The city of Mecca is located in Western Saudi Arabia. Thousands of people visit this sacred place every day. But most Muslims gather here during the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, the great pilgrimage. About two million people wished to visit the Kaaba temple in Mecca in 2015.
Sacred Cube
Kaaba, according to the Quran, is the world's first temple built to honor Allah. According to legend, the building was laid long before the beginning of the prophecy of Muhammad, and the prophet Ibrahim finished the construction.
The Kaaba is not a masterpiece of Saudi Arabian architecture per se, outwardly it does not look rich, it is not decorated with stucco and bas-reliefs. Her appearance is that of a cube of inconspicuous gray stone, usually covered with a heavy black cloth. Lines from the Koran are embroidered with gold on the magnificent surface of silk. This veil is called kiswa and is changed once a year.
During its existence, the Sacred Cube has been rebuilt and reconstructed more than once. The temple was last fortified and renovated in 1996. Now it retains the form that it had under the Prophet Muhammad. The sacred Kaaba inside contains tablets with the names of the rulers,the times of which another reconstruction took place.
Black Stone
During the Hajj, pilgrims go around the cube 7 times and say the words of the prayer. The Black Stone was used to indicate the place from which this ritual should begin. It is noteworthy that several times the stone was stolen, which contributed to its split. Now the sacred relic is framed in silver and mounted in one of the corners of the cube. Every believer dreams of touching and kissing the Black Stone during the Hajj. According to Muslim tradition, it was originally white, but changed color as it absorbed the sins of all believers who touched it.
What's inside the Kaaba?
Millions of Muslims have seen the Holy Cube, but what is inside the Kaaba? The fact is that the entrance to the mosque is available only to a very limited circle of people, and it is not possible for ordinary pilgrims to get there. However, until some time, everyone could find out what was inside the Kaaba. Several times a week, any Muslim could pray in the temple itself.
The interior of the Sacred Cube is not luxurious. It does not have expensive fabrics, stunning stained-glass windows and murals, the walls are not inlaid with stones, as is done in other temples and mosques. Inside the Kaaba are three pillars supporting a decorative ceiling, lamps hanging from above, and a simple incense table. However, every Muslim dreams, if not to pray in the temple, then at least to touch it from the outside and offer their prayers to Allah.
Dream price
Feel the atmosphere of the Hajj, kiss the Black Stone, pay respect to Allah, find out what is inside the Kaaba - this is one of the most important desires in life for many Muslim believers. But to realize your dream, you need to make a lot of effort.
Places on the Hajj are strictly limited and allocated separately for each country in the amount of one place per 1000 Muslim believers. The cost of the trip for one person is from $ 3,000, people save up for their hajj for years. But this does not guarantee a pilgrimage - there are many more people who want to visit Mecca every year than free quotas.
Allah obligated to perform Hajj only to those who can fully provide for their family and themselves during the pilgrimage period. And people who are ready to sell their property in order to raise enough money to travel to Mecca are strictly forbidden to do so.
Muslims make a daily pilgrimage to touch the sacred relic of Islam, walk around the Kaaba and pray where the prophets prayed.
