The Kaaba: The holiest site in Islam (Part – 2)

By Asad Russel –

After Part – 1
The History of the Kaaba:
Demolished the Kaaba the Umayyad Caliph Abdul Malik bin after taking over the Mecca in 692 and based on the Qurayshi version rebuilt it. The Kiswas cover contributed the Abbasid Caliphs, brought from the Tanis in Egypt which was a black cloth. With eight curtains (of the cube on each side a pair) the kiswas comprised with the gold calligraphy embroidered expressing “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah” which is the shahada or the oath of Muslim.

From 1269 to 1517 which lasted the Hijaz following the Mamluk rule, of the Ottoman Sultans came under the control the Mecca. Renovated the roof of the Kaaba Sultan Suleyman I (1520 to 1566) in 1553 and with golden calligraphy and floral patterns ordered the wooden ceiling painted.

In 1611 in a flood was damaged, in 1629 by Sultan Murad IV (1623 to 1640) once again the Kaaba was rebuilt. According to the Abraham’s plan the new foundation was laid, resting on a 25 cm high marble base with large granite blocks while the upper structure was built.

On the inside to support the roof were built three columns, with golden decorations they were covered. From the ceiling were suspended silver and golden lamps. On the northeast wall was placed off center by Sultan Suleyman offered the silver door, from the ground level two meters above. With two kiswas was then covered the Kaaba, with a black one a red cloth covered, annually that were replaced.

In 1976 to Masjid al-Haram during the first Saudi extension, with Quranic verses inscribed and with gold motifs of geometric was decorated the interior of the Kaaba.

At the Kaaba what to see:
The shape of a cube is roughly the Kaaba (from the Arabic word which means “cube” Kaaba comes) and from the hills near Mecca is made of granite. 15 meters or 49 feet high it stands, 10.5 meters or 34 feet by 12 meters or 39 feet with the side measuring. Decorated with gold embroidered calligraphy by a black silk cloth it is covered. As the Kiswah this cloth is known and yearly is replaced.

 About one and a quarter meters tall there is a semicircular wall on the southwest side if the Kaaba as built by Abraham its border (the al-hatim) which represents.

On the northeastern wall 2.13 meters above the ground through a door is gained the entrance of the Kaaba to the inside. With marble half way to the roof inside is a walls clad and marble floor. In the marble are inset with Quranic inscriptions the tablets. With a green cloth the upper part of the interior walls is decorated which with Quranic verses gold embroidered.

From a cross beam lamps hang, for incense burners a small table there is also. With scented oil perfume the marble cladding the caretakers, to anoint the Black Stone outside the same oil is used. An ancient sacred stone is the Black Stone, in the eastern corner of the Kaaba is embedded, above the grounds about one and a half meters.

Will Continue……..

Posted by : Unknown 9:08 PM Tags : Travel Destinations

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