Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Ibrahim)

History

Maqam Ibrahim refers to a stone upon which Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) stood while constructing the upper walls of the Kaaba. According to Islamic tradition, as the walls of the Kaaba 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 Kaaba. The Quran 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 prayer.' This verse established the practice of praying two rak'ah behind the Maqam after completing tawaf, a sunnah that has been continuously observed for over 1,400 years. Throughout history, the stone has been housed in various enclosures to protect it. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Maqam was attached to the wall of the Kaaba. The Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) relocated it to its current approximate position — a few meters from the Kaaba — to provide more space for worshippers performing tawaf. This decision was based on his ijtihad (scholarly reasoning) and was accepted by the companions of the Prophet. Today, the Maqam Ibrahim is enclosed in an elegant crystal and gold encasement mounted on a brass base. The glass casing allows visitors 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.

Significance

Maqam Ibrahim holds profound significance as one of the few physical relics directly connected to a prophet mentioned in the Quran. The stone's footprints serve as tangible evidence of Ibrahim's construction of the Kaaba and his devotion to Allah's command. The Quranic instruction to pray behind the Maqam (2:125) makes it one of the few specific locations in the world where prayer is commanded by divine text. Scholars across all four madhahib agree that praying two rak'ah behind the Maqam after tawaf is a confirmed sunnah (mu'akkadah) of both Hajj and Umrah. The Shafi'i school considers it wajib. 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 the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Visitor Information

Maqam Ibrahim is located approximately 3 meters from the Kaaba on the side facing its door, directly in the Mataf (circumambulation) area. After completing seven circuits of tawaf, it is sunnah to pray two rak'ah behind the Maqam. Due to extreme crowding, especially during Hajj and Ramadan, it is permissible to pray these two rak'ah anywhere in the mosque — 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 mosque, as pilgrims finishing tawaf converge here to pray. Visitors are advised to move further back from the Maqam to find space for prayer rather than stopping in the tawaf 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 pilgrims find it a deeply moving experience to see this tangible connection to Prophet Ibrahim.

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