10. It has been reconstructed several times
The Kaaba that we see today is not exactly the same Kaaba that was constructed by Prophets Ibrahim ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and Ismail ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) From time to time, it has needed rebuilding after natural and man-made disasters.
The major reconstruction took place during the life of the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). This is the occasion when the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) averted major bloodshed by his quick thinking on how to place the Black Stone using a cloth that every tribe could lift up.
Since then, there has been an average of one major reconstruction every few centuries. The last renovation took place in 1996 and was extremely thorough, leading to the replacement of many of the stones and re-strengthening the foundations and a new roof. This is likely to be the last reconstruction for many centuries (inshā'Allāh) as modern techniques mean that the building is more secure and stable than ever before.
9. It used to have two doors … and a window
The original Kaaba used to have a door for entrance and another for exit. For a considerable period of time it also had a window situated to one side. The current Kaaba only has one door and no window.
8. It used to be multi-coloured
We are so used to the Kaaba being covered in the trademark black Kiswah with gold banding that we can't imagine it being any other colour. However, this tradition seems to have started at the time of the Abbasids (whose household colour was black). Before this the Kaaba was covered in multiple colours including green, red and even white.
7. The keys are in the hands of one family
At the time of the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him), each aspect to do with the rites of Hajj was in the hands of different sub-groups of the Quraish. Every one of these would eventually lose control of their guardianship of a particular rite except one. On the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was given the keys to the Kaaba and instead of keeping it in his own possession; he returned them back to the Osman ibn Talha of the Bani Shaiba family. They had been the traditional key keepers of the Kaaba for centuries; and the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) confirmed them in that role till the end of time by these words
“Take it, O Bani Talha, eternally up to the Day of Resurrection, and it will not be taken from you unless by an unjust, oppressive tyrant.”
Whether Caliph, Sultan or King – the most powerful men in the world have all had to bow to the words of the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and ask permission from this small Makkan family before they can enter the Kaaba.
6. It used to be open to everyone
Until recently, the Kaaba was opened twice a week for anyone to enter and pray. However, due to the rapid expansion in the number of pilgrims and other factors, the Kaaba is now opened only twice a year for dignitaries and exclusive guests only.
5. You used to be able to swim around it
One of the problems with having the Kaaba situated at the bottom of a valley is that when it rains – valleys tend to flood. This was not an uncommon occurrence in Makkah and the cause of a lot of trouble before the days of flood control systems and sewage. For days on end the Kaaba would be half submerged in water. Did that stop Muslims from performing the Tawaf? Of course not.
Modern adjustments to the surrounding landscape and flood prevention techniques mean we may never see such sights again. Or will we?
4. The inside contains plaques commemorating the rulers who renovated it
For years many have wondered what it looks like inside the Kaaba. Relying on second or third hand accounts from those who were lucky enough to enter just wasn't satisfying enough. Then one lucky person who went inside took his camera phone in with him and Millions have seen the shaky footage online.
The interior of the Kaaba is now lined with marble and a green cloth covering the upper walls. Fixed into the walls are plaques each commemorating the refurbishment or rebuilding of the House of Allāh by the ruler of the day. Watch the video below of the only place on Earth that you can pray in any direction you want, the House of Allāh, the first place of worship for mankind – the Kaaba.
3. There are two kaabas!
Directly above the Kaaba in heaven is an exact replica. This Kaaba was mentioned in the Qurʾān and by the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him).
The Messenger of Allāh ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said narrating about the journey of 'Isra wal Miraaj
“Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma'mur (i.e. Allāh's House). I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma'mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily).”
2. The Black Stone is broken
Ever wondered how the Black Stone came to be in the silver casing that surrounds it?
Some say it was broken by a stone fired by the Umayyad army laying siege to Makkah whilst it was under the control of Abdullah ibn Zubair.
However, most agree that it was most damaged in the middle ages by an extreme heretical Ismaili group from Bahrain called the Qarmatians who had declared that the Hajj was an act of superstition. They decided to make their point by killing tens of thousands of hujjaj and dumping their bodies in the well of Zamzam.
