The Holy Kaa’ba or Bayt Allah (the House of Allah) is the greatest of all the Pilgrimage sites. During the Pilgrimage and Visitation, it is circumambulated. The mosque in which the Sacred House is situated is known as Masjid al- Haram. Some key features of the Holy Ka’aba are mentioned below.
Q. What are the names of the four corners of the Kaaba?
A: The four corners of the Kaaba are:
1. Al-rukn al-aswad: This is the south eastern corner of the Kaaba where the Black Stone is situated.
2. Al-rukn al-Iraqi: This is the north eastern corner of the Kaaba. The door of the Kaaba is between these two corners on the eastern wall, high above from the ground.
3. Al-rukn al-shami: This is the north western corner.
4. Al-rukn al-yamani: This is the south western corner of the Kaaba which points towards Yemen.
Q. What is al-Hajar al-Aswad?
A: Al-Hajar al-Aswad is the Black Stone. It was brought from Paradise and is now fixed to one of the corners of the Kaaba. Ibn Abbas(RA) relates that the Prophetﷺ said: The Black Stone descended from Paradise. It was whiter than milk, but the sins of the children of Adam(AS) turned it black.[al-TirmidhÏ in al-Sunan, 2:215–216 §877.]
The Black Stone also serves as a signpost to indicate the points where the Tawaf begins and ends.
Q. What is multazam?
A: The multazam is that part of the eastern wall which is between al-rukn al-aswad and the door of the Kaaba.After circumambulating the Kaaba and praying behind the Maqam Ibrahim, it is recommended to perform supplications at this place by embracing the wall and putting one’s chest and face upon it with the hands raised.
Q. What is mizab al-rahma?
A: It is a waterspout made of gold which is on the roof of the Kaaba between al-rukn al-Iraqi and al-rukn al-shami.It is known as the drain of the Kaaba, that is mizab al-rahma.
Q. What is Hatim?
A. On the side of the northern wall of the Ka¢ba, there is a low wall shaped like a crescent. This semi-circular structure is known as the Hatim. There is a gap between it and the Kaba on both its sides. It is imperative that whilst performing the Tawaf one circumambulates the Kaba from outside the Hatim.
Please watch this video of Shaykh ul Islam Dr. Tahir ul Qadri about the significance of Al-Hatim https://www.facebook.com/mylintindia/videos/730021954908103
Q. What is mustajar?
A: The mustajar is a part of the western wall between al rukn al-yamani and al-rukn al-shami. It is parallel to the multazam.
Q. What is mustajab?
A: It is a place located on the southern wall of the Kaaba between al-rukn al-yamani and al-rukn al-aswad. Seventy thousand angels are appointed there and they proclaim ‘Amin’ to the supplications made there; hence, its name ‘mustajab’ (the place of acceptance). Hadrat Abu Hurayra(RA) narrates:Seventy thousand angels are delegated at al-rukn al-yamani. Whoever supplicates, ‘O Allah, I ask You for prosperity in this life and the next; our Lord, grant us good in this life and the hereafter,and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire’, the angels will say, ‘Amin.’[Narrated by al-Daylami in al-Firdaws bi-ma thur al-khitab, 5:110 §7332.]
Q. What is Maqam Ibrahim?
A: It is the holy stone which Prophet Ibrahim(AS) stood upon when he built the Kaaba. It is situated opposite the door of the Kaaba and is placed beneath a dome. The holy stone contains Prophet Ibrahim’s footprint, which can still be seen today.
-[Hajj and Umrah (Teachings of Islam Series by Shaykh ul Islam Dr. Tahir ul Qadri),Page 59-60 ]
