Chapter 11: The Quraish rebuilding the Ka`bah five years before the

Prophethood ﴿إ نَّ أ وَّل بـ ي ت و ض ع ل لنَّاس ل لَّذ ي ب ب كَّة م ب ار كًا و ه دًى لِّل ع ال م ني* ف يه آي ات بـ يـِّن ات مَّق ام إ بـ ر اه يم ۖ و م ن د خ ل ه ك ان آم نًا ۖ ﴾ًو ل لَّـه ع ل ى النَّاس ح جُّ ال بـ ي ت م ن اس ت ط اع إ ل ي ه س ب يال {Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and guidance for Al-`Aalameen (the mankind and jinn). In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqaam (place) of Ibraaheem; whosoever enters it, he attains security. And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka`bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision, and residence)…} [Surah aal-`Imraan (3): 96-97] It has been reported in the Saheehain from the hadith of Abu Dharr رضي اهلل عنه: I said: “O Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ! Which Masjid was first built on the surface of the earth?” He ﷺ said: ❝Al-Masjid al-Haraam (in Makkah).❞ I said: “Which was built next?” He ﷺ replied: ❝Al-Masjid al-Aqsaa (in Jerusalem).❞ I said: “What was the period of construction between the two?” He ﷺ said: ❝Forty years.❞ He ﷺ added: ❝ Wherever (you may be, and) the prayer time becomes due, perform the prayer there, for the best thing is to do so (i.e. to offer the prayers in time).❞ 63 And we (Ibn Katheer) have already mentioned this, 64 and that Masjid al-Aqsaa was built by Israaeel, i.e. Yaqoob عليه السالم.

In the Saheehain, it is reported that the Prophet said: ❝Allaah has made this town (Makkah) a sanctuary since the day He created the Heavens and the Earth. So, it is a sanctuary by Allaah’s Decree till the Day of Resurrection.❞ 65 63 sahih al-Bukhaaree (3366, 3425) and sahih Muslim (520-1 & 2) [TN: In another narration he ﷺ said: ❝Wherever the time for the prayer comes upon you, perform the prayer, for all the earth is a place of worshiping for you.❞] 64 Referring to the first volume of “al-Bidaayah wal-Nihaayah” (1/162). And see Shaikh al-Albaanee’s checking of “Fiqh al-Seerah” (1/82). 65 sahih al-Bukhaaree (1834, 3189) and sahih Muslim (1353-445), part of the hadith of Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما. In sahih al-Bukhaaree, from the hadith of Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما that the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝The first lady to use a girdle was the mother of Ismaa`eel. 66 She used a girdle so that she might hide her tracks from Saarah. Ibraaheem brought her and her son Ismaa`eel while she was suckling him, to a place near the Ka`bah under a tree on the spot of Zamzam, at the highest place in the Masjid.

During those days there was nobody in Makkah, nor was there any water. So, he made them sit over there and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates, and a small water-skin containing some water, and set out homeward. Ismaa`eel’s mother followed him saying: “O Ibraaheem! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy nor is there anything (to enjoy)?” She repeated that to him many times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him: “Has Allaah ordered you to do so?” He said: “Yes.” She said: “Then He تعالى will not neglect us”, and returned while Ibraaheem proceeded onwards, and on reaching the Thaniyah where they could not see him, he faced the Ka`bah, and raising both hands, invoked Allaah saying the following prayers: ﴿رَّبـَّن ا ِّإ ِن أ س ك نت م ن ذ رِّيَّت ب و اد غ ري ذ ي ز ر ع ع ند بـ ي ت ك ال م ح رَّم ر بـَّن ا ل ي ق يم وا الصَّال ة ف اج ع ل ًأ ف ئ د ة مِّن النَّاس تـ ه و ي إ ل ي ه م و ار ز قـ ه م مِّن الثَّم ر ات ل ع لَّه م ي ش ك ر ون﴾ {O our Lord!

I have made some of my offspring dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Your Sacred House (Ka`bah at Makkah) in order, O our Lord, that they may offer prayer perfectly. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allaah) provide them with fruits, so that they may give thanks.} [Surah Ibraaheem (14): 37] 67 66 Her name was Hajar. 67 [TN: Ibraaheem عليه السالم began his supplication, saying: ﴿ و إ ذ ق ال إ بـ ر اه يم ِّر ب اج ع ل ه ـىذ ا ال بـ ل د آم نًا و اج ن ب ن َّ و ب ن أ ن نـَّع ب د اِّل ص ن ام﴾ {And (remember) when Ibraaheem said: “O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshiping idols.”} [Surah Ibraaheem (14): 35] In his explanation of `Aqeedah al-Tahaawiyyah Shaikh al-Fawzaan, May Allaah increase his status, commented: This is one of the best sayings of the author (i.e. al-Tahaawee), Allaah have Mercy on him. For when he mentioned this great and sensitive issues (regarding Islaam, Imaan, and Kufr), he asked Allaah for steadfastness (upon His religion). That Allaah does not misguide him along with those whom He has misguided.

