Ka'bah
الكعبة
Sanctuary · Place
The House in Makkah whose foundations Ibrahim and Ismail raised; the first House established for mankind and the direction of prayer.
Overview
The Ka'bah is the House (al-Bayt) in Makkah. The Quran calls it "the first House established for mankind" (3:96) and "the Sacred House" (5:97). Ibrahim and Ismail raised its foundations, praying that Allah accept the work from them (2:127).
It is the qiblah — the direction believers are commanded to face in prayer (2:144) — and the focus of the rites of Hajj and Umrah.
Graph
Key connections
What do these labels mean?
Every connection on this page says what it rests on. The label tells you how directly the source supports it.
- Direct textual — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
- The source states this outright.
- Linguistic inference — Linguistic inference. Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.
- Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.
Select a connection to see the source it rests on.
- Ka'bahالكعبة
Sources
Quran references
Selected passages. Ka'bah is linked to 5 ayat in total.
Al-Baqarah 2:127
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِۦمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.
Al-Baqarah 2:144
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.
Ali 'Imran 3:96
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ
Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds.
Al-Ma'idah 5:97
NamesDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.۞ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكَعْبَةَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ قِيَٰمًۭا لِّلنَّاسِ وَٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَٱلْهَدْىَ وَٱلْقَلَٰٓئِدَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Allah has made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, standing for the people and [has sanctified] the sacred months and the sacrificial animals and the garlands [by which they are identified]. That is so you may know that Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth and that Allah is Knowing of all things.
Across the Quran
Counts include curated links and automatic matches on the Arabic word form.
Related
People
Related
Places
Makkah
مكةlocated in
Mecca — the city of the Ka'bah, the House whose foundations Ibrahim and Ismail raised; the qiblah and destination of Hajj.
Al-Masjid al-Haram
المسجد الحرامpart of
The Sacred Mosque in Makkah, named in the Quran as the place believers are commanded to face in prayer.
Related
Concepts
Names of Allah
Divine Names
Names that occur in the passages linked to this page are separated from names associated with it thematically.
Provenance
Relationships
What do these labels mean?
Every connection on this page says what it rests on. The label tells you how directly the source supports it.
- Direct textual — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
- The source states this outright.
- Linguistic inference — Linguistic inference. Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.
- Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.
Every edge in the graph, with the evidence behind it.
Ka'bahlocated inMakkahDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
Evidence
- Quran Ali 'Imran 3:96Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ
“Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds.”
"The first House established for mankind was that at Bakkah."
Open ayah 3:96 →
Ka'bahbuilt byIbrahimDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
Ibrahim raised the foundations of the House together with Ismail.
Evidence
- Quran Al-Baqarah 2:127Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِۦمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
“And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.”
"When Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael."
Open ayah 2:127 →
Ka'bahassociated withHajjDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
The Quran makes the pilgrimage a duty owed to the House, and names tawaf around it among its rites.
Evidence
- Quran Ali 'Imran 3:97Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
فِيهِ ءَايَٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَٰتٌۭ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلْبَيْتِ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًۭا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ
“In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.”
"And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House."
Open ayah 3:97 → - Quran Al-Hajj 22:29Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا۟ تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُوا۟ نُذُورَهُمْ وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا۟ بِٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْعَتِيقِ
“Then let them end their untidiness and fulfill their vows and perform Tawaf around the ancient House."”
"and perform Tawaf around the ancient House."
Open ayah 22:29 →
Ka'bahbuilt byIsmailDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
Evidence
- Quran Al-Baqarah 2:127Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِۦمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
“And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.”
Open ayah 2:127 →
Ka'bahassociated withQiblahLinguistic — Linguistic inference. Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.2 src
The command in 2:144 names al-Masjid al-Haram, not the Ka'bah. Identifying the qiblah with the Ka'bah specifically follows from the Quran's use of the two terms for the one sanctuary rather than from an explicit statement.
Evidence
- Quran Al-Baqarah 2:144Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
“We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.”
"So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram."
Open ayah 2:144 → - Quran Al-Ma'idah 5:97Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
۞ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكَعْبَةَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ قِيَٰمًۭا لِّلنَّاسِ وَٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَٱلْهَدْىَ وَٱلْقَلَٰٓئِدَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“Allah has made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, standing for the people and [has sanctified] the sacred months and the sacrificial animals and the garlands [by which they are identified]. That is so you may know that Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth and that Allah is Knowing of all things.”
"Allah has made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, standing for the people."
Open ayah 5:97 →
Ka'bahpart ofAl-Masjid al-HaramLinguistic — Linguistic inference. Follows from the wording of the text rather than an explicit statement.2 src
The Quran uses al-Bayt, al-Ka'bah and al-Masjid al-Haram for the sanctuary at Makkah without stating how they relate. That the Ka'bah stands within the Sacred Mosque is drawn from that usage and from the historical record, not from an explicit verse.
Evidence
- Quran Al-Ma'idah 5:97Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
۞ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكَعْبَةَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ قِيَٰمًۭا لِّلنَّاسِ وَٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَٱلْهَدْىَ وَٱلْقَلَٰٓئِدَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“Allah has made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, standing for the people and [has sanctified] the sacred months and the sacrificial animals and the garlands [by which they are identified]. That is so you may know that Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth and that Allah is Knowing of all things.”
"Allah has made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, standing for the people."
Open ayah 5:97 → - Quran Al-Baqarah 2:144Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
“We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.”
"So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram."
Open ayah 2:144 →