Discussion of the Narrations

1) The History of the Kaaba

Imam al-Bāqir (a.s.) said: “When God Almighty commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam, they objected, saying, ‘Will You place upon it one who causes corruption and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?’ God, the Blessed and Exalted, responded, ‘Indeed, I know that which you do not know’”(22). Angered by their objection, God allowed them to seek repentance. He then commanded them to circumambulate the Elevated Abode (al-Ṣarḥ), which is the Frequented House (al-Bayt al-Maʿmūr). The angels circumambulated it for seven years, seeking forgiveness from God Almighty for their words. Ultimately, He accepted their repentance and was pleased with them. This marked the origin of circumambulation. Subsequently, God established the Sacred House (al-Bayt al-Ḥarām) on earth, aligning it with the Elevated Abode, as a means of repentance and purification for the children of Adam who commit sins.”

In another part of this narration, it is mentioned: “When Adam descended to the lowest heaven, God commanded him to honor this House on earth, which is aligned with the House in the heavens, designating it for Adam and his descendants just as the heavenly House serves the inhabitants of the heavens.”

Imam al-Ṣādiq (a.s.) said: “God Almighty sent down the Black Stone from Paradise for Adam, and the House was originally a white pearl. God later raised it to the sky, leaving its foundation in place on earth. This earthly site is aligned with the celestial House, and every day, seventy thousand angels enter it, never to return. Then, God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to build upon the remaining foundations.”

Imam al-Bāqir (a.s.) also said: “God Almighty created the Kaaba before creating the earth, and then He spread the earth out from beneath it.”

Imam al-Ṣādiq (a.s.) said: “The site of the Kaaba was initially a white hill on earth, shining with a brilliance like the light of the sun and moon. However, when Adam’s two sons clashed, resulting in one killing the other, it turned black. When Adam descended to earth, God elevated the land, enabling Adam to see all of it. God said, ‘This is all for you.’ Adam asked, ‘My Lord, what is this radiant white land?’ God replied, ‘It is My land, and I have made it incumbent upon you to circumambulate it seven hundred times each day.’”

In another narration, Imam al-Ṣādiq (a.s.) recounted: “When Adam and his wife were tested by wheat, which led to their expulsion from Paradise, God ultimately bestowed repentance upon Adam and taught him words. Upon reciting these words, Adam’s repentance was accepted, and God sent Gabriel to him. Gabriel took Adam by the hand and led him to the location of the House. God then sent down a cloud that marked the place of the House, aligning with the Frequented House (al-Bayt al-Maʿmūr). Gabriel instructed Adam, ‘Trace with your foot where this cloud has cast its shade, for a house of pearl will emerge for you. This will be your qibla (direction of prayer) and the qibla for your descendants after you.’ Adam followed the guidance, and God manifested a house of pearl beneath the cloud.”

Abū Abdullah (a.s.) said: “When Adam departed from Minā, he was met by angels who said, ‘O Adam! Your pilgrimage is accepted. Indeed, we have performed pilgrimage to this House two thousand years before you.’”

Abū al-Ḥasan al-Riḍā (a.s.) narrated: “When God, the Mighty and Majestic, sent Adam down from Paradise, he descended upon Mount Abū Qubays. Feeling lonely and missing the sounds he used to hear in Paradise, Adam complained to his Lord. In response, God sent down a red ruby, which was placed at the site of the House. Adam would then circumambulate it…”

From Abū Jaʿfar, from his forefathers: “God, the Blessed and Exalted, revealed to Gabriel: ‘I am God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, and I have shown mercy to Adam and Eve in response to their complaints. Descend to them with a tent from the tents of Paradise. Console them on My behalf for their separation from Paradise, and unite them in the tent, as I have been merciful to them due to their tears and their loneliness in solitude. Set up the tent at the site between the mountains of Mecca.’”

He continued: “This site is the location of the House and its foundations, which the angels had raised before Adam. Gabriel then descended to Adam with the tent, matching the dimensions of the House’s corners and foundations, and he set it up.”

He further said: “God, the Mighty and Majestic, commanded Gabriel: ‘Descend upon the tent with seventy thousand angels to guard it from rebellious devils, to console Adam, and to circumambulate the tent in veneration of the House and the tent.’”

