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Miola Gail Ocampo

History 134
Kimberly Lark
Religious History: The Kaba
The Kaab, also spelled Al-Kabah, Kaaba, Kaba, and Kabah means cube in Arabic. The
Kaaba is a square building, elegantly draped in a silk and cotton veil. It is an ancient stone
structure that was originally built by the prophets as a house of worship. Located in Mecca,
Saudi Arabia, it is the holiest shrine in Islam. The Kaaba is also known as Bait Ateeq, meaning
the ancient house, as well as Allahs House, the House of Allah, Gods House, the Sacred House,
and the House of God.
It is believed by Muslims that Abraham and his son Ismail, were the ones to construct the
Kaaba. It is believed that God showed Ibrahim exactly where to build it and had an angel bring
him a black stone that had fell from heaven to place in the Kaaba. Originally the Kaaba was
rectangular and had no roof. After Ibrahim built the Kaaba, God told him to go out and spread
the word of the Kaaba so that people would make a pilgrimage to it.
During the time of Muhammad, the Quraysh tribe was in charge of the Kaaba.
Muhammad was a prophet preaching about monotheism and the Day of Judgment in Mecca. The
Quraysh people didnt like this and pushed Muhammad and his followers out of Mecca. He then
was driven out of Mecca in 620 C.E. to Yathrib, which is now known as Medina. Upon his return
two years later, the shrine became the focal point for Muslim worship and pilgrimage. From here
on out, every year tribesmen and people from other villages would travel to the Kaaba to worship
and trade.

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The five pillars of Islam are the most essential principals of the faith. A Muslim must
pray five times a day, and during their daily prayers, Muslims must face toward the Kaaba from
wherever they are in the world. This is known as "facing the qiblah". According to the Five
Pillars of Islam, every Muslim must perform the Hajj pilgrimage and voyage to the Kaaba at
least once in their lifetime. During the Hajj, millions of worshippers gather in the Al-Masjid alHaram outside the Kaaba.
Overall, the Kaaba is an extremely important asset to the Muslim culture and Islamic
faith. As with all forms of religion or worship, there are important aspects we are expected to
follow. It is clear that those of the Muslim faith have a firm belief in the Kaaba, and honor it as
they should.

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"Sacred Destinations." Kaaba. Sacred Destintions, n.d. Web. 18 June 2015.
<http://www.sacred-destinations.com/saudi-arabia/mecca-kaba>.
"The Ka'aba, The House Of Allah." Al-Islam.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 June 2015.
<http://www.al-islam.org/story-of-the-holy-kaaba-and-its-people-shabbar/kaaba-house-allah>.
"Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Kaaba - MuslimMatters.org."
MuslimMattersorg. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 June 2015. <http://muslimmatters.org/2012/11/15/tenthings-you-didnt-know-about-the-kaaba/>.
Huda. "The Ka'aba - Description, History, Role." The Ka'ba. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 June
2015. <http://islam.about.com/od/mecca/p/kaaba.htm>.