What is the Ka'ba Made of?

Question

In islam it's the first home of man, but what is the building made of and how old is the material that made it?

Answer 1

Here's some info, from Wikipedia:

The Kaaba is a large masonry structure roughly the shape of a cube. (The name Kaaba comes from the Arabic word "muka'ab" meaning "cube"). It is made of granite from the hills near Makkah, and stands upon a ten inch marble base, which projects outwards about .3 metres (1').[1] The most reliable approximations for the structural dimensions are: 15 metres (49') high, with sides measuring 10.5 metres (34') by 12 metres (39').[2][3] The four corners of the Kaaba roughly face the four points of the compass.[1] In the eastern corner of the Kaaba is the "Rukn-al-Aswad" (the Black Stone or al-Ħajaru l-Aswad), generally thought to be a meteorite remnant; at the northern corner lies the "Rukn-al-Iraqi" ('The Iraqi corner'); at the west lies "Rukn-al-Shami" ('The Levantine corner') and at the south "Rukn-al-Yamani" ('The Yemeni corner').[1][3]

It is covered by a black silk curtain decorated with gold-embroidered calligraphy. This cloth is known as the kiswah; it is replaced yearly.[4][5] The Shahada is outlined in the weave of the fabric. About two-thirds of the way up runs a gold embroidered band covered with Qur'anic text.

Entrance to the inside of the Kaaba is gained through a door set 7 feet above the ground on the north-eastern wall of the Kaaba, which acts as the façade.[1] It is accessed by a wooden staircase on wheels, usually stored between the arch-shaped gate of Banu Shaybah and the well of Zamzam. Inside the Kaaba, there is a marble floor. The interior walls are clad with marble half-way to the roof; tablets with Qur'anic inscriptions are inset in the marble. The top part of the walls is covered with a green cloth decorated with gold embroidered Qur'anic verses. The building is believed to be otherwise empty. Caretakers perfume the marble cladding with scented oil, the same oil used to anoint the Black Stone outside.

Although not directly connected to it, there is a semi-circular wall opposite the north-west wall of the Kaaba, known as the hatīm. It is three feet in height and five in length, and is composed of white marble. The space between the hatīm and the Kaaba was for a time belonging to the Kaaba itself, and so is generally not entered during the tawaf (ritual circumambulation). It is also thought by some that this space bears the graves of prophet Ishmael and his mother Hagar.[1]

Muslims throughout the world face the Kaaba during prayers, which are five times a day. For most places around the world, coordinates for Mecca suffice. However, in the Sacred Mosque, worshippers pray in concentric circles radiating outwards around the Kaaba. Therefore, the focus point is in the middle of the Kaaba.

The Kaaba is located at approximately 21°25′21.15″N, 39°49′34.1″E.

A door is fixed about 7 feet above ground level facing North East. A Black stone (Hajar al Aswad) was fixed into its eastern corner.

It might be interesting to know that the Ka'aba wasn't the original direction in which the Muslims prayed; because that used to be towards Jerusalem!?

The Ummayad Caliph Yazid Ibne Moawiya, had demolished the Ka'aba once and it was rebuilt by Abdullah Ibne Zubayr, who was put to death by the Caliph who let the body rot at it's gates hanging there for three months!

There is another mosque in Madina,called Masjide Qiblatain, meaning the mosque with two Qiblas. The Qur’an tells the Muslims, “ turn then thy face towards the sacred mosque and wherever ye be turn your faces towards that part ”Qur’an II,139/144.

Hope this helped.

Answer 2

It has been rebuit many a times in History. Extensive renovations were done about 15 years ago. Presently it is made of Stone. It is covered by a black cloth..specially made, known as Kiswa, replaced every year. Made by a Factory exlusuve for this in Makkah. Cost about 300000$.Cloth is made of 670KG Silver dyed black. About 120KGs pure Gold,and 50 Kg of Silver again, is used in writing(embroidery) the Quranic Verses. The area of the special black cloth is 658 sq.meter. Everyone has own experience of feeling. Whenever I touched it, I could smell fragrant perfume on my palms for several hours. The ritual is to go around the House, 7 times, while reciting supplications and praising His Glory, without looking at the House. Later, you may go a distance and just look at it, that too is a spiritual Bliss. In early times, in History, wood planks found from an abandoned Boat at Jeddah port, were also used as the building material. Close by is the perennial water fountain/reservoir as old as Abraham's days, gifted to The Prophet Ishmael's mother when the baby and the mother were left there to grow, and live for ever. The reservoir is large enough to meet the drinking-water needs of the millions and millions who go for pilgrimage , and who bring back home the water as a sacred gift. ArchAngel Gabrael is stated to be Incharge of the Fountain(called ZamZam), so the quality and the quatity is maintained for thousands of years.

