Tradition holds that it was built by the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ishmael. The Ministry of Hajj describes its construction:
"In order to complete the upper part of the Kaaba, Ibrahim stood upon a large stone block which he moved along when each section was completed. When the Kaaba was finished, the large stone block was left outside, close to the eastern wall of the sanctuary. It became known as the Maqam Ibrahim (station of Ibrahim).
"As constructed by Ibrahim and his son, the Kaaba was a roofless, rectangular building, with two doors set at ground level for access and with a semi-circular back wall." The Kaaba has been rebuilt and repaired many times over the centuries.
In 630, Muhammad performed the hajj, delivered a venerated sermon on Mt. Arafat and adopted the building as the holiest site in Islam.
Just as Christians incorporated some pagan rituals into their traditions -- think of the Christmas tree -- the ancient hajj rites were modified. Popular religion writer Karen Armstrong, in "Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time," describes what happened:
"[Muhammad] led the Muslims through the rituals that were so dear to the hearts of the Arabs, giving them a new significance. Instead of being reunited with their tribal deities, the Muslims were to gather round the 'house'-- the Kaaba -- built by their ancestors Abraham and Ishmael."
As Armstrong writes, "Inside the Kaaba, the walls had been decorated with pictures of pagan deities, and Muhammad ordered them all to be obliterated, though, it is said, he allowed frescoes of Jesus and Mary." (Muslims believe Jesus was one of God's prophets but do not view him as divine.)
Armstrong goes on to say, "Finally, they sacrificed a sheep, in memory of the sheep Abraham sacrificed after he had offered his own son to God."
In Islamic tradition, that son is Ishmael; in the Judeo-Christian tradition, it's Ishmael's brother Isaac.
To this day Muslims observe Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), with the meat of slaughtered animals usually provided to the poor. The three-day festival begins after the conclusion of the hajj, which this year ends today.
Last year, a Times reporter and photographer, Ashraf Khalil and Irfan Khan, respectively, followed a group of Southern Californian Muslims as they traveled to Saudi Arabia to make the hajj.
The series, which chronicled their spiritual journey with stories, photos and graphics, can be found at latimes.com/hajj.
--
steve.padilla@latimes.com
