Ka’aba The House Of Allah

Ka’aba The House Of Allah

In the province of Hejaz in the western part of Arabia, not far from the Red Sea, there lies the town of Makka. In the centre of this town there is a small square building made of stones, about 60 feet long, 60 feet wide and 60 feet high. Since time immemorial this town and this stone built house has been known to world travellers. This is Baitullah, the House of Allah. Its sanctity and antiquity is older than history itself.

Tradition goes that the Kaaba was ordained by Allah to be built in the shape of the House in Heaven called Baitul Ma’amoor. Allah in his infinite Mercy ordained a similar place on earth and Prophet Adam was the first to build this place. The Bible, in the Chapter of Genesis describes its building when God ordained Abraham to erect a Shrine for worship when Abraham was ordered to go to the Southern desert with his wife Hagera and infant son Ismael. The Old Testament describes this building as the Shrine of God at several places, but the one built at Ma’amoor is very much similar to the one at Makka. There is no doubt that it was referring to the stone built house at Makka.

Qora’an brought this story into the full light of history. In Sura 3 Verse 90 Qora’an says “Allah has spoken the Truth, therefore follow the creed of Ibrahim, a man of pure faith and no idolater”. The first house established for the people was at Makka, a Holy place and a guidance to all beings. Qora’an firmly establishes the fact that Ibrahim was the real founder of the Holy Shrine.

When Prophet Ibrahim built the Holy Shrine in Makka, his prayers were that this place should remain a centre of worship for all good and pious people; that Allah should keep his family the custodians of the Holy place. Ever since, Ismael the son of Ibrahim who helped his father to build this place and his descendants remained the custodians of the Holy Shrine. History tells us that centuries passed and the guardianship of the Kaaba remained in the family of Ismael until the name of Abde Manaf came into the limelight. He inherited this service and made it much more prominent. His son Hashim took this leadership and extended it to many other towns of Hejaz so much so that many pilgrims flocked annually to this place and enjoyed Hashims’s hospitality. A feast was given in honour of the pilgrims, food and water was served to all guests by the family of Hashim. This prominence created jealousies and his brother Abdushams’ adopted son Ummayya tried to create trouble. There was a dispute in which Umayya failed and left Makka to settle down in the Northern provinces of Suria(Sham) currently known as Syria. After Hashim his brother Muttalib and after him Hashim’s son Shyba who became known as Abdul Muttalib assumed the leadership of the family. He organised feasts and supplies of water to the pilgrims during the annual festival of Pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine.

Prophet Ibrahim built this House for devout worship to one God. But within his lifetime people disobeyed his orders and began to put idols inside the Kaaba. Ibrahim had to clean the House of these idols and of Idle worshippers. He told the people that this was a symbolic house of God. God does not live there for He is everywhere. People did not understand this logic and no sooner had Ibrahim died the people, out of reverence, filled the place with idols again. They thronged to this place annually and worshipped their personal gods, It was over Four Thousand years later that the last of the line of prophet (SA), Muhammad Ibne Abdullah entered Makka triumphantly, went inside the Ka’aba and, with the help of his cousin and son in law Ali Ibne Abi Talib, (AS) destroyed all the idols of Ka’aba with their own hands. At one stage of this destruction of idols, the tallest of the idol Hubbol was brought down after Ali had to stand on the shoulders of the Prophet to carry out God’s orders. The Prophet of Islam was reciting the Verse from the Qur’an

“Truth hath come and falsehood hath vanished.”

This was done in the 8th year of Hijra, January 630 AD after the bloodless victory at Makka by the Prophet of Islam.

Historically when Ibrahim was ordered by Allah to build the Shrine for worship over a small he uncovered the original foundations of the Kaaba built by Adam. Ibrahim with the help of his son Ismael erected the new shrine on the same foundations. Originally it contained only four walls without a roof . Centuries later during the timeof Kusayi who was the leader of the Tribe of Quraish in Makka a taller building was completed with a roof and a quadrangle wall around it to give it the shape of a sanctuary and doors all around the sanctuary walls. People entered through these doors to come to the Ka’aba for worship. It is now about 60 feet high, 60 feet wide from east to west and 60 feet from north to south. A door is fixed about 7 feet above ground level facing North East. A Black stone (Hajar al Aswad) was fixed into its eastern corner. In front of the building was Maqame Ibrahim, the arch shape gate known as that of Banu Shayba and the Zamzam Well. Just outside are the Hills called Safa and Merwa and the distance between the hills is about 500 yards. These days both of the hills are enclosed into the sanctuary walls with a roof over it.