Later, he said: “God, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed to Gabriel: ‘Go to Adam and Eve, move them away from the site of the foundations of My House, and raise the foundations of My House for My angels.’”

He added, “So Gabriel raised the foundations of the Sacred House, using a stone from Ṣafā, a stone from Marwa, a stone from Mount Sinai, and a stone from the Mountain of Peace, which is near Kufa. God, the Mighty and Majestic, then commanded Gabriel to construct the House and complete it. Gabriel uprooted the four stones with his wing, placing them at the corners of the House as God had commanded, setting its landmarks. God further instructed Gabriel to complete the structure using stones from Mount Abū Qubays and to create two doors: an eastern door and a western door.”

He concluded: “Gabriel completed the construction, and when he finished, the angels began circumambulating around it. When Adam and Eve saw the angels circumambulating the House, they too began to circumambulate it, completing seven circuits, after which they left to seek sustenance.”

Al-Ḥalabī narrated that Abū ʿAbdullah was asked about the Kaaba: “Was it a place of pilgrimage before the Prophet (s.a.w.) was sent?” He replied: “Yes, and its confirmation is in the Qur’an, in the words of Shuʿayb when he said to Moses upon his marriage, ‘On condition that you serve me for eight pilgrimages’(23). He did not say ‘eight years,’ implying the pilgrimage, as Adam and Noah also performed the pilgrimage. Even Solomon, the son of David, came for pilgrimage to the House along with jinn, humans, birds, and the wind. Moses also performed the pilgrimage, riding a red camel and reciting, ‘Here I am at Your service, here I am.’ This is as God says: ‘Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah—blessed and a guidance for the worlds’(24). God also says: ‘And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael’ (Qur’an 2:127) and ‘and purify My House for those who perform tawaf, those who stay [for worship], and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]’(25). Additionally, God sent down the Stone for Adam, which was part of the House.”*

Notes:

a) The Historical Precedence of the Kaaba:

The Kaaba’s ancient role as the first place of worship is derived from the verse, “Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah—blessed”(26). Narrations suggest that it served as a place of circumambulation for Adam and later prophets.

b) Alignment with the Frequented House (Bayt al-Maʿmūr):

The alignment of the Kaaba with the Frequented House, which in turn is aligned with the Throne, reflects a correspondence among the physical world (mulk), the celestial realm (malakūt), and the divine realm of power (jabarūt), rather than a literal geographical alignment.

c) The Nature of the Black Stone:

The Black Stone, originally a white pearl, has a heavenly nature, not a mineral composition. It is thus inaccurate to suggest, as some might, that it could be compared to a diamond. In the natural world, ordinary stones lack inherent spiritual value; they neither benefit nor harm, as the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) said: “God has tested people, from Adam’s time until the end of the world, with stones that neither benefit nor harm. If the foundation stones of the Kaaba were green emerald or red ruby, obeying God’s command would have been too easy.”

The value of the Black Stone and the stones of the Kaaba does not derive from their material nature. Even precious metals like silver and gold hold no intrinsic spiritual value. Pharaoh mocked Moses, the Interlocutor, by belittling his humble appearance, asking, “Then why have not golden bracelets been bestowed on him?”(27), which swayed his people’s minds, rendering them foolish and shallow, as stated: “Thus he made fools of his people, and they obeyed him”(28). Similarly, God has stated that if not for the risk of leading simple-minded people astray, He would have granted the disbelievers such material wealth that they would even roof their houses with silver(29).

2) The Mission of Abraham to Build the Kaaba

Abū ʿAbd Allāh said: “When Ishmael was born, Abraham brought him and his mother on a donkey, with Gabriel accompanying them, until they arrived at the location of the Ḥijr. He had with him some provisions and a water-skin containing water. At that time, the House was merely a red mound of clay. Abraham asked Gabriel, ‘Is this where I am commanded?’ and Gabriel replied, ‘Yes.’”

He continued: “During that period, Mecca had salam and samur trees, and around Mecca were tribes from the Amalekites.”