This (supplication) is from his (Imaam al-Tahaawee’s) understanding (of the religion) and his wisdom. A person should not be deceived by the knowledge he possesses by saying: “I know tawhid, and I know (the correct) `Aqeedah, therefore I am not in danger (of committing Shirk).” This is nothing but arrogance; rather a person should fear that he might get Ismaa`eel’s mother went on suckling Ismaa`eel and drinking from the water (she had). When the water in the water-skin had all been used up, she became thirsty and her child also became thirsty. She started looking at him (i.e. Ismaa`eel) tossing in agony; She left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of Safaa was the nearest mountain to her on that land.

She stood on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she descended from Safaa and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble, till she crossed the valley and reached the Marwah mountain where she stood and started looking, expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She repeated that (running between Safaa and Marwah) seven times.❞ The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝This is the source of the tradition of the walking of people between them (i.e. Safaa and Marwah). When she reached the Marwah (for the last time) she heard a voice and she asked herself to be quiet and listened attentively.

She heard the voice again and said: “O (whoever you may be)! You have made me hear your voice; have you got misguided or that he might have a bad/evil ending. He should fear that he might be led astray by the people of misguidance. How many good people have deviated, especially when the Fitan (trials) had increased? A man would be a Muslim in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening or he would be a Muslim in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning and would sell his faith for worldly goods as has been mentioned in the hadith (reported by Muslim in his sahih).

So, when the Fitan (trials) appears, a person should ask Allaah for steadfastness (in religion).He should not say: “I am not in danger (of committing major sins). I know (my religion) and I pray.” Yes! You might be knowledgeable and you might be praying, and all Praise is for Allaah alone; in spite of that, you are still in danger and you should fear (that you may commit some major sins). Are you better or Prophet Ibraaheem عليه السالم? For he said: ﴿ و اج ن ب ن َّ و ب ن أ ن نـَّع ب د اّلٌّص ن ام﴾ {(O Allaah!) …and keep me and my sons away from worshiping idols} Ibraaheem عليه السالم feared for himself from worshiping the idols, even though he was the one who broke the idols and shattered them with his own hands, because of which he suffered the punishment and humiliation at the hands of his people, all this for the sake of Allaah, yet he is supplicating: ﴿ و اج ن ب ن َّ و ب ن أ ن نـَّع ب د اّلٌّص ن ام﴾ {(O Allaah!) …and keep me and my sons away from worshiping idols} He did not say: “I am now saved”.

Rather, he requested Allaah to protect him and his sons from worshiping idols. A man should fear his Lord at all times. How many guided people have gone astray? And how many people have deviated from the Straight Path? How many Believers have become Kaafir and apostates?

And how many deviants have been guided by Allaah? And how many Kuffaar have become Muslims? Verily, the matter is in the Hands of Allaah, He guides whom He Wills. [Sharh `Aqeedah al-Tahaawiyyah (pg. 161)]] something to help me?” And behold! She saw an Angel at the place of Zamzam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing), till water flowed from that place. She started to make something like a basin around it, using her hand in this way, and started filling her water-skin with water with her hands, and the water was flowing out after she had scooped some of it.❞ The Prophet ﷺ added: ❝May Allaah bestow Mercy on Ismaa`eel’s mother!

Had she let the Zamzam (flow without trying to control it) (or had she not scooped from that water) (to fill her water-skin), Zamzam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the earth.❞ The Prophet ﷺ further added: ❝Then she drank (water) and suckled her child. The Angel said to her: “Don’t be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allaah which will be built by this boy and his father, and Allaah never neglects His people.” The House (i.e. Ka`bah) at that time was on a high place resembling a hillock, and when torrents came, they flowed to its right and left. She lived in that way till some people from the tribe of Jurhum or a family from Jurhum passed by her and her child, as they (i.e. the Jurhum people) were coming through the way of Kadaa’. They landed in the lower part of Mecca where they saw a bird that had the habit of flying around water and not leaving it.

