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مقام إبراهيم
مقام إبراهيم (Station of Abraham) is a stone bearing the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), located near the الكعبة in المسجد الحرام. Ibrahim stood on this stone while building the upper walls of the الكعبة. After completing الطواف, الحجاج pray two ركعة behind this station, as commanded in القرآن (2:125).
مقام إبراهيم refers to a stone upon which Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, صلى الله عليه وسلم) stood while constructing the upper walls of the الكعبة. According to Islamic tradition, as the walls of the الكعبة grew taller, Ibrahim could no longer reach the top. His son Ismail brought him a large stone to stand on, which miraculously rose and lowered as needed. The stone preserved Ibrahim's footprints as a lasting sign, and these impressions remain visible to this day — a testament to the divine origin of the الكعبة. The القرآن makes direct reference to this sacred stone in Surah al-Baqarah (2:125): 'And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of الصلاة.' This verse أُسس the practice of praying two ركعة behind the Maqam after completing الطواف, a سنة that has been continuously observed for over 1,400 years. Throughout تاريخ, the stone has been housed in various enclosures to protect it. During the time of النبي Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), the Maqam was attached to the wall of the الكعبة. The Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عن him) relocated it to its current approximate position — a few meters from the الكعبة — to provide more space for worshippers performing الطواف. This decision was based on his ijtihad (scholarly reasoning) and was accepted by the companions of النبي. Today, the مقام إبراهيم is enclosed in an elegant crystal and gold encasement mounted on a brass base. The glass casing allows الزوار to see the stone and the footprint impressions from a close distance. The encasement was designed to protect the relic while maintaining visibility. Saudi authorities have periodically updated the protective enclosure, with the current design installed to withstand the pressure of massive crowds while remaining aesthetically appropriate for the sacred setting.
مقام إبراهيم holds profound أهمية as one of the few physical relics directly connected to a prophet mentioned in القرآن. The stone's footprints serve as tangible evidence of Ibrahim's construction of the الكعبة and his devotion to Allah's command. The القرآنic instruction to pray behind the Maqam (2:125) makes it one of the few specific locations in the world where الصلاة is commanded by divine text. Scholars across all four madhahib agree that praying two ركعة behind the Maqam after الطواف is a confirmed سنة (mu'akkadah) of both الحج and العمرة. The Shafi'i school considers it واجب. The Maqam represents the legacy of Ibrahim as the patriarch of monotheism and the builder of the first house of worship, connecting the Muslim ummah to the ancient tradition of pure tawhid (monotheism) that predates even النبي Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
مقام إبراهيم is located approximately 3 meters from the الكعبة on the side facing its door, directly in the Mataf (circumambulation) area. After completing seven circuits of الطواف, it is سنة to pray two ركعة behind the Maqam. Due to extreme crowding, especially during الحج and رمضان, it is جائز to pray these two ركعة anywhere in the مسجد — one does not need to be directly behind the glass encasement. The area immediately behind the Maqam is one of the most congested spots in the مسجد, as الحجاج finishing الطواف converge here to pray. Visitors are advised to move further back from the Maqam to find space for الصلاة rather than stopping in the الطواف flow. Security personnel actively manage this area to maintain the flow of worshippers. The Maqam can be viewed closely during less crowded periods, particularly late at night. Photography of the Maqam is generally not permitted during peak worship times but may be tolerated during quieter periods. The footprint impressions on the stone are visible through the glass encasement, and many الحجاج find it a deeply moving experience to see this tangible connection to Prophet Ibrahim.