WHAT IS INSIDE THE KAABA?

The Kaaba is the very first house of worship built for humankind to worship Allah, and it is the qibla for all Muslims. It is located in the holy city of Mecca. The Kaaba is a cube-shaped structure. In Arabic, a cube-shaped house is called "Kaaba".

It is 15 meters high and covers an area of 180 square meters. It has four corners: the corner with the Black Stone, the Iraqi corner, the Levantine (Shami) corner, and the Yemeni corner. What is inside the Kaaba is a mystery to many. A century ago, this question was not asked, as anyone could enter the Kaaba. However, due to the increasing number of pilgrims and other factors, its door is now opened only twice a year for cleaning. In 2016, the Saudi government announced that it would be washed once during the month of Muharram. With special permission from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is also opened for high-ranking officials and special guests.

Let’s start with the door of the Kaaba. The door is near the corner where the Black Stone is located. Since it is about 2 meters above the ground, one must use stairs to reach it. The craftsman’s signature is on the door. About 280 kilograms of gold were used to decorate it. The most expensive door in the world is the door of the Kaaba. The key to the Kaaba has been kept by the Bani Shaybah family since the time of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

When you enter the Kaaba, you notice a pleasant fragrance. This is because after cleaning, a large amount of perfume is sprayed and wiped inside. The floor is covered with white marble tiles. There is a special area on the upper part of the floor, unique in its color and arrangement. This is the spot where the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prayed after the Muslims conquered Mecca.

The lower part of the walls is covered with white marble, while the area above the door and the ceiling are draped with green silk cloth embroidered with Qur’anic verses in silver. There are ten plaques on the walls, bearing the names of rulers who built or renovated the Kaaba.

The roof of the Kaaba is supported by three brown wooden pillars. These pillars are made from the strongest type of wood and have remained intact for about 1,350 years. They were installed by Abdullah ibn Zubayr, a companion of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Between the pillars, a gold-plated rope is strung, and on it hang many old lamps made of silver and copper, as well as various vessels containing supplications. On the right side of the Kaaba, there is a door called the "door of repentance". Through this door, a staircase leads to the roof of the Kaaba. Mosque staff use these stairs to change the covering of the Kaaba.

Between the two pillars at the entrance, there is a medium-sized wooden table. The drawers of this table contain perfumes and other items used for the Kaaba.

Medet Kurmashuly

"Iman" magazine, No. 6, 2023