They said: “This bird must be flying around water, though we know that there is no water in this valley.” They sent one or two messengers who discovered the source of water and returned to inform them of the water. So, they all came (towards the water).❞ The Prophet ﷺ added: ❝Ismaa`eel’s mother was sitting near the water. They asked her: “Do you allow us to stay with you?” She replied: “Yes, but you will have no right to possess the water.” They agreed to that.❞ The Prophet ﷺ further said: ❝Ismaa`eel’s mother was pleased with the whole situation as she used to love to enjoy the company of the people. So, they settled there, and later on they sent for their families who came and settled with them so that some families became permanent residents there. The child (i.e.

Ismaa`eel) grew up and learned Arabic from them and (his virtues) caused them to love and admire him as he grew up, and when he reached the age of puberty they made him marry a woman from amongst them. After Ismaa`eel’s mother had died Ibraaheem came after Ismaa`eel’s marriage in order to see his family that he had left before, but he did not find Ismaa`eel there. When he asked Ismaa`eel’s wife about him, she replied: “He has gone in search of our livelihood.” Then he asked her about their way of living and their condition, and she replied: “We are living in misery; we are living in hardship and destitution”, complaining to him. He said: “When your husband returns, convey my salutation to him and tell him to change the threshold of the gate (of his house).” When Ismaa`eel came, he seemed to have felt something unusual, so he asked his wife: “Has anyone visited you?” She replied: “Yes, an old man of so-and-so description came and asked me about you and I informed him, and he asked about our state of living, and I told him that we were living in a hardship and poverty.” On that Ismaa`eel said: “Did he advise you anything?” She replied: “Yes, he told me to convey his salutation to you and to tell you to change the threshold of your gate.” Ismaa`eel said: “It was my father, and he has ordered me to divorce you. Go back to your family.” So, Ismaa`eel divorced her and married another woman from amongst them (i.e.

Jurhum). Then Ibraaheem stayed away from them for a period as long as Allaah wished and called on them again but did not find Ismaa`eel. So he came to Ismaa`eel’s wife and asked her about Ismaa`eel. She said: “He has gone in search of our livelihood.” Ibraaheem asked her: “How are you getting on?” asking her about their sustenance and living. She replied: “We are prosperous and well-off (i.e. we have everything in abundance)”, then she thanked Allaah.

Ibraaheem said: “What kind of food do you eat?” She said: “Meat.” He said: “What do you drink?” She said: “Water.” He said: “O Allaah! Bless their meat and water.❞ The Prophet ﷺ added: ❝At that time they did not have grain, and if they had grain, he would have also invoked Allaah to bless it.❞ The Prophet ﷺ added: ❝If somebody has only these two things as his sustenance, his health and disposition will be badly affected, unless he lives in Makkah.❞ The Prophet ﷺ added: ❝Then Ibraaheem said to Ismaa`eel’s wife: “When your husband comes, give my regards to him and tell him that he should keep firm the threshold of his gate.” When Ismaa`eel came back, he asked his wife: “Did anyone call on you?” She replied: “Yes, a good-looking old man came to me”, so she praised him and added: “He asked about you, and I informed him, and he asked about our livelihood and I told him that we were in a good condition.” Ismaa`eel asked her: “Did he give you any piece of advice?” She said: “Yes, he told me to give his regards to you and ordered that you should keep firm the threshold of your gate.” On that Ismaa`eel said: “It was my father, and you are the threshold (of the gate). He has ordered me to keep you with me.” Then Ibraaheem stayed away from them for a period as long as Allaah wished, and called on them afterwards. He saw Ismaa`eel under a tree near Zamzam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Ibraaheem, he rose up to welcome him (and they greeted each other as a father does with his son or a son does with his father).

Ibraaheem said: “O Ismaa`eel! Allaah has given me an order.” Ismaa`eel said: “Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.” Ibraaheem asked: “Will you help me?” Ismaa`eel said: “I will help you.” Ibraaheem said: “Allaah has ordered me to build a house here”, pointing to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it.❞ The Prophet ﷺ added: ❝Then they raised the foundations of the House (i.e. the Ka`bah). Ismaa`eel brought the stones and Ibraaheem was building, and when the walls became high, Ismaa`eel brought this stone and put it for Ibraaheem who stood over it 68 and carried on building, while Ismaa`eel was handing him the stones, and both of them were saying: 68 [TN: The stone on which Ibraaheem عليه السالم stood is known as “Maqaam Ibraaheem” (the station of Ibraaheem). ﴿ر بـَّن ا تـ ق بَّل م نَّا ۖ ﴾ إ نَّك أ نت السَّم يع ال ع ل يم {O our Lord! Accept (this service) from us, Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the AllKnowing.} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 127] The Prophet ﷺ added: ❝Then both of them went on building and going round the Ka`bah saying: {O our Lord! Accept (this service) from us, Verily, You are the AllHearing, the All-Knowing.}❞ 69 Ibn Jareer narrated that regarding the statement of Allaah: {And (O people), take you the Maqaam of Ibraaheem as a place of prayer (for some of your prayers, e.g. two Rak`ah after the Tawaaf of the Ka`bah at Makkah)} [Surah al-Baqarah (2):125].