The whole building is built of the layers of grey blue stone from the hills surrounding Makka. The four corners roughly face the four points of the compass. At the East is the Black stone (Rukn el Aswad), at the North is el Ruken el Iraqi, at the west al Rukne el Shami and at the south al Rukne el Yamani. The four walls are covered with a curtain (Kiswa). The kiswa is usually of black brocade with the Shahada outlined in the weave of the fabric. About 2/3rd’s of the way up runs a gold embroidered band covered with Qur'anic text.

In the Eastern corner about 5 feet above ground the Hajar el Aswad (the blackstone) is fixed into the wall. Its real nature is difficult to determine, its visible shape is worn smooth by hand touching and kissing. Its diameter is around 12 inches. Opposite the North west wall but not connected with it, is a semi circular wall of white marble. It is 3 feet high and about 5 feet thick. This semi circular space enjoys an especial consideration and pilgrims wait in queue to find a place to pray there. The graves of Ismael and his mother Hajera are within this semi circular wall. Between the archway and the facade (N.E.) is a little building with a small dome, the Maqame Ibrahim. Inside it is kept a stone bearing the prints of two human feet. Prophet Ibrahim is said to have stood on this stone when building the Ka’aba and marks of his feet are miraculously preserved.

On the outskirts of the building to the North East is the ‘Zamzam Well’ (this is now put under ground).

History of the building of the Ka’aba.

Qur’an in Sura Baqra Verses 121 to 127 described it clearly that Allah had ordained his servant Ibrahim to build the Shrine there for worship of One God. During Kusayi’s time it was rebuilt and fortified. During the early years of Prophet Muhammad (SA) before he announced his ministry, the Ka’aba was damaged by floods and it was rebuilt again. When the Black stone was to be put in its place the Makkans quarrelled among themselves as to who should have the honour to place it there. They had just decided that the first comer to the quadrangle should be given the task of deciding as to who should have the honour. Muhammad (SA) came in and was assigned this task. He advised them to place the stone in a cloak and ordered the heads of each Tribe each to take an end and bring the cloak nearer the corner on the eastern side. He himself then took out the stone and placed it in its position. It has been fixed there ever since.

After the martyrdom of the family of the Prophet at Kerbala in 61 Hijri (681 AD), the Ummayad Caliph Yazid Ibne Moawiya did not stop there in the pursuit of his destruction. He sent a large contingent under the command of Haseen Ibne Namir to Madina which destroyed the Mosque of the Prophet. They did not stop there but proceeded to Makka and demolished the four walls of the Ka’aba and killed thousands of muslims who protested. Yazid died and Ibne Namir returned to Damascus, Ka’aba was rebuilt by Abdullah Ibne Zubayr and his associates. Umawi forces came back to Makka and killed Abdullah Ibne Zubayr, hung his body on the gates of the Ka’aba for three months for all to see the Umawi power. But eventually this arrogance of power brought its own consequences and Mukhtar became the ruler in Iraq. Under his guidance the Ka’aba was refurbished and pilgrims began to arrive in safety to perform Hajj.

The Ka’aba successfully withstood the Karamatian invasion of 317/929, only the Blackstone was carried away which was returned some twenty years later. In the year 1981 the Wahabis brought tanks inside the Ka’aba to crush the kahtani revolution against the Saudi regime and almost demolished the South Eastern Wall. This was later restored with the help of the Makkan people.

Every man living in Makka in the 6th and 7th century must out of necessity have had some relationship with the Ka’aba. On the Muhammad (SA), the Prophet of Islam, the Qur’an is silent during the Makkans period in this respect. All that is known is that the muslim community of the period turned towards Jerusalem in prayers. Subsequently about a year and a half after the Hijra the Muslims were ordered during prayers which were lead by the Prophet of Islam himself to turn towards Makka. The particular mosque in Madina where this happened is called Masjide Qiblatain, meaning the mosque with two Qiblas.The Qur’an tells the muslims, “ turn then thy face towards the sacred mosque and wherever ye be turn your faces towards that part ”Qur’an II,139/144.

At this same period the Qur’an began to lay stress on the religion of Ibrahim, presenting Islam as a return to the purity of the religion of Ibrahim which, obscured by Judaism and Christianity, shone forth in its original brightness in the Qur’an. The pilgrimage’s to the Ka’aba and ritual progressions around the building were continued, but were now for the glorification of One God. The Abrahimic vision of the Ka’aba created a means of discerning an orthodox origin buried in the midst of pagan malpractices to which the first muslims pointed the way.

