Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

[ xix ] The approximately cube-shaped most holy shrine of I slam , regarded particularly as the House of God, and situated in the centre of Mecca within a sacred enclosure, the Haram, where special T abus operate and from which unbelievers are excluded. It clearly existed before the coming of Islam, and Muslim tradition traces it back to the time of Abraham and Ishmael; it was cleansed of its idols by the Prophet M uhammad and made the focal point of his new religion, Islam, one to which pilgrimage is required by the S hari'a. In the eastern corner of the Ka'ba is set the Black Stone, a special object of veneration by pilgrims, who make a ritual circumambulation of the Ka'ba as part of the pilgrimage rites. The whole shrine is covered by a richly woven covering, the kiswa , traditionally provided by the ruling power in Egypt. In the courtyard of the Ka'ba is the well Zamzam, whose water has a special charisma for pilgims. [38 s.v. ; 47] ... log in or subscribe to read full text