The Kaaba

The Kaaba, located at the center of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is a cuboid structure originally built, according to Islamic tradition, by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ishmael as a sanctuary dedicated to the worship of one God.

Historically, the Kaaba has undergone multiple reconstructions due to damage from floods, fires, and warfare, with its current form dating largely to a major rebuilding in 1629 under Ottoman Sultan Murad IV.

Constructed from locally quarried granite blocks, the building stands about 13.1 meters high, with sides measuring approximately 11 by 13 meters, and its interior contains three pillars supporting the roof along with a small marble floor.

The Kaaba is covered by the Kiswah, a black silk and gold-embroidered cloth replaced annually, and its cornerstone, the Black Stone (al-Ḥajar al-Aswad), is set into the eastern corner and revered by pilgrims.

Over centuries, the structure has remained the focal point of Islamic ritual, particularly the Hajj, serving as the qibla, or direction of prayer, for Muslims worldwide.