The Ka’ba
The Ka’ba in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia is the center of the Islamic world today. It’s roots go back into the early days of Islamic history. Despite this the very earliest mosques all faced Petra in Jordan.
The earliest solid proof of when the Ka’ba was built comes from an ancient inscription in Saudi Arabia stating that it was written in 78 AH, the year that Masjid al-Haram was built. (see below) Ḥuma al-Numūr Inscription : (https://www.islamic-awareness.org/history/islam/inscriptions/haram1.html) The translation of the inscription is:
- Al-Rayyān b. ʿAbdullāh testifies that there is no god but God
- and he testifies that Muḥammad is the Messenger of God.
- then reiterates to those to come to testify to
- that, God have mercy on al-Rayyān.
- May He forgive him and cause him to be guided to the path of Paradise
- and I ask him for marytrdom in his path. A-
- -men. This was written in
- the year the Masjid al-Ḥarām was built
- in the seventy eighth year.
Some people have tried to translate the inscription to say rebuilt, rather than built. But there is no indication from the text that this is what was meant.
This dates the Ka’ba to 78 AH. Before that, mosques in Islam all faced the city of Petra, as demonstrated in the Qibla Tool.
For a Link to the Qibla Tool Click Here
There is a foundation on an earlier Ka’ba in Petra which fits the measurements given by Azraqi, during the time when Muhammad lived. See: https://nabataea.net/cinema/archeologyislam/archeology-and-islam-3-the-kaba/ and subsequent videos in the series Archaeology and Islam. To find these visit the cinema link at the top of this page.
The Ka’ba in Saudi Arabia has a built-in mihrab niche called the hatim wall. This gives the Ka’ba direction. Interestingly enough, it faces very close to both the Between Position and Petra. See illustrations below. This would be expected as the Between possition is between Petra and Mecca.
The Ka'ba Qibla
The Ka'ba Qibla faces towards Petra
The Ka'ba is the small black cube in the center of the Masjid al Haram mosque in Saudi Arabia.
The Ka'ba covered by a black cloth (1909)
Muhammad placing the Black Rock onto a cloth to repair the Ka'ba
Inscription near Mecca, saying that Masjid al-Haram was built in 78 AH.
The inside of the Ka'ba
The Ka'ba
The Ka'ba without it's cloth cover
Azraqi's measurements of the Ka'ba show that it was longer and wider, and the four sides were each different lengths.
The Ka'ba foundation in Petra fits Azraqi's measurements of the Ka'ba, during Muhammad's lifetime.
The Ka'ba in Saudi Arabia has a built-in mihrab niche called the hatim wall. This gives the Ka'ba direction.
The Ka'ba in Saudi Arabia faces the original Ka'ba in Petra.
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