What is the kaaba?
The Kaaba is the cube-shaped House of God in Mecca, built by Abraham and Ishmael, toward which all Muslims pray.
The Kaaba is a small cube-shaped building standing in the courtyard of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca. Muslims call it the House of God. According to the Quran, it was built by the Prophet Abraham together with his son Ishmael, and God commanded Abraham to purify it for those who would circle it and pray there. Abraham then performed the pilgrimage to it every year, a practice later continued by Ishmael. Over the centuries Arabia fell into idolatry, idols were placed inside the Kaaba, and its purpose was distorted, until the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, restored it to the worship of God alone. Today the Kaaba is the qibla, the direction of prayer for every Muslim, and the centre of the Hajj rites. The article “A History of the Hajj” tells the full story of the building and the pilgrimage.
Evidence
And [mention, O Muhammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate."
Quran 22:26www.islamreligion.com website موقع دين الإسلام 2013 - 1434 Hajj literally means ‘to set out for a place’. Islamicly, however, it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of GodFrom A History of the Hajj — IslamHouse.com. Reproduced with attribution.
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