Kaaba

Kaaba, central shrine of Islam, a cube-shaped, one-room stone structure in Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Islamic tradition has it that it was already a site for pilgrimages and considered the most important sanctuary (Arabic, haram) in pre-Muslim Arabia. Mainstream Muslim tradition also describes it as having been built by the prophets Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ismail (Ishmael), from whom the Arabs trace their descent. Part of the annual major pilgrimage (hajj)—one of the five pillars of Islam—involves visiting the Kaaba, and this takes place during the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijja, the last lunar month of the Islamic calendar. The Black Stone that is set on the outside of one corner of the structure is solemnly kissed by all pilgrims who can gain access to it.

For Muslims, the Kaaba is the “House of God”, where the divine touches the mundane. It is washed annually and covered with a dark silk cloth. The Kaaba has been greatly enlarged since the time of Muhammad: a mosque-court was later built around it and recently a gate of solid gold was added.