Quraish started rebuilding Al-Ka'bah. That was because it was a low
building of white stones no more than 6.30 metreshigh, from the days
of Ishmael. It was also roofless and that gave the thieves easy access
to its treasures inside. It was also exposed to the wearing factors of
nature — because it was built a long time ago — that weakened and
cracked its walls. Five years before Prophethood, there was a great
flood in Makkah that swept towards Al-Ka'bah and almost demolished it.
Quraish was obliged to rebuildit to safeguard its holiness and
position. The chiefs of Quraish decided to use only licit money
inrebuilding Al-Ka'bah, so all moneythat derived from harlotry, usury
or unjust practices was excluded.They were, at first, too awed to
knock down the wall, but Al-Waleed bin Al-Mugheerah Al-Mukhzumi
started the work. Seeing that no harm had happened to him, the others
participated in demolishing the walls until they reached the basislaid
by Abraham. When they started rebuilding its walls, they divided the
work among the tribes. Each tribe was responsiblefor rebuilding a part
of it. The tribes collected stones and startwork. The man who laid the
stones was a Roman mason called Baqum. The work went on in harmony
till the time came to put the sacred Black Stone in its proper place.
Then strife broke out among the chiefs, and lasted for four or five
days, each contesting for the honour of placing the stone in its
position. Daggers were on the point of being drawn and great bloodshed
seemed imminent. Luckily, the oldest among the chiefs Abu Omaiyah bin
Mugheerah Al-Makhzumi made a proposal which was accepted by all. He
said: "Let him, who enters the Sanctuary first of all, decide on the
point." It was then Allâh's Will that the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be
upon him) should be the first to enter the Mosque. On seeing him, all
the people on the scene, cried with one voice: " Al-Ameen (the
trustworthy) has come. We are content to abide byhis decision." Calm
and self-possessed, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) received
thecommission and at once resolvedupon an expedient which was
toconciliate them all. He asked for amantle which he spread on the
ground and placed the stone in its centre. He then asked the
representatives of the different clans among them, to lift the stone
all together. When it had reached the proper place, Muhammad (Peace be
upon him) laid it in the proper position withhis own hands. This is
how a very tense situation was eased and a grave danger averted by the
wisdom of the Prophet (Peace be upon him).
Quraish ran short of the licit money, they collected, so they
eliminated six yards area on the northern side of Al-Ka'bah which is
called Al-Hijr or Al-Hateem. Theyraised its door two metres from the
level ground to let in only the people whom they desired. Whenthe
structure was fifteen yards high they erected the roof which rested on
six columns.
When the building of Al-Ka'bah had finished, it assumed a square form
fifteen metres high. The side with the Black Stone and the one
opposite were ten metres long each. The Black Stone was 1.50 metre
from the circumambulation level ground. The two other sides were
twelve metres long each. The door was two metres high from the level
ground. A building structure of 0.25 metre high and 0.30 metre wide on
the average surroundedAl-Ka'bah. It was called Ash-Shadherwan,
originally an integral part of the Sacred Sanctuary, but Quraish left
it out.
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