It's a good idea for a Muslim to know a little about the history of Allah's sacred house, the Kaaba, to which Muslims from all over the world go to perform their daily prayers.
To this end, the Haramain Voyages has prepared an article on the history of the Kaaba and invites you to read it. Indeed, we believe that it could be of great benefit to future pilgrims.
Resemblance to Baytoul Ma'mour
The construction of the Kaaba goes back even further than the story of the Prophet Adam عليه السلام. Indeed, according to some texts, it was the angels who first built the Sacred House.
They built it in the image of Baytoul Ma'mour, the People's Housewhich is in the seventh heaven, where the angels say their prayers.
Indeed Allah says:
وَالْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ
And by the sacred house (Sura At-tûr, v. 4)
And there is also the hadith, according to Anas (May Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet ﷺ said:
"The populated house is in the seventh heaven; every day 70,000 angels enter it, and then they do not return until the time of the Hour".
Renovated by the Prophet Adam عليه السلام and then by Ibrahim عليه السلام
Subsequently, the Kaaba, left abandoned, was renovated by Adam عليه السلام, at the behest of Allah ﷻ
This construction remained intact until the time of Nouh عليه السلام, and then at the time of the Flood. The place where it was located was thus lost.
It was Ibrahim who had the honour, after being shown the exact location, of building the House again.
Allah says in the Noble Qur'an:
وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
And when We indicated to Abraham the place of the House (The Kaaba) [saying to him]: "Do not associate anything with Me; and purify My House for those who walk around it, for those who stand in it and for those who bow down and prostrate themselves in it". (Sura Al Hajj, v. 26)
And He also said:
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
And when Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House: "O our Lord, accept this from us! For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing". (Sura Baqarah, v.127)
The sacredness of the Kaaba
The Kaaba is the first house dedicated to Allah Soubhanahou wa ta'âla and a sanctuary proclaimed sacred by Himself and His Messenger.
Allah says in His Noble Book:
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُإِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
The first House that was built for the people was indeed that of Bakka (Mecca), blessed and a good direction for the universe. There are clear signs, including the place where Abraham stood; and whoever enters it is safe. And it is a duty to Allah for those who can afford it to go on pilgrimage to the House. And whoever disbelieves... Allah does not need the worlds. (Sura Al Imran, v.96-97)