Every year after the Hajj ceremony the place is closed for one month and on the Day of Ashura the Ka’aba is washed from inside by the Water from the well of Zamzam and a new Kiswa is brought to cover the Ka’aba for the next year.

This is the story of the Ka’aba and the persons who protected it and remained its custodians and protectors from the satanic and evil forces throughout history. Muhammad (SA) and the people of his household (Ahlulbayt) were the protectors of the Ka’aba, and currently the 12th Imam from the direct descent of the Prophet of Islam is the real protector, its custodian and guardian and shall remain as such while in concealment. In the following pages we shall unfold the lives and times of these 14 Masoomeen Alaihimussalam.

THE HISTORY OF KAABA

[Quran; 2:125] We have rendered the shrine (the Ka`aba) a focal point for the people, and a safe sanctuary. You may use Abraham's shrine as a prayer house. We commissioned Abraham and Ismail: "You shall purify My house for those who visit, those who live there, and those who bow and prostrate."

The History of Kaaba As A Place Of Worship

Kaaba, also known as, Ka'bah, Kabah and Caaba is the center of the holiest place of worship in Islam (Submission in English), i.e. the Sacred Mosque of Mecca, Al Masjid Al-Haram. Its name means the cube in Arabic as it is a cube shaped stone structure built in the middle of the Sacred Mosque. The Kaaba was built by prophet Abraham as a landmark for the House of God ,for the sole purpose of worshipping of God alone.

[2:127] As Abraham raised the foundations of the shrine, together with Ismail (they prayed): "Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Omniscient.

Kaaba is the center of the circumambulations performed during the pilgrimage (hajj), and it is toward the Kaaba that Muslims face in their prayers (salat). Before prophet Muhammed's advent, Meccans who lost the religion of Abraham's monotheism, worshipped many idols, most notable of which were al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat. The Black Stone, possibly of meteoric origin, is located at one of its outside corners. It has been used by the pilgrims as a landmark to count the number of cicumambulations. Some traditional Muslims in defiance of their religion, consider the stone holy and put emphasis on touching it and kissing it. The actual structure of the Kaaba has been demolished and rebuilt several times in the course of its history. Around the Kaaba is a restricted area, haram, extending in some directions as far as 12 miles, into which only Muslims may enter.

Kaaba is located in the city of Mecca (Makkah) in the Arabian desert in the Arabian peninsula, of what is known today as Saudi Arabia.

Location Of Mecca (Makkah)

Mecca is at the intersection of latitude 21 to 25 degree north and longitude 39 to 49 degree east. It is set in a rugged landscape consisting mostly of solid granite, with rocks sometimes reaching 300 meters (1,000 feet) above sea level.

Makkah is enclosed by the Valley of Abraham, which is surrounded by two nearby mountain ranges to the east, west and south. The northern range comprises the Al-Falaq and Qu'aqi'an mountains, while the southern range consists of Abu Hudaidah mountain to the west, Kuday to the south and Abu Qubais and Khindimah to the south-east.

There are three main entrances to Makkah: Al-Mu'allat (also known as Al-Hujûn), Al-Musfalah and Al-Shubaikah.

Kaaba & Mecca In History

Edward Gibbon writes about the Ka'bah and its existence before the Christian era in his book:

..... of blind mythology of barbarians - of the local deities, of the stars, the air, and the earth, of their sex or titles, their attributes or subordination. Each tribe, each family, each independent warrier, created and changed the rites and the object of this fantastic worship; but the nation, in every age, has bowed to the religion as well as to the language of Mecca. The genuine antiquity of Caaba ascends beyond the Christian era: in describing the coast of the Red sea the Greek historian Diodorus has remarked, between the Thamudites and the Sabeans, a famous temple, whose superior sanctity was revered by all the Arabians; the linen of silken veil, which is annually renewed by the Turkish emperor, was first offered by the Homerites, who reigned seven hundred years before the time of Mohammad.^[2]

Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian of 1st century BC who wrote Bibliotheca Historica, a book describing various parts of the discovered world. The following lines are the English translation of Greek quoted by Gibbon from the book of Diodorus Siculus (Diodorus of Sicily) describing the 'temple' considered to be the the holiest in the whole of Arabia.

