The Corners of the Kaaba
The Kaaba, a revered structure in Islam, contains four corners, each corresponding to one of the cardinal directions (North, South, East, and West), with slight deviations. These corners are as follows:
The Iraqi Corner
The Iraqi corner faces north and is named as such because it points toward the land of Iraq. It is also referred to as the northern corner. The distance between the Black Stone and the Iraqi corner is fifty-four cubits.
The Sham Corner
The Sham corner faces west and is named because it directs towards the region of Greater Syria. It is not a Sunnah to touch or point to the Sham and Iraqi corners, as they do not signify the endpoints of the Kaaba. There is no recorded action of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) concerning either corner.
The Yemeni Corner
The Yemeni corner faces south, named so due to its orientation towards Yemen. This corner is the last encountered by pilgrims during their rituals among the four corners. A Sunnah during Tawaf is to touch the Yemeni corner without kissing it, while reciting: “Our Lord, grant us in this world a good and in the Hereafter a good and save us from the punishment of the Fire.”
During Tawaf, pilgrims may touch the Yemeni corner at the beginning of each circuit, saying, “In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest.” If they are unable to reach it, they should proceed without pointing or calling out, as this practice was not reported from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Touching the Yemeni corner is believed to atone for sins, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “The act of touching the Black Stone and the Yemeni corner eliminates sins.”
The Black Stone Corner
The Black Stone corner faces east, named after the Black Stone embedded in it. It rests upon the foundations established by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). The Tawaf starts from the Black Stone, following the actions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Pilgrims touch the Black Stone with their hands and may kiss it while saying, “Allah is the Greatest.” If they cannot kiss it, they may touch it with their hands; if that’s not feasible, they can point towards it from a distance and say “Allah is the Greatest.”
The Black Stone is described as a heavenly stone sent by Allah (Exalted be He). According to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “The Black Stone descended from paradise and was whiter than milk, but it became blackened by the sins of the children of Adam.” This signifies that the stone was pure when it descended, becoming dark due to human transgressions.
Muslims touch and kiss the Black Stone as an act of emulation of the Prophet’s actions. Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) would touch and kiss the Black Stone, saying: “By Allah, I am kissing you, and I know you are just a stone that neither benefits nor harms. Were it not for seeing the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kiss you, I would not have kissed you.” This statement illustrates the deep faith and dedication of the early companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The Maqam Ibrahim, a notable stone, was the spot where Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) stood while constructing the Kaaba. Allah says: “And when Ibrahim was raising the foundations of the House, and (his son) Ismail (peace be upon him) was with him. O our Lord, accept this from us; You are All-Hearing and All-Knowing.” The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) narrated the story of Ibrahim and Ismail (peace be upon them) in building the Kaaba, highlighting Allah’s preference for the Maqam Ibrahim as a place of prayer. Allah commanded: “And take the Maqam of Ibrahim as a place of prayer.”
The Significance of the Kaaba
The Kaaba holds the distinction of being the first house established on Earth for the worship of Allah (Exalted be He). As mentioned in the Quran: “Indeed, the first house established for mankind was that at Bakkah (Mecca), blessed and a guidance for the worlds.” It serves as the qibla (direction) for Muslims and is one of the sacred mosques towards which people travel.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “Journey is not to be undertaken except to three mosques: this mosque of mine, the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram), and Al-Aqsa Mosque.” The Kaaba is referred to as “Al-Kaaba” due to its cube-like shape. Many pre-Islamic Arabs constructed their homes in circular forms in reverence of the Kaaba.