Answer 3

A couple of lesser known facts about the Ka'bah:

As you've already been told, it is built with bricks and mortar. It was built to its original form by Prophet Ibrahim, may peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his son Ismail, with the help of Jinns sent by Allah for his help.

There are many miracles during this time of construction, among them probably the most famous one is that there was a piece of stone on which Prophet Ibrahim (saw) used to stand and work. When he had to reach higher levels of construction, this stone would 'grow' in height, masha allah and help him reach higher. This stone is till date in the complex of the Kaa-bah with the impression of the prophet's feet on it.

Dating back a few more thousand years, this location of the Kaa'bah is truly unique. It is said that when Adham and Hawwa (asaw) were sent down to earth by Allah, there were each in different parts. It was at this exact place that they actually met.

Also this place has always had some sort of relevance, ever since. During the times of the pagans, before and during the prophet Mohammed (pbuh) this place was a place of worship. The idolators had several idols inside and around the Kaa'bah and the worshipped them. This was also a cultural spot or like a town centre at the time.

It is also hadith that directly above this Black Stone, in the heavens above, is a White Stone. Just as we go around the Kaa'bah here on earth (7times during umrah or hajj as is the custom), there are millions of malaayakaah (angels) going around the White Stone. Now, the significance of this hadith is that, if one angel gets to go around this stone 7 times, then it will never have another chance in its lifetime do perform this again, as there are so many more angels waiting for their chance. Hence this shows how lucky we are here on earth and getting to perform the umrah several times!

Hope this helps. If there are any errors in this write-up do correct me with referrences. May Allah forgive us all mu-min.

Jumu-ah mubarak!

Answer 4

Since there have been many answers on what the history of ka'aba, I think that side is well covered. However, I would just like to add that its not the building itself that is of any significance to the Muslims, it is what is denotes. Firstly, it is the first place of worship build for Allah in the world (by Abraham peace be upon him), secindly it is a place of unity for all Muslims and contains many sacred signs for them like Haj-e-aswad (the black stone), makam-e-ibram (place of Abraham) etc. Muslims turn towards it at the time of prayers as a gesture of respect, devotion and unity.

Answer 5

An ancient building, an almost square structure built of granite blocks, stood near the well of Mecca. Known as the Kaaba (cube), this square uilding contained the sacred Black Stone, which was said to have been brought to Abraham and his son Ishmael by the Angel Gabriel.
From the Qur’an and Hadith we learn that the Ka`bah was the first House established for mankind to worship Allah. Almighty Allah says, “Lo! the first Sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Mecca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples.” (Al `Imran: 96) It is not mentioned in any Ayah of the Qur’an or authentic Hadith that it was built by Adam (peace and blessings be upon him).

Some commentators of the Qur’an say that it was first built by Adam (peace and blessings be upon him) and some others say that it was first built by the angels on this earth. When Prophet Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived at the place of the Ka`bah, the building itself did not exist. Even the city of Makkah had no inhabitants. Allah showed Prophet Ibrahim the site of the Ka`bah (Al-Hajj: 26) and then he and his son Isma`il (peace and blessings be upon them both) together raised its foundations and built it from the ground up. (Al-Baqarah: 127).

The building of the Ka`bah remained after the time of Prophet Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him), though it had some structural damage from time to time and underwent repairs. When Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) was about thirty-five years old, before his Prophethood, the Quraysh rebuilt the Ka`bah because it had been damaged due to a major flood in Makkah. The Ka`bah today stands on the same foundations on which it was raised by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma`il (peace and blessings be upon them).”

the significance of the ka'ba:
http://islamonline.net/fatwa/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hFatwaID=86937

Answer 6

There were so many woodworking plans with this collection and you will not believe this but there are over thousands plans in the one package deal. Go here https://tr.im/AhPKz
This is really something to find that many all together. For someone like me who is just really starting to get involved with woodworking this was like letting me loose in a candy store and telling me I could have anything I wanted. That was my dream when I was a kid.

Answer 7

Hi, the Kaaba is made of granite from the hills around Mecca and was probably built around 630-680AD.

Answer 8

Well , what more can I say.... others have already answered it......

www.islamqa.com

Try searching about the Ka'bah using that site.

Answer 9

it`s just a rock

Answer 10

bricks and mortar