And a temple has been set-up there, which is very holy and exceedingly revered by all Arabians.^[3]

It is interesting to know that Claudius Ptolemy of Alexandria, mathematician and astronomer, flourishing about a century after Pliny, undertook to make an atlas of the habitable world. He was not a descriptive geographer, and his book was intended to be no more than a commentary on his maps. He enumerated some hundred and fourteen cities or villages in Arabia Felix.

For example, Dumaetha, placed by Ptolemy just outside the northern boundary of Arabia Felix, must be the mediaeval Arabian Daumet, which is today the chief village of the great oasis of Jauf. Hejr, famous in the "times of ignorance" as the seat of a kingdom, and now Medayin Salih, is Ptolemy's Egra. His Thaim is Teima, now known for its inscriptions to have had temples and some sort of civilization as far back as 500 BC. It is the Tema of Job. In Lathrippa, placed inland from Iambia (Yambo), we recognize the Iathrippa of Stephan of Byzantium, the Yathrib of the early Arab traditions, now honoured as El Medina, the City of Cities.^[4]

Apart from this a place called Macoraba is also shown which is identified as Mecca (please refer to the map facing page 17 of reference [3]). G E von Grunebaum says:

Mecca is mentioned by Ptolemy, and the name he gives it allows us to identify it as a South Arabian foundation created around a sanctuary.^[5]

Makkah In The Scriptures

The Qur'ân talks about Bakkah (the older name of Makkah) being the first house of worship appointed for mankind. It also addresses this place as Umm ul-Qurâ i.e., Mother of the Settlements.

"The most important shrine established for the people is the one in Becca; a blessed beacon for all the people. In it are clear signs: the station of Abraham. Anyone who enters it shall be granted safe passage. The people owe it to GOD that they shall observe Hajj to this shrine, when they can afford it. As for those who disbelieve, GOD does not need anyone." [3:96-97]
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*3:96 Sura 3 is an M-initialed sura, and this peculiar spelling of "Mecca" as "Becca" causes the occurrence of "M" to conform to the Quran's mathematical code. The normal spelling "Mecca" would have increased the frequency of occurrence of "M". See the Mathematical Miracle of the Quran, (Appendix 1).

The Bible also mentions about the valley of Baca in connection with the pilgrimage. Below is the quote from Psalms 84 (NIV):

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-- a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob.
9 Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

The interpretation of the valley of Baca in the The Jewish Encylopedia is quite interesting, though it does not provide a complete evidence and leaves the reader with a suggestion. Below is the full quote.

Baca, The Valley Of: A valley mentioned in Psalms LXXXIV:7. Since it is there said that pilgrims transform the valley into a land of wells, an old translators gave to Baca, the meaning of a "valley of weeping"; but it signifies rather any valley lacking water. Support for this latter view is to be found in II Samuel V:23 et seq.; I Chronicles XIV:14 et seq., in which the plural form of the same word designates a tree similar to the balsam tree; and it was supposed that a dry valley could be named after this tree. Konig takes Baca from the Arabian Baka'a, and translates it "lack of streams". The Psalmist apparently has in mind a particular valley whose natural condition led him to adopt its name.^[6]

The translation of Arabian Baka'a as "lack of stream" seems to throw some light on the nature of the valley before the appearance of the stream of Zam-Zam near Ka'bah which was a dry place with no vegetation whatsoever.

The Anchor Bible Dictionary does not throw any light on it, albeit, there are some suggestions in it too like the The Jewish Encylopedia. Below is the full quote.

Baca, The Valley Of (PLACE): [Hebrew 'emeq habakka'], The valley of Baca (Psalms 84:1) is either a historical place name or a symbolical expression for "deep sorrow". The first part of Psalms 84:6 seems to mean that by "passing through the experience of deep sorrow, righteous ones can make it the source of life." The Septuagint translated the phrase into Greek as "the valley of weeping". The word 'emeq "valley" has the root meaning of "deep", so the expression may mean "deep sorrow".

However, some have considered it as the "valley of the balsam tree" from the same word in plural form found in 2 Samuel 5:24. This is based on the assumption that baka may be a "gum-exuding [weeping] tree". Another possibility is that the word beka'im (plural of baka) may mean "weeping wall-rocks" in the valley of Rephaim on whose tops David and his troops were waiting for the coming of the Philistine army passing through the valley below (2 Samuel 5:24). It seems safe to seek the meaning of baka in relation to the dripping water, since we often find this word in the names related to rivers and wadis, such as Wadi al-Baka in the Sinaitic district and Baca on the wadi in the central Galilee area, W of Meroth. It is also possible to understand beka'im as the place of "weepings" of the Philistine army for their defeat by David. After all these considerations, the expression of "valley of baka" can best be taken as a symbolic expression "weeping" or "deep sorrow" which fits well in the context of Psalms 84:6.^[7]

The interpretation of the valley of Baca as a "the valley of weeping" makes sense because of the distress which Hagar^(P) underwent when she was left with Ishmael^(P) in the barren desert with no means of living.

