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الكعبة المشرفة
The Kabe is a cube-shaped stone structure at the center of Mescid-i Haram in Mekke, Saudi Arabia. It is the most sacred site in Islam, serving as the qibla (direction of namaz) for over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Pilgrims perform tavaf by circling it seven times counterclockwise during Hac and Umre.
The Kabe, meaning 'The Cube' in Arabic, is believed by Muslims to have been originally built by Hz. Peygamber Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail (Ishmael) as a house of monotheistic worship. According to Islamic tradition, the site predates Ibrahim, with some scholars holding that it was first established by Hz. Peygamber Adam as the first place of worship on Earth. The Kur'an references this in Surah Al-Imran (3:96): 'Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah (Mekke) — blessed and a guidance for the worlds.' Throughout pre-Islamic history, the Kabe underwent numerous reconstructions. The Quraysh tribe rebuilt it during Hz. Peygamber Muhammad's (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) youth, approximately five years before his prophethood. During this reconstruction, a dispute arose among the tribes over who would have the honor of placing the Hacer-ul Esved (al-Hajar al-Aswad) back in its corner. The young Muhammad resolved the conflict by placing the stone on a cloth and having representatives of each tribe carry it together, then setting it in place with his own hands. When Hz. Peygamber Muhammad (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) conquered Mekke in 630 CE (8 AH), he entered the Kabe and removed the 360 idols that had been placed inside, restoring it to its original purpose of monotheistic worship. He recited the verse: 'Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed, falsehood is ever bound to depart' (Kur'an 17:81). This event marked the permanent restoration of the Kabe as the center of Islamic worship. The Kabe has been rebuilt and renovated several times throughout Islamic history. Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr rebuilt it in 683 CE on the foundations of Ibrahim, expanding it to include the area known as the Hijr Ismail. The Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan later restored it closer to its Qurayshi dimensions. The current structure largely dates to renovations carried out during the Ottoman period, with the Saudi government undertaking major restorations in 1996 and periodic maintenance since. The Kabe stands approximately 13.1 meters (43 feet) high, with sides measuring 11.03 meters (36.2 feet) by 12.86 meters (42.2 feet). It is draped in the Kiswah, a black silk cloth embroidered with gold Kur'anic calligraphy, which is replaced annually during Hac. The Hacer-ul Esved is set into the eastern corner, and the door, made of pure gold, is set 2.13 meters above ground level on the northeastern wall.
The Kabe holds unparalleled significance in Islam as the Bayt Allah (House of God) and the qibla toward which all Muslims direct their five daily namazs. It is the focal point of the Hac hac ibadeti — the fifth pillar of Islam — and the Umre, both of which require tavaf around the Kabe as a central rite. The Kur'an commands: 'And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and a place of security. And take from the standing place of Abraham a place of namaz' (2:125). The Kabe symbolizes the unity of the Muslim ummah, as believers across every continent, culture, and language turn toward this single point in worship. It represents the continuity of monotheistic worship from Ibrahim to Muhammad (peace be upon them both) and serves as a powerful reminder of tawhid — the oneness of God. Performing tavaf around the Kabe is considered one of the most spiritually profound acts in Islam, with scholars describing it as an earthly reflection of the angels' circumambulation of al-Bayt al-Ma'mur in the heavens.
The Kabe is located at the center of the Mataf (circumambulation area) within Mescid-i Haram. It is accessible 24 hours a day, year-round, though the interior is only opened on special occasions for dignitaries and cleaning ceremonies. Pilgrims performing Hac or Umre begin their tavaf from the line of the Hacer-ul Esved (marked by a green light on the cami wall) and circle the Kabe seven times counterclockwise. The Mataf area can become extremely crowded, especially during Hac season and Ramadan. Visitors should be aware that touching or kissing the Hacer-ul Esved is sunnah but not farz — pointing toward it from a distance is equally valid and far safer during peak times. The area between the Kabe door and the Hacer-ul Esved, known as the Multazam, is a place where duas are particularly sunnet. Wheelchair-accessible tavaf routes are available on the ground floor and upper levels of the cami. The best times for a less crowded tavaf experience are during the late night hours (after Isha namaz) and early morning (before Fajr). During Hac season (Dhul Hijjah 8-13), the Mataf is reserved for Hac hacilar performing their farz tavaf. Temperatures in Mekke can exceed 45 degrees Celsius in summer, so visitors should stay hydrated and use the cooled marble floors and air-conditioned sections of the cami.