Masjid al-Haram

The very first construction of the Kaaba was done by Prophet Ibrahim SAW and his son Ishmeel as a house of worhip to one God. Allah SWT says in the Quran that this was the first house that was built for humanity to worship Allah SWT. Soon after Prophet Ibrahim SAW died, people started filling the Kaaba with idols. It was not until Prophet Muhammad SAW defeated the idol-worshippers that the idols inside the Kaaba were destroyed.

One of the Five Pillars of Islam requires every Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if able to do so. Multiple parts of the Hajj require pilgrims to walk seven times around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction. This circumambulation (Tawaf), is also performed by pilgrims during Umrah.

Muslims around the world face the Kaaba during prayers, no matter where they are. This is called facing the Qiblah.

Official site: www.gph.gov.sa