The two interpretations of Baca, viz., "lack of stream" and "the valley of weeping" appears to fit in the context of pilgrimage to Bakkah, the older name of Makkah where the Ka'bah is situated. Ka'bah has been a place of reverence by all Arabians before the Christian era as we have seen earlier.

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References

[1] M S M Saifullah, Ka'bah As A Place Of Worship In The History

[2] Edward Gibbon (Introduction by Christopher Dawson), Gibbon's Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire, Volume V, Everyman's Library, London, pp. 223-224.

[2] Translated by C H Oldfather, Diodorus Of Sicily, Volume II, William Heinemann Ltd., London & Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MCMXXXV, p. 217.

[4] D G Hogarth, The Penetration Of Arabia, Alston Rivers Limited, London, 1905, p. 18.

[5] G E Von Grunebaum, Classical Islam: A History 600-1258, George Allen & Unwin Limited, 1970, p. 19.

[6] The Jewish Encylopedia, Volume II, Funk & Wagnalls Company, MDCCCCII, p. 415.

[7] David Noel Freedman (Editor-in-Chief), The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Volume I, Doubleday, p. 566.

The Writing on the Kiswah of the Holy Ka'bah

The Writing on the Kiswah of the Holy Ka'bah

The kiswah is woven from pure, raw silk. dyed black, and with the following statements woven into it:

(i) There ii no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

(ii) Allah is the Great, Powerful and Sublime.

(iii) Praise and Glory be to Allah.

(iv) Praise be to My Glorious Lord.

(v) O, You Compassionate! O, You Benefactor!

All these are repeatedly written over the cloth in a zigzag pattern.

Close up writing on the Kiswah of the Holy Ka'bah

The length of the cloth is 14.5 metres. On the upper third, the-s the belt of the kiswah, which is 95 centimetres wide. Under the belt on the comers, Surat ? Al-lkhlas is inscribed on an embellished square of ,3 Islamic designs. At the same height, under the belt, as well, six Qur'anic verses are written inside separate, rectangular, embroidered frames. In between these framed Qur'anic verses. the following Divine Names; are worked in lamp-shaped outlines:

(i) O, You the Sustainer, the Everliving!

(ii) O, You the Merciful, the Compassionate!

(iii) Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds.

All work under the belt is inscribed in compound, Thulth calligraphy, embroidered in raised form and covered by gilded silver thread. These pieces were introduced during the flourishing Saudi era. (16, p. 76)

Expenditure and Manpower

The total expenses of one kiswah of the Holy Ka'bah arc seventeen million Saudi Rivals, including all overhead costs. One kiswah needs 670 kilograms of pure silk which covers the surface of the Holy Ka'bah. It is made into 47 panels of cloth, the length of each is 14 metres and the width 95 centimeres. The number of employees has increased from 16 at the founding of the factory, to more than 240. The expenditure varies because the prices of silk, raw materials, manpower and machinery are constantly changing.

The Commencement of the Work

The Commencement of the Work

Under the umbrella of the instructions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (may Allah prolong his life and grant him health and success), and with the grace of Allah, Saudi Bin Ladin Group had the honour of the assignment of the construction of the Holy Ka'bah, the Two Holy Mosques and other mosques. In Sha'ban, 1416 H. all necessary preparations for the work were ready, but the time was not suitable because the period from Ramadan to Dhut Hijjah is the climax of Hajj and Umrah seasons. The work necessitated fitting a wall around the Holy Ka'bah to conceal it. This state of affairs would have deprived pilgrims and Umrah performers of direct sight and access to the Holy Ka'bah.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was emphatic that all his projects should go through regardless of cost. Implementation of the projects should not deprivc worshippers of enjoying the sights of the sacred places. A look at the Holy Ka'bah gives them spiritual satisfaction, and most of them visit the Ancient House for this purpose.