Abū ʿAbd Allāh also said: “… The following year, God permitted Abraham to perform the pilgrimage and to build the Kaaba. The Arabs would come to perform pilgrimage to it, even though it was only a mound, though its foundations were known. After the people departed, Ishmael gathered stones and placed them within the Kaaba. When God allowed them to build, Abraham returned and said to Ishmael, ‘O my son! God has commanded us to build the Kaaba.’ They uncovered the mound and found it to be a single red stone. God then revealed to him to establish the foundations upon it. God sent down four angels to assist by gathering stones. Abraham and Ishmael would set the stones in place while the angels handed them over, and the structure eventually reached a height of twelve cubits. They created two doors for it: one for entering and one for exiting, with a threshold and iron bars on its doors.”

He concluded: “The Kaaba was not roofed initially, so Ishmael installed columns inside, similar to the wooden columns you see, and he roofed it with palm fronds, smoothing it over with clay.”

Abū ʿAbd Allāh said: “Abraham was residing in the wilderness of Syria. When Ishmael was born to him through Hagar, Sarah became deeply distressed as she had no children from him. She would trouble Abraham concerning Hagar, causing him anguish. Abraham raised this matter with God, the Mighty and Majestic, who then revealed guidance to him... Eventually, God commanded him to take Ishmael and his mother away. Abraham asked, ‘O Lord! To which place?’ God replied, ‘To My sanctuary and My safe haven, the first plot I created on earth, which is Mecca.’ God then sent Gabriel with the Buraq, who transported Hagar and Ishmael until they reached Mecca, where Gabriel placed them at the site of the House. Afterward, Abraham departed from them.”

He continued: *“When Ishmael reached manhood, God commanded Abraham to construct the House. Abraham asked, ‘O Lord! In which spot?’ God replied, ‘At the location where I had previously sent down a dome to Adam, illuminating the sanctuary.’ The dome that God had sent down for Adam remained until the time of the great flood during Noah’s days. When the floodwaters submerged the earth, God raised that dome, sparing only the site of the House from being submerged. Hence, it became known as the Ancient House (al-Bayt al-ʿAtīq), as it was preserved from the flood.”

When God, the Mighty and Majestic, commanded Abraham to build the House and he was unsure of the exact location, God sent Gabriel to mark the spot. God provided foundations from Paradise, and the stone sent down to Adam, which was originally whiter than snow. However, when touched by the hands of disbelievers, it turned black. Abraham constructed the House, while Ishmael transported stones from Dhū Ṭuwā. Abraham raised the structure to a height of nine cubits, and Gabriel guided him to place the stone in its current location. Abraham then fashioned two doors for the House: an eastern door and a western door, the latter being called the Mustajār. He covered the structure with trees and idhkhir grass, while Hagar hung a garment on its door, and they would seek shelter beneath it.”

Abū ʿAbd Allāh said: “In the time of Abraham, the Kaaba stood at nine cubits in height and had no roof. Later, the Quraysh roofed it, raising it to eighteen cubits. It remained this way until al-Ḥajjāj destroyed it during his conflict with Ibn al-Zubayr. He then rebuilt it, increasing its height to twenty-seven cubits.”

Al-Daylamī narrated from ʿAlī, who reported from the Prophet (s.a.w.) concerning the verse, “And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House…”(30). The Prophet said: “A cloud appeared over the square of the House, with a voice that spoke, ‘Raise the House to my height.’ So they elevated it to that height.”

Ibn Faḍḍāl narrated that Abū l-Ḥasan (al-Riḍā) said to al-Ḥasan ibn al-Jahm: “Do you know what the Sakīna (tranquility) is?” He replied, “I don’t know, may I be sacrificed for you. What is it?” Abū l-Ḥasan said: “It is a gentle breeze from Paradise, taking the form of a human face. It accompanies the prophets, and it descended upon Abraham when he was building the Kaaba. It guided him in placing the foundation.”

ʿUqba ibn Bashīr narrated from one of the Imams (a.s.): “God, the Mighty and Majestic, commanded Abraham to build the Kaaba, to raise its foundations, and to instruct people in their rites. Thus, Abraham and Ishmael constructed the House…”

Abū Jaʿfar said: “Then Mount Abū Qubays called out to Abraham, saying, ‘I have a trust for you with me.’ He then gave Abraham the Stone, which he placed in its designated position. Abraham then proclaimed to the people: ‘O people! I am Abraham, the friend of God. God commands you to perform pilgrimage to this House, so perform pilgrimage to it.’ Those destined to perform pilgrimage until the Day of Resurrection responded to his call.”