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الكعبة المشرفة
The کعبۃ اللہ is a cube-shaped stone structure at the center of مسجد الحرام in مکہ مکرمہ, Saudi Arabia. It is the most sacred site in Islam, serving as the qibla (direction of نماز) for over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Pilgrims perform طواف by circling it seven times counterclockwise during حج and عمرہ.
The کعبۃ اللہ, meaning 'The Cube' in Arabic, is believed by Muslims to have been originally built by نبی کریم 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 نبی کریم Adam as the first place of worship on Earth. The قرآن references this in Surah Al-Imran (3:96): 'Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah (مکہ مکرمہ) — blessed and a guidance for the worlds.' Throughout pre-Islamic history, the کعبۃ اللہ underwent numerous reconstructions. The Quraysh tribe rebuilt it during نبی کریم Muhammad's (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) 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 حجر اسود (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 نبی کریم Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) conquered مکہ مکرمہ in 630 CE (8 AH), he entered the کعبۃ اللہ 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' (قرآن 17:81). This event marked the permanent restoration of the کعبۃ اللہ as the center of Islamic worship. The کعبۃ اللہ 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 کعبۃ اللہ 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 قرآنic calligraphy, which is replaced annually during حج. The حجر اسود 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 کعبۃ اللہ holds unparalleled significance in Islam as the Bayt Allah (House of God) and the qibla toward which all Muslims direct their five daily نمازs. It is the focal point of the حج حج — the fifth pillar of Islam — and the عمرہ, both of which require طواف around the کعبۃ اللہ as a central rite. The قرآن 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 نماز' (2:125). The کعبۃ اللہ 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 طواف around the کعبۃ اللہ 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 کعبۃ اللہ is located at the center of the Mataf (circumambulation area) within مسجد الحرام. 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 حج or عمرہ begin their طواف from the line of the حجر اسود (marked by a green light on the مسجد wall) and circle the کعبۃ اللہ seven times counterclockwise. The Mataf area can become extremely crowded, especially during حج season and Ramadan. Visitors should be aware that touching or kissing the حجر اسود is sunnah but not واجب — pointing toward it from a distance is equally valid and far safer during peak times. The area between the کعبۃ اللہ door and the حجر اسود, known as the Multazam, is a place where دعائیں are particularly مستحب. Wheelchair-accessible طواف routes are available on the ground floor and upper levels of the مسجد. The best times for a less crowded طواف experience are during the late night hours (after Isha نماز) and early morning (before Fajr). During حج season (Dhul Hijjah 8-13), the Mataf is reserved for حج حجاج performing their واجب طواف. Temperatures in مکہ مکرمہ can exceed 45 degrees Celsius in summer, so visitors should stay hydrated and use the cooled marble floors and air-conditioned sections of the مسجد.