It was necessary to respond to the needs of the visitors to the Holy Ka'bah. The commencement of the work was, therefore, postponed to a time when the numbers of pilgrims were few, with the target of completing it in due time. On the 10th Muharram, 1417 H., the work started.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Brief

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Brief

Location

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is situated between the Red Sea in the west and the Arabian Gulf in the east. It is bounded on the north by Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait, and on the south by the Yemeni Republics (north and south), and on the east by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. The total area of the Kingdom is 2,240,000 square kilometers. The length of the western coast from Al-Aqaba to Meedi is approximately 1100 miles, and the eastern coast from Ras Mishab to Qatar is 300 miles. The length of the boundaries from Al-Aqaba to Ras Mishab is 850 miles, and from Meedi to the Arabian Gulf is 880 miles.

The Geographical Features

A coastal plain extends the length of the Red Sea, the width varying from one region to the other; about 40 miles in the north, drops to about 30 miles in the south from Jizan to Al-Laith and down to 10 miles at AI-Wajh. It almost disappears at the Gulf of Al-Aqaba. This coastal plain is called as Al-Tahaim, or Tihama AI-Hijaz, Asir and Yemen, where there are several wide salt marshes.

Map of The kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Beyond these plains, to the east, there is a chain of high mountains permeated by great, wide valleys, the most important of which are Wadi Al-Himdh, Wadi Yanbu and Wadi Fatima, and in Asir are Wadi Atood and Wadi Beesha. Because the slope of this range is almost vertical in the west, these valleys erode quickly. Their silt is swept away to the coastal plain, making them extremely fertile.

The height of the mountain chain, starting in the south of Asir, is 9000 feet, and drops to 8000 feet west of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, and continues down to 4000 feet around Mahd Al-Dhahab. It continues to descend to 3000 feet at Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah and then maintains that same height northward.

Directly to the east of this mountain range, the plateau of the Najd extends to a height of between four to six thousand feet, and finally drops to two thousand feet at AI-Dahnaa in the east. To the south are the Najd Heights with Wadi AI-Dawasir, then the desert of the Empty Quarter.

On the north, the plains of the Najd extend about 900 miles to the borders of Iraq and Jordan. There are several mountain regions in the Najd such as the areas of Al-Aridh and Al-Owairedh and the mountains of Aja and Salma. The Tuwaiq Chain extends from the south-west to the north-west of Al-Nufud (all sand and desert) which are sand dunes that intersperse the country from the Empty Quarter on its eastern and western sides to the north where they join, and are called Al-Nufud AI-Kabeer. These Nufuds are dry, untrodden areas that form fertile areas after the rainy seasons. The Najd is also rich in saltflats that had formed an inland sea during old geological times. From the east side of Al-Dahnaa, the height of the land drops gradually to the sea level along the Arabian Gulf, where there are the Kingdom's main petroleum fields.

Climate

There is a sub-tropical climate along the western coast of the Kingdom, facing the Red Sea. It is characterized by warm summers and high humidity, but it is moderate in winter with scattered rains between November and February. The central region has relatively hot, dry summers and dry, cool winters, with occasional cold waves due to the Najd mountains. The climate of the eastern region resembles that of the central region except for the high level of humidity during the summer due to its coastal position on the Arabian Gulf.

The Components of the Building Materials Used

The Components of the Building Materials Used
for the Construction of the Holy Ka'bah

Side diagrammatic presentation of the Holy Ka'bah site

The construction of the Holy Ka'bah in its present form is the building by Sultan Murad IV, one of the Ottoman Sultans in 1040 H. This same construction has been renovated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (may Allah protect him). It in a strong, solid building whose components are the large bluish-black stones taken from Makkah Al-Mukarramah mountains, the most important of which is AI-Ka bah mountain at the Shubeikah site.

The stones are not equal in size; some are large, others small. The largest stone was 190 centimetres long, half a metre wide and 28 centimetres thick. The smallest stone was half a metre long, and approximately 40 centimetres wide. The ends of these stones were mortared into the wall, the exposed rocks looking like rows of molars. On the base of the Holy Ka'bah from without, there is AI-Shadhrwan whose marble stones are different from those of the wall of the Holy Ka'bah.

The Shadhrwan of the Holy Ka'bah

The Shadhrwan is a part of the wall of the Sacred House. It protrudes out of the base of the Holy Ka'bah, and is called a wrapping because it wraps around the Sacred House from three sides. The Shadhrwan renovated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, was constructed by Sultan Murad IV when fie built the Holy Ka bah in 1040 H.

