When was the Ka'bah built, who raised its foundations, and why was it given this name?
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The questioner : The listener Abdullah says in his second question: When was the Ka'bah built, who raised its foundations, and why was it given this name?
The Shaykh : Yes. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said:[Al-Baqarah 2:127] So it was Ibrahim (peace be upon him) who built the Ka'bah and raised its foundations with the participation of his son Isma'il (peace and blessings be upon them both). It has come in some reports that the Ka'bah was built in the time of Adam (peace be upon him), but it was destroyed and collapsed, and then Ibrahim renewed its construction. Allah knows best.
As for why it is called the Ka'bah, it is because it is a square structure, and every square structure has four corners and is called a Ka'bah. Allah the Exalted attributed this House to Himself, saying (Exalted and Majestic is He):[Al-Hajj 22:26] And Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, made it obligatory for His servants to face it in their prayers and made it obligatory for them to perform Hajj to it once in a lifetime.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Yes. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said:
And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael
وَإِذ يَرفَعُ إِبراهيمُ القَواعِدَ مِنَ البَيتِ وَإِسماعيلُAs for why it is called the Ka'bah, it is because it is a square structure, and every square structure has four corners and is called a Ka'bah. Allah the Exalted attributed this House to Himself, saying (Exalted and Majestic is He):
And [mention, O Muhammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.
وَإِذ بَوَّأنا لِإِبراهيمَ مَكانَ البَيتِ أَن لا تُشرِك بي شَيئًا وَطَهِّر بَيتِيَ لِلطّائِفينَ وَالقائِمينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجودِThe questioner : May Allah bless you.