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Sanctuaries · The First House · Qiblah of mankind

الكعبة والمسجد الحرام

The Kaaba & al-Masjid al-Haram

Raised by Ibrahim and Isma'il, ringed by idols, purified at the Opening: the axis every prayer on earth turns toward.

The whole account

The account

"The first House established for mankind was that at Bakkah, blessed, and a guidance for the worlds" (3:96). Ibrahim and Isma'il raised its foundations begging acceptance; forty centuries of pilgrims have answered the proclamation made from its hill. One prayer within the surrounding mosque outweighs a hundred thousand elsewhere (Ibn Majah 1406, sahih).

Its biography is the Path in miniature: ringed with 360 idols in the long forgetting, defended by birds when no believer could defend it, circled secretly by the persecuted, set as the qiblah in the second year of the Hijrah, purified by the Opening while Bilal stood on its roof, and destined, after the last believer is taken, for the thin-legged demolisher. Its key rests with Banu Talha by the verse of trusts. The Black Stone at its corner descended, the Prophet ﷺ said, whiter than milk, and the sins of the children of Adam darkened it (Tirmidhi 877, hasan). Whoever cannot reach it turns toward it: five times daily, the planet quietly agrees on one point.

The facts

The Qur'an on it

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

The first House established for mankind was that at Bakkah, blessed, and a guidance for the worlds.

Qur'an 3:96

The narrations

One prayer in this mosque of mine is better than a thousand prayers elsewhere, except al-Masjid al-Haram.

Bukhari 1190 · Muslim 1394

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The words

Lights that name it

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