It was not remade but renovated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. It consists of the sloping stones fixed to the bottom of the Holy Ka'bah, and surrounding it on three sides. The part opposite to Hijir Ismail (peace be upon him) is not part of the Shadhrwan. It is a rocky threshold II centimetres high and 40 centimetres wide. Some circumambulators stand on the threshold of the door of the Holy Kabah, clinging to it in supplication.

The general site of the Ka'bah.

The Shadhrwan was not set up in the Hijir because it represents the northern end of the Sacred House which extends six cubits and one hand span into Hijir Ismail (peace be upon him). The Shadhrwan was not set at the bottom of the door of the Holy Ka'bah so people could hang on to the threshold of the door of the Holy Ka'bah and AI-Multazam for supplication. Instead of the Shadhrwan, there is a threshold 3 metres and 45 centimetres long, slightly raised from the circumambulation area. The Shadhrwan is, in reality, a part of the Holy Ka'bah. It was said that it was first set up by Abdullah Ibn AI-Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them) on the foundations of Abraham (peace be upon him) to protect the wall of the Holy Ka'bah from water leaking into it. He tied the ropes of the curtains of the Holy Ka bah to rings fixed on it for this purpose. They were fixed to keep the circumarnbulators from being hurt and to avoid damage to the curtains of the Holy Ka'bah.

The Shadhrwan was renovated in 1098 H. by Abroad Pasha. All the stones of the Shadhrwan were made of the white, strong, solid marble in varying sizes. It consisted of 71 stones, eight of which were on the side of the door of the Holy Ka'bah to the north. These stones were of the most precious marble in the world. There were forty-one rings fixed to the Shadhrwan to fasten the ropes of the curtains of the Holy Ka'bah.

The Index of Some Incidents

The Index of Some Incidents
Witnessed by the Holy Ka'bah

Many rains flooded the Holy Ka'bah through its long history.

• The enemies of Islam have tried through the ages and centuries to humiliate the Glorified House. Historic accounts mention that the first person who attempted to demolish the Holy Ka'bah was Tubba' AI-Himairi. He intended to transport the stones of the Holy Ka'bah to Yemen to distract people away from Makkah and bring the economic prosperity and growth to Yemen. Allah, the Almighty, guided him to the right path through two men of knowledge. He then held the Holy Ka'bah in high esteem, and later covered it in silk. (12)

• The story of the Companions of the Elephant was mentioned in the Holy Qur'an as well as history books. Abraha, the Abyssinian, constructed a building exactly like the Kabah in Yemen, called AIQulais. He spent huge stuns of money in building it, and tried hard to divert people from the Sacred House to his newly-built duplicate. He invaded Makkah with a large army, headed by an elephant at the charge, intending to destroy the Holy Ka'bah, but Allah, the Almighty, made his treacherous plan go astray. He sent against them flocks of birds which struck them with stones of baked clay, making the army "like green blades devoured"

• The Holy Ka'bah was burnt down during the Quraish era due to a spark that flew from a censer while a woman was perfuming the Holy Ka'bah. The spark hit the curtains of the Holy Ka'bah and burnt all the cloaks (kiswahs) which were piled one on top of the other, as the new kiswah was usually put over the previous old ones. (12)

• Makkah Al-Mukarramah had the Umm Nahshal flood, due to heavy rains, during the time of Omar Ibn AI-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). The flood swept away Abraham's Station to the bottom of Makkah, and its original site was completely wiped out. The Station of Abraham (peace be upon him) was then brought back and tied to the curtains of the Holy Ka'bah on the eastern side. This incident was reported to Omar Ibn AI-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who came as quickly as possible and restored it to its original place, after ascertaining that it was the proper site. He re-inforced its foundations, and it is still the Station's present-day site. (12)

• The Black Stone was removed several times from its place by Jurhum, Iyad, Al-Amaliqah, Khuza'a and AI-Qaramita. It was taken back after AIQaramita had removed it from its place and kept it with them for a long time. This is one of the miracles of the Black Stone. When Abu Tahir Suleiman Ibn AI-Hasan AI-Qannati came in the pilgrimage season of the year 317 H., he plundered and killed the pilgrims. In addition to that, he took the Black Stone with him to AI-Kufa (in Iraq). The Stone was bought by AI-Mutie Lillah or AIMuqtadir and was restored to its original place in 339 H., forty camels were killed on that occasion. The young camel returning it fattened up by just carrying the Black Stone. They had taken the Black Stone with the purpose of transferring the Holy Ka'bah to Halt. (12, 14, v. 2, p. 313)

