مقام إبراهيم: The Station of Abraham

مقام إبراهيم (the Station of Abraham) refers to a stone that bears impressions believed to be the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim (صلى الله عليه وسلم). According to Islamic tradition, Ibrahim stood on this stone while building the upper portions of the الكعبة's walls, and the stone miraculously softened to bear his weight, preserving his footprints. The stone currently sits in a gold and crystal enclosure near the الكعبة, approximately 10-15 meters from the eastern wall. Throughout تاريخ, the Maqam has been moved several times — originally it was attached to the الكعبة wall, then placed closer to its current position during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab to provide more space for the increasing number of الحجاج performing الطواف.

The مقام إبراهيم is one of the few physical objects specifically mentioned in القرآن. Allah says: 'And take the station of Ibrahim as a place of الصلاة' (2:125). This verse establishes the سنة of praying two ركعةs behind the Maqam after completing الطواف. In another verse, Allah describes the Maqam as containing 'clear signs' (ayat bayyinat): 'In it are clear signs, the standing place of Ibrahim' (3:97). The scholarly consensus is that the footprints on the stone are among these clear signs — physical evidence of Ibrahim's construction of the الكعبة preserved across millennia as a testimony to his obedience.

After completing the seven circuits of الطواف, الحجاج are instructed to pray two ركعةs behind مقام إبراهيم. In these two ركعةs, the سنة is to recite Surah al-Kafirun (109) in the first ركعة and Surah al-Ikhlas (112) in the second, following النبي's practice during his farewell الحج. When the area immediately behind the Maqam is too crowded — which is the case during most of the day — الحجاج may pray these two ركعةs anywhere in المسجد الحرام. The obligation is to pray two ركعةs after الطواف, with the preference being behind the Maqam when feasible.