As if this act of treachery was not enough, these devils took the Black Stone to the East of Arabia and then Kufa in Iraq where they held it ransom until they were forced to return it by the Abassid Caliph. When they returned it, it was in pieces and the only way to keep them together was by encasing them in a silver casing. Some historians narrate that there are still some missing pieces of the stone floating around.
1. It's not supposed to be a cube shape
Yes, ladies and gentleman… the most famous cube in the world actually started out shaped as a rectangle.
I'll give you a moment to pick your jaws off the floor.
Right, where were we?
Oh yeah, the Kaaba was never meant to be a cube. The original dimensions of The House included the semi-circular area known as the Hijr Ismail.
When the Kaaba was rebuilt just a few years before the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) received his first revelation, the Quraish agreed to only use income from pure sources to complete the rebuild. That meant no money from gambling, looting, prostitution, interest etc. In the ultimate sign of how deeply mired in wrongdoing the Jahili Quraish were, there was not enough untainted money in this very wealthy trading city to rebuild the Kaaba to its original size and shape!
They settled for a smaller version of the Kaaba and put a mud brick wall (called “Hijr Ismail” although it has no connection to the Prophet Ismail (AS) himself) to indicate the original dimensions. Towards the end of his life, the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) intended to rebuild the Kaaba on its original foundations but passed away before he could fulfill his wish. Apart from a brief interlude of a few years during the reign of Caliph Abdullah ibn Zubair, the Kaaba has remained the same shape that the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) saw it in.
The history of the Kaaba is not just an interesting story from our past. The Kaaba is a real and present symbol that connects all Muslims together wherever they may be. It also connects us to our glorious and not-so-glorious past so that we may derive lessons and feel that we are a part of an eternal mission. In a day and age where Muslims are increasingly disconnected from our history,as well as each other, the Kabaa reminds us of our shared heritage and bonds. It is a symbol of unity in an Ummah sorely in need of it.
Source : http://muslimmatters.org/2012/11/15/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-kaaba/
muslimmatters.org (by Muhammad Wajid Akhter)
The Kaaba that we see today is not exactly the same Kaaba that was constructed by Prophets Ibrahim ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and Ismail ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) From time to time, it has needed rebuilding after natural and man-made disasters.
The major reconstruction took place during the life of the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). This is the occasion when the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) averted major bloodshed by his quick thinking on how to place the Black Stone using a cloth that every tribe could lift up.
Since then, there has been an average of one major reconstruction every few centuries. The last renovation took place in 1996 and was extremely thorough, leading to the replacement of many of the stones and re-strengthening the foundations and a new roof. This is likely to be the last reconstruction for many centuries (inshā'Allāh) as modern techniques mean that the building is more secure and stable than ever before.
9. It used to have two doors … and a window
The original Kaaba used to have a door for entrance and another for exit. For a considerable period of time it also had a window situated to one side. The current Kaaba only has one door and no window.
8. It used to be multi-coloured
We are so used to the Kaaba being covered in the trademark black Kiswah with gold banding that we can't imagine it being any other colour. However, this tradition seems to have started at the time of the Abbasids (whose household colour was black). Before this the Kaaba was covered in multiple colours including green, red and even white.
7. The keys are in the hands of one family
At the time of the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him), each aspect to do with the rites of Hajj was in the hands of different sub-groups of the Quraish. Every one of these would eventually lose control of their guardianship of a particular rite except one. On the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was given the keys to the Kaaba and instead of keeping it in his own possession; he returned them back to the Osman ibn Talha of the Bani Shaiba family. They had been the traditional key keepers of the Kaaba for centuries; and the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) confirmed them in that role till the end of time by these words
“Take it, O Bani Talha, eternally up to the Day of Resurrection, and it will not be taken from you unless by an unjust, oppressive tyrant.”
Whether Caliph, Sultan or King – the most powerful men in the world have all had to bow to the words of the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and ask permission from this small Makkan family before they can enter the Kaaba.
6. It used to be open to everyone
Until recently, the Kaaba was opened twice a week for anyone to enter and pray. However, due to the rapid expansion in the number of pilgrims and other factors, the Kaaba is now opened only twice a year for dignitaries and exclusive guests only.