• The worst that happened to the Holy Ka'bah, at the lime of Jahiliyyah, was that a man and a woman committed adultery inside it. They were called Isaf and Naylah. They were turned into stone and then taken out of the Holy Ka'bah, and one of them was put on AI-Safa, the other on AI-Marwa. Later they were converted to idols to be worshipped as instructed by Amr Ibn Lahi AI-Khuzaic. Qusai later put one of them close to the Holy Ka'bah, the other on Zamzam. (14, v. 2, p. 24)

• The custody of the Ancient House was under the governorship of the tribe of Jurhum. When they neglected the service of the Ancient House, the tribe of Khuza'a defeated them and took over the custody of the Holy Ka'bah.

• When Quraish demolished the Holy Kabah, 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. Bann Abdul 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. They were, therefore, called "the Lick of Blood". But Abu Umayya Ibn Al-Mugheera Ibn Abdullah [bit Omar Ibn Mkhzum, their elder, asked Quraish to agree on the judgement of the first person to conic through Bani Shaibah's gate. They all agreed on this suggestion. The first to come through this gate was the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon 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 (blessings and peace be upon him) picked it up with his own noble hands and restored it to its original place. It was a wise. prudent decision that prevented a tierce and destructive civil war.

• When Quraish would not tolerate the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) any longer, they decided to punish him with what was basically an economic boycott. They wrote a document which called for the boycott of the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) and all those who supported him and his family. The document was hung inside the Holy Ka'bah. This boycott lasted for three years until five of the Quraish rejected the boycott question. Abu Talib, the first to be boycotted, asked them to re-read the document because there had been an error in writing and reading it. When the document was brought, they found that white ants had entirely eaten the document except for the Name of Allah. So, the boycott was ended, and the Holy Ka'bah became the home of the white ants up to this day and age. This was an honour given to them.

• The Holy Ka'bah was struck by catapult fire by AI-Husayn Ibn Numair, the leader of the anny of Yazeed Ibn Muawiyah, during the reign of Abdullah Ibn AI-Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them). A sequence of events led to the total demolition of the Holy Ka'bah in 64 H. Then it was fired on again by catapults by AI-Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf AI-Thaqafi at the end of Dhul Hijjah, 72 H., during the siege of Ibn AI-Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them). (14, v. 3, p. 166)

• The Holy Ka'bah was burnt down to the ground during the era of Abdullah Ibn AI-Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them). He and his companions took refuge in the Holy Ka'bah during the siege by Yazeed Ibn Muawiyah. One of Ibn AI-Zubair's companions lit a fire, a spark flew off and .set alight the kiswah of the Holy Ka'bah. The wooden portions only were burnt because during the era of Quraish. the Holy Ka'bah was constructed in layers of stone alternating with layers of wood. This fire and the stones hurled at the Holy Ka'bah from the catapults outside led to its collapse and necessitated its demolition and reconstruction. (12)

• Many rains flooded the Holy Ka'bah through its long history. There were about ninety such deluges, which were known by different names, such as Umm Nahshal, AI-Jihaf, AI-Makhbal, Ibn Hanzala, Al-Qanadeel and AI-Khidaiwi, and so on. These downpours were named after persons who had died in them or according to the extent of their force and destruction. Some were also named after an epidemic that prevailed during the time of their occurrence or after the effects they made on the Holy Ka'bah. Also some were known by the name of a distinguished personality that performed Hajj that year. The average time lapse between every flooding was about thirty years. (l4, v. 2, p. 200)

• The Black Stone was torn apart at the end of Muharram, 1351 H. A man from Afghanistan pulled out a piece of the Black Stone and stole a piece of the curtain of the Holy Ka'bah. He was sentenced to death as a penalty. On 28th Rabic AI-Thani, 1351 H., King Abdul Aziz AI-Saud restored this piece of the Stone to its former place with a special adhesive paste. This was done in the presence of a group of residents and scholars. (13, 14, v. 2, p. 315).

• Al-Bukhari, Muslim and AI-Nisai reported, on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Holy Ka'bah will be destroyed by Dhul Suwaiqatain towards the end of human existence. Abroad and others related this on the authority of Ibn Omar (may Allah be pleased with them). It was also added that he would plunder its ornaments and steal its kiswah. "It is like I am seeing him in front of me bald. and he is striking the Holy Ka'bah with his mattock or spade". (14, v. 3, p. 244).