Qataadah رمحه اهلل said: “This means that the people were commanded to pray at that place; they were not commanded to touch it. But this Ummah went beyond what was prescribed for it, to an extent that no previous nation did. We have heard from those who saw the marks of his heels and toes on it, but this Ummah kept touching them until they disappeared.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer (1/417)]] 69 sahih al-Bukhaaree (3364) Shaikh al-Albaanee said: Know O dear readers! The author (Ibn Katheer) did not mention this hadith here. He only made a reference to it saying that he had already mentioned it in the story of Ibraaheem عليه السالم in the “alBidaayah wal-Nihaayah” (1/154-155).

But I (al-Albaanee) saw it appropriate to mention it here for the benefits it contains. And the Prophet’s ﷺ statement: ❝The House (i.e. Ka`bah) at that time was on a high place…❞, means that it was already built before Ibraaheem عليه السالم and al-Haafidh (Ibn Hajar) mentioned a few statements (of the Salaf in “al-Fath”) which supports this, and the author (Ibn Katheer) also referred to them here, as well as in “al-Bidaayah wal-Nihaayah”, and said: “It is from Israailiyyaat (narrations originating from Jewish and Christian traditions)”, and further added: “and they are not authentic. The apparent meaning of the Qur’aan is that it was Ibraaheem عليه السالم who was the first one to build it and the first one to lay its foundation; and before that, it was only a raised piece (of land), venerated throughout the ages.” I (al-Albaanee) say: As for its construction, then it is confirmed (that it was built by Ibraaheem and Ismaa`eel عليهم السالم), but that does not negate that it could have been built upon the foundation which was there from before. Rather, it has been clearly mentioned in one of the narrations reported by Imaam Ahmad: “The foundations on which Ibraaheem raised (the House) were there from before.” [TN: This last narration which Shaikh al-Albaanee is referring to, that the foundation was from before and that it was reported by Imaam Ahmad, is in fact not found in his Musnad.

Rather, it is found in the Tafseer of al-Tabaree (3/58) as a statement of Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما. This is a mawquf narration (i.e. which stops at a Companion without reaching the Prophet ﷺ). Moreover, what is authentically reported in the Musnad and the Saheehain that the Prophet ﷺ said to `Aaishah رضي اهلل عنها: ❝Don’t you see that when your people built the Ka'bah, they reduced (its area with the result that it no longer remains) on the foundations laid by Ibraaheem?❞ [sahih al-Bukhaaree (1583, 1584, 1585, 1586, 3368, 4484, 7243) and sahih Muslim (1333-399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405)] Abu Dawood al-Tayaalisee reported that `Alee رضي اهلل عنه said: ❝After (the tribe of) Jurhum, when the Ka`bah got damaged (by the floods), the Quraish took the task to rebuild the Ka`bah. When the time came to place al-Hajar (al-Aswad) [the Black Stone] Furthermore, in al-Dha`eefah (6411), Shaikh al-Albaanee said the opposite of what he mentioned here. After mentioning the hadith in which it is said that when Aadam عليه السالم was expelled from the Jannah, he faced the Ka`bah and supplicated (indicating that the Ka`bah was already there before Aadam عليه السالم); Shaikh al-Albaanee graded this narration as “Munkar” (Rejected).

The Shaikh further commented, saying: “There is no doubt that this hadith is “Mu`dhal” (perplexing), and it also opposes the Qur’aanic evidence: ﴿ و إ ذ يـ ر ف ع إ بـ ر اه يم ال ق و اع د م ن ال بـ ي ت و إ ْس اع يل﴾ {And (remember) when Ibraaheem and (his son) Ismaa`eel were raising the foundations of the House…} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 127] As for what has been mentioned in some of the Aathaar (narrations of the Companions and their followers): “The foundation was already there before them (Ibraaheem and Ismaa`eel عليