made between the Hajar al-Aswad and

the door of the Ka’bah will certainly be seen.”

Mujaahid (may Allah be pleased with him)

says, “The area between the Hajar al-Aswad

and the door is called the Multazam. Allah will

grant a person whatever he asks for there and

save him from whatever he seeks refuge from

there.”

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah

– Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani

Hajar al-Aswad

The picture above shows the Hajar al-Aswad (The

Black Stone), which is set in the eastern corner

of the Ka’bah. Tawaf is started and ended by

facing this sacred stone. Throughout the ages,

innumerable people including many of the

Prophets (upon them be peace), the Prophet

Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on

him) himself, the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased

with them), pious personalities and millions of

Muslims who have performed Hajj and Umrah

have placed their blessed lips on it.

The Hajar al-Aswad was brought from Jannah

and presented to Ebrahim (upon him be peace)

to be placed on the corner of the Ka’bah. Ibn

Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him)

narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings

of Allah be on him) said: “The Black Stone

came down from Paradise and it was whiter

than milk, but the sins of the sons of Adam

turned it black.” [Tirmidhi]

Du’as are accepted at the Hajar al-Aswad and

on the Day of Judgement it will testify in

favour of all those who kissed it. The Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:

“By Allah! On the Day of Qiyamah, Allah will

present the Hajar al-Aswad in such a manner

that it will have two eyes and a tongue to

testify to the Imaan (faith) of all those who

kissed it.” [Tirmidhi]

When the Quraysh demolished the Holy Ka’bah

in order to reconstruct it, a dispute arose when

the building reached the level of the Black

Stone. They differed on the issue of who was

eligible to restore the Black Stone to its

original place. A civil war was about to break

out. Banu Abdu’d-Dar brought a bowl full of

blood and all of the tribes inserted their hands

in it, which meant that they had made up their

minds to fight one another. But Abu Umayya

Ibn al-Mugheera , their elder, asked Quraysh to

agree on the judgement of the first person to

come through the Bani Shaibah gate and they

all agreed on this suggestion. The first to come

through this gate was the Prophet (peace and

blessings of Allah be on him). This was five

years before his mission. He put the Black

Stone in the middle of a piece of cloth, and

asked a representative of each tribe to hold

one of the edges of the cloth and raise it close

to its place. Then the Prophet (peace and

blessings of Allah be on him) picked it up with

his own noble hands and restored it to its

original place. This was how the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him)

prevented a war from breaking out among the

Quraysh by a supreme demonstration of

wisdom.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him)

relates that the Prophet (peace and blessings

of Allah be on him), while leaning against the

Ka’bah said: “The Hajr al-Aswad and al-

Maqam (Ebrahim) are two jewels from the

jewels of Paradise. Had Allah (Glorified and

Exalted is He) not concealed their radiance,

they would illuminate everything between the

East and the West.” [Tirmidhi]

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) once

kissed the Hajar al-Aswad and said, “I know

well that you are just a stone that can do

neither good nor harm. Had I not seen the

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on

him) kiss you, I would not have done so.”

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) made

the statement because there were many people

who were newly converted to Islam and he did

not want them to get the impression that

Muslims also revered stones as the Arabs

revered and worshipped stone idols during the

Period of Ignorance. Umar (may Allah be

pleased with him) made it clear that he was

following the Sunnah practice of the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and

that although the stone is blessed, it can do

neither harm nor good.

The Hajar al-Aswad was stolen from the

Ka’bah around 930 CE by Qarmatian warriors

who were an Ismaeeli Shia sect. They sacked

Makkah, desecrating the Well of Zamzam with

Muslim corpses and carried the Black Stone

away to their base in Ihsaa, in medieval

Bahrain. According to the historian Al-Juwayni,

the stone was returned in around 952 CE and

restored to its original location.

The Hajar al-Aswad was originally a complete

stone but due to various historical incidents

now consists of eight pieces of varying sizes

affixed to a large stone and encased in a silver

frame. The silver frame was first made by

Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with

him) and replaced by later Khalifas as the need

arose.

Six (additional) pieces are claimed to be in

Istanbul, Turkey. One is displayed in the

mihrab of the Blue Mosque, one above the

entrance of the tomb of Sulaiman the

Magnificent and four in the Sokullu Sehit

Mehmet Pasa Camii mosque (one over the

mihrab, one below the lower pulpit, another is

above the upper pulpit and the last is over the

entrance door). The authenticity of these

additional pieces has been questioned,

although the Turks did rule over what is now

Saudi Arabia for many years and hold many

historical Islamic relics. And Allah (Glorified

and Exalted is He) knows best.

Note that when kissing the Hajar al-Aswad,

one should neither push people nor harm

anyone because while kissing the Hajar al-

Aswad is Sunnah, causing harm to people is a

forbidden act (haram). When the area is

crowded, it will suffice to merely point towards

the Hajar al-Aswad with one’s hand or a stick

while reciting the Takbeer and then to kiss the

hand or stick. Although the Prophet (peace

and blessings of Allah be on him) kissed the

Hajar al-Aswad directly, he also pointed

towards it when the area was crowded, it is

therefore clear that both kissing it and pointing

towards it are Sunnah.

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah–

Dr Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, Holy Makkah –

Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, Wikipedia

Inside the Ka’bah

The diagram above shows a rare view of what the

interior of the Ka’bah looks like. The construction

made by Ebrahim (upon him be peace) contained

no roof, it was the Quraysh who raised the walls

of the Ka’bah and added a roof. Today, only a

privileged few have had the opportunity to step

inside the Ka’bah.

During the times of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance), a

man and woman from the Yemenite tribe of

Jurhum called Isaf and Na’ilah committed

adultery inside the Ka’bah. Allah (Glorified and

Exalted is He) turned them into stones. When

they were found the next day, they were

carried outside and were set up at the Ka’bah

as a warning. Over time these two stones were

worshipped along with the other idols. One of

the stones was placed right next to the

Ka’bah; the other one was set up at the spring

of Zamzam. Finally, the Quraysh ordered that

the stone next to the Ka’bah to be carried to

the other one at Zamzam. From then on,

people slaughtered their sacrificial animals at

that spot.

When Islam began to spread, the Quraysh

became more embittered and could not

tolerate the Prophet (peace and blessings of

Allah be on him) any longer. The chiefs drew

up a document which called for the social and

economic boycott of the Prophet (peace and

blessings of Allah be on him) and all those

who supported him and his family. All of them

signed this document on 1st Muharram of the

seventh year of the Prophethood and the scroll

was hung up inside the Ka’bah to give it full

sanctity. For three long years the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and

his kinsmen were ostracized in a narrow valley

in Makkah. Food was so scarce that they had

to resort to eating leaves of trees and their

children’s cries could be heard all over the

valley. At last by the Grace of Allah, the scroll

was eaten up by white ants save for the name

of Allah and the boycott was uplifted.

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of

Allah be on him) arrived in Makkah on the day

of victory, he made tawaf around the Ka’bah

seven times and touched the Hajar al-Aswad

with his staff. He then asked Uthman bin Talha

to open the door of the Ka’bah. The Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him)

entered the Ka’bah accompanied by Usama bin

Zaid, Bilal and Uthman bin Talha (may Allah be

pleased with them). He closed the door,

performed prayer and stayed for some time.

Inside the Ka’bah were statues of Ebrahim

(upon him be peace) and Ismail (upon him be

peace), along with pictures of angels and a

picture of Ebrahim (upon him be peace) with

divining arrows in his hand. It has also been

reported that there was an icon painting of the

Virgin Mary and the child Christ which had

been done by a Christian. The Prophet (peace

and blessings of Allah be on him) ordered all of

them to be destroyed.

The two horns of the ram which Ebrahim (upon

him be peace) slaughtered were hung inside

the Holy Ka’bah. When Abdullah bin Zubair

(may Allah be pleased with him) demolished

the Ka’bah to rebuild it, he found the horns

had disintegrated due to previous damage and

age.

The Quraysh had erected their chief idol, Hubal,

within the centre of Ka’bah. It was made of

red carnelian and shaped like a human with the

right hand broken which the Quraysh had

replaced with gold. In front of the idol were

seven arrows of fate and when the pagan

Arabs were undecided on a matter they would

go to Hubal and throw the arrows in front of

him and took ‘advice’ based on how the

arrows appeared.

Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather of the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had

made a vow that if he ever had ten sons he

would sacrifice one of them to God in front of

the Ka’bah. When he subsequently fathered ten

grown up sons up he announced his vow to

them and had their names written on arrows of

fate which were mixed and then one drawn

out. Destiny fell upon Abdullah, his youngest

and dearest son, who was to become the

father of the Prophet (peace and blessings of

Allah be on him). Not wanting to sacrifice

Abdullah, Abdul Muttalib consulted a

soothsayer to see how he could be exonerated

from his vow and in return for Abdullah’s life

he gave away 100 camels. Hence the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is

called the descendant of the “two sacrificed

ones” (Ismail (upon him be peace) and his

own father, Abdullah). Similarly, he is referred

to as the descendant of the “two elders held

for ransom,” for Ismail (upon him be peace)

was ransomed for a ram and his father for a

hundred camels.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be

on him) had Hubal destroyed after the

conquest of Makkah.

References: Kabahinfo.com, Symbols of Islam –

Tanja Al-Hariri-Wendel, Muhammed the last

Prophet – Sayyed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, When

the Moon Split – Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri,

Muhammad – Martin Lings