How Many Times Was The KA’BAH Constructed?

how-many-times-was-the-kabah-constructed

In his book Tareekh Makkah, ‘Allamah Jalaluddin Suyuti رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه stated that the Holy Ka’bah was built 10 times:

  1. First, the angels built it on the earth in the exact straightness of the Bayt-ul-Ma’moor.
  2. Thereafter, it was built by Hazrat Aadam عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّلَام.
  3. Then the sons of Hazrat Aadam built it.
  4. It was then constructed by Sayyiduna Ibraheem and his beloved son Hazrat Isma’eel (A.S). This has been mentioned in the Holy Quran.
  5. It was also constructed by a nation called ‘Amaliqah’.
  6. Thereafter, the tribe Jurhum got it constructed.
  7. It was also constructed by an ancient ancestor of the Quraysh – Qusay Bin Kilaab.
  8. It was also constructed by the Quraysh. The Holy Nabi PBUH also participated in the construction, carrying stones on his blessed shoulder along with the Quraysh.
  9. During his caliphate, Hazrat Abdullah Bin Zubair R.A had it constructed as per the plan approved by the Holy Nabi PBUH. That is, he had the area of the Hateem included in the Holy Ka’bah with its door touching the surface of the ground. One door towards the east and the other one towards the west were made.
  10. Appointed by ‘Abdul Malik Bin Marwaan Umavi, Hajjaj Bin Yusuf Saqafi who was a tyrant had Hazrat Abdullah Bin Zubair R.A martyred. Hajjaj also had the Ka’bah demolished which had been built by Hazrat Abdullah Bin Zubair R.A. He then got the Ka’bah reconstructed as per the plan drawn up in the pre-Islamic era of ignorance. This Ka’bah exists even today.

In the biography book authored by ‘Allamah Halbi R.A, he stated that the Ka’bah was reconstructed only three times:

  1. Hazrat Ibraheem Khaleelullah عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّلَام constructed it.
  2. The Quraysh constructed it in the pre-Islamic era of ignorance. There was a gap of two thousand seven hundred and thirty five years between both of the two constructions.
  3. Hazrat Abdullah Bin Zubair R.A also constructed it eighty two years after the construction made by the Quraysh.

Regarding the narrations of the constructions made by the angels and by the sons of Hazrat Aadam, ‘Allamah Halbi R.A commented that these narrations were not authentic. As for other constructions, he stated that those were not new constructions; they were only renovations.

(Footnote, Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 215)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dua Kanwal