5. You used to be able to swim around it
One of the problems with having the Kaaba situated at the bottom of a valley is that when it rains – valleys tend to flood. This was not an uncommon occurrence in Makkah and the cause of a lot of trouble before the days of flood control systems and sewage. For days on end the Kaaba would be half submerged in water. Did that stop Muslims from performing the Tawaf? Of course not.
Modern adjustments to the surrounding landscape and flood prevention techniques mean we may never see such sights again. Or will we?
4. The inside contains plaques commemorating the rulers who renovated it
For years many have wondered what it looks like inside the Kaaba. Relying on second or third hand accounts from those who were lucky enough to enter just wasn't satisfying enough. Then one lucky person who went inside took his camera phone in with him and Millions have seen the shaky footage online.
The interior of the Kaaba is now lined with marble and a green cloth covering the upper walls. Fixed into the walls are plaques each commemorating the refurbishment or rebuilding of the House of Allāh by the ruler of the day. Watch the video below of the only place on Earth that you can pray in any direction you want, the House of Allāh, the first place of worship for mankind – the Kaaba.
3. There are two kaabas!
Directly above the Kaaba in heaven is an exact replica. This Kaaba was mentioned in the Qurʾān and by the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him).
The Messenger of Allāh ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said narrating about the journey of 'Isra wal Miraaj
“Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma'mur (i.e. Allāh's House). I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma'mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily).”
2. The Black Stone is broken
Ever wondered how the Black Stone came to be in the silver casing that surrounds it?
Some say it was broken by a stone fired by the Umayyad army laying siege to Makkah whilst it was under the control of Abdullah ibn Zubair.
However, most agree that it was most damaged in the middle ages by an extreme heretical Ismaili group from Bahrain called the Qarmatians who had declared that the Hajj was an act of superstition. They decided to make their point by killing tens of thousands of hujjaj and dumping their bodies in the well of Zamzam.
As if this act of treachery was not enough, these devils took the Black Stone to the East of Arabia and then Kufa in Iraq where they held it ransom until they were forced to return it by the Abassid Caliph. When they returned it, it was in pieces and the only way to keep them together was by encasing them in a silver casing. Some historians narrate that there are still some missing pieces of the stone floating around.
1. It's not supposed to be a cube shape
Yes, ladies and gentleman… the most famous cube in the world actually started out shaped as a rectangle.
I'll give you a moment to pick your jaws off the floor.
Right, where were we?
Oh yeah, the Kaaba was never meant to be a cube. The original dimensions of The House included the semi-circular area known as the Hijr Ismail.
When the Kaaba was rebuilt just a few years before the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) received his first revelation, the Quraish agreed to only use income from pure sources to complete the rebuild. That meant no money from gambling, looting, prostitution, interest etc. In the ultimate sign of how deeply mired in wrongdoing the Jahili Quraish were, there was not enough untainted money in this very wealthy trading city to rebuild the Kaaba to its original size and shape!
They settled for a smaller version of the Kaaba and put a mud brick wall (called “Hijr Ismail” although it has no connection to the Prophet Ismail (AS) himself) to indicate the original dimensions. Towards the end of his life, the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) intended to rebuild the Kaaba on its original foundations but passed away before he could fulfill his wish. Apart from a brief interlude of a few years during the reign of Caliph Abdullah ibn Zubair, the Kaaba has remained the same shape that the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) saw it in.
The history of the Kaaba is not just an interesting story from our past. The Kaaba is a real and present symbol that connects all Muslims together wherever they may be. It also connects us to our glorious and not-so-glorious past so that we may derive lessons and feel that we are a part of an eternal mission. In a day and age where Muslims are increasingly disconnected from our history,as well as each other, the Kabaa reminds us of our shared heritage and bonds. It is a symbol of unity in an Ummah sorely in need of it.
Source : http://muslimmatters.org/2012/11/15/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-kaaba/
muslimmatters.org (by Muhammad Wajid Akhter)
A passage from the last moments of our most beloved Rasulullah SAW and his love for his ummah.
Suddenly there was a person who said salaam. “May I come in?” he asked. But Fatimah did not allow him to enter the room. “I’m sorry, my father is ill,” said Fatimah, and turned back and closed the door.
She went back to Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasalam and he opened his eyes and asked, “Who was he, my daughter?”
“I dont know my father. It’s the first time I’m seeing him,” Fatimah said gently.
“Know one thing…! He is the one who erases the temporary pleasure; he is who separates the companionship in the world. He is the Angel of Death,” said Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam.
Fatimah bore the bomb of her cry.
The death angel came towards Him, but Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam asked why Jibrail did not come along with him.
Then Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam looked at his daughter with a trembled look, as if he wanted to reminisce about every part of his daugther’s face.
Then, Jibrail was called. Jibrail was ready int he sky to welcome the soul of Rasulullah and the leader of the Earth.
“O Jibrail, explain to me about my rights in front of Allah? (subhana watalah), Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam asked with a very weak voice.
“The doors of the sky have opened; the angels are waiting for your soul. All Jannats are open widely waiting for you” Jibrail said.
But, in fact, all that did not make Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam relieved.
His eyes were still full of worry.
“You are not happy to hear this news?” asked Jibrail.
“Tell me about the destiny of My People in the future?” said Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam
“Don’t worry, O’ Rasulullah. I heard Allah (subhana watala) told me: “I make Jannat haram for everyone, except the people of Muhammad,” Jibrail said.
The time for Malaekat Izrail to do his work became closer and closer.
Slowly, Rasulullah’s sallalahu alaihi wasalam soul was pulled. It seems that the body of Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam was full of sweat; the nerves of his neck became tight.
“Jibrail, how painful this is!” Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam slowly uttered with a groan.
Fatimah closed her eyes, Ali sat beside her bow deeply and Jibrail turned his face back.
“Am I repugnant to you that you turn your face back O Jibrail?” Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam asked.
“Who is the one who could see Habibullah in His sakartul maut,” Jibrail said. “Not for a while,” then Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam uttered a groan because of unbearable pain.
“O Allah (subhana watala) how great is this sakartul maut. Give me all these pains, but DON’T to MY PEOPLE.”
The body of Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam became cold, his feet and chest did not move anymore.
With tears in eyes, His lips vibrated as if he wanted to say something. Ali took his ear close to Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam, “Uushiikumbis salahti, wa maa malakat aimanuku” “Take care of the salat and take care of the weak people among you.”
Outside the room, there were cries, each one shouting, Sahaba holding each other. Fatimah closed her face with her hands.
Again, Ali took his ear close to Rasulullah’s sallalahu alaihi wasalam and with this mouth which became bluish, and tears in his eyes, he uttered: “Ummatii Ummatii, Ummatii” “ My People, My People, My People“
Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallaita ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; Innaka Hamīdum Majīd; Allāhumma bārik ‘ala Muhammad, wa ‘ala ‘āli Muhammad, kama bārakta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; Innaka Hamīdum Majīd.’
(O
Allāh! Send Prayers on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You
sent Prayers on the family of Ibrāhīm, Verily You are Most Praiseworthy,
Full of Glory; O Allāh! Send Your Blessings on Muhammad and the family
of Muhammad, as You sent your Blessings on the family of Ibrāhīm, Verily
You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory.)''’
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suddenly there was a person who said salaam. “May I come in?” he asked. But Fatimah did not allow him to enter the room. “I’m sorry, my father is ill,” said Fatimah, and turned back and closed the door.
She went back to Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasalam and he opened his eyes and asked, “Who was he, my daughter?”
“I dont know my father. It’s the first time I’m seeing him,” Fatimah said gently.
“Know one thing…! He is the one who erases the temporary pleasure; he is who separates the companionship in the world. He is the Angel of Death,” said Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam.
Fatimah bore the bomb of her cry.
The death angel came towards Him, but Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam asked why Jibrail did not come along with him.
Then Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam looked at his daughter with a trembled look, as if he wanted to reminisce about every part of his daugther’s face.
Then, Jibrail was called. Jibrail was ready int he sky to welcome the soul of Rasulullah and the leader of the Earth.
“O Jibrail, explain to me about my rights in front of Allah? (subhana watalah), Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam asked with a very weak voice.
“The doors of the sky have opened; the angels are waiting for your soul. All Jannats are open widely waiting for you” Jibrail said.
But, in fact, all that did not make Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam relieved.
His eyes were still full of worry.
“You are not happy to hear this news?” asked Jibrail.
“Tell me about the destiny of My People in the future?” said Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam
“Don’t worry, O’ Rasulullah. I heard Allah (subhana watala) told me: “I make Jannat haram for everyone, except the people of Muhammad,” Jibrail said.
The time for Malaekat Izrail to do his work became closer and closer.
Slowly, Rasulullah’s sallalahu alaihi wasalam soul was pulled. It seems that the body of Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam was full of sweat; the nerves of his neck became tight.
“Jibrail, how painful this is!” Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam slowly uttered with a groan.
Fatimah closed her eyes, Ali sat beside her bow deeply and Jibrail turned his face back.
“Am I repugnant to you that you turn your face back O Jibrail?” Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam asked.
“Who is the one who could see Habibullah in His sakartul maut,” Jibrail said. “Not for a while,” then Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam uttered a groan because of unbearable pain.
“O Allah (subhana watala) how great is this sakartul maut. Give me all these pains, but DON’T to MY PEOPLE.”
The body of Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam became cold, his feet and chest did not move anymore.
With tears in eyes, His lips vibrated as if he wanted to say something. Ali took his ear close to Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam, “Uushiikumbis salahti, wa maa malakat aimanuku” “Take care of the salat and take care of the weak people among you.”
Outside the room, there were cries, each one shouting, Sahaba holding each other. Fatimah closed her face with her hands.
Again, Ali took his ear close to Rasulullah’s sallalahu alaihi wasalam and with this mouth which became bluish, and tears in his eyes, he uttered: “Ummatii Ummatii, Ummatii” “ My People, My People, My People“
Our most beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) offered supplication (du'a) at times of calamity on a
number of occasions in the time of extreme distress and need thus
beseeching Allah (SWT) for His Mercy and benevolence. Rasulullah (SAW) read Qunut Nazilah
for the salvation of the weak and oppressed in Makkah.
This Qunut was also read by Rasulullah (SAW) when the incident massacre of the 60 al hafiz companions for a month based on the following hadith:
Meaning: The Prophet sallallahu `alaihiwasallam have read qunut prayer not only at dawn when they massacre his al hafiz companions.
-Bukhari and Muslim-
Source and credits:
http://www.islam.gov.my/en/guide-qunut-nazilah
This Qunut was also read by Rasulullah (SAW) when the incident massacre of the 60 al hafiz companions for a month based on the following hadith:
Meaning: The Prophet sallallahu `alaihiwasallam have read qunut prayer not only at dawn when they massacre his al hafiz companions.
-Bukhari and Muslim-
HOW TO RECITE QUNUT NAZILAH
Qunut Nazilah can be recited at all obligatory prayers: Zuhur, Asar, Maghrib, Isya’ and Subuh. It can be recited at the final rak’at after getting up from Ruku’ for I’tidal.
The prayer is recited while standing for I’tidal. There are three ways to recite the prayer. The imam may select any of the followings:
- Recite the Qunut as normally recited during Subuh prayer.
- Recite the Qunut Nazilah only as per attached.
- Recite the Subuh Qunut followed by Qunut Nazilah.
Reminder:
- If the Imam does not memorise the Qunut Nazilah attached, recite the Qunut as normally recited in Subuh prayer. Then, Qunut Nazilah can be recited after the prayer.
- The Imam needs to inform the followers that Qunut will be recited in the prayer so that they can “ameen” the prayer.
QUNUT NAZILAH
Which means:
“'O Allah, we seek Your help; we beseech Your forgiveness; we seek guidance from You; we affirm our faith in You; we bow to Thee and we praise You; we are grateful and do not infidel; we reject and abandon everyone who forsakes You.
‘O Allah, You alone do we worship; unto You alone we
pray; and before You alone we prostrate in worship; unto You alone we
strive and implore;we cherish hope in Your mercy; we fear Your chastisement; most certainly, Your stern punishment will overtake those who reject the truth.
‘O Allah, may honour be with Islam and Muslims. Stop all kinds of
tyranny and hostility. Help our oppressed brethren wherever they are.
Lift them from their hardships, plagues, war and hostility. O Allah,
save us from all evil and do not make our place the place of calamity;
avert us from any disaster because only You can avert it, O Allah.”
Source and credits:
http://www.islam.gov.my/en/guide-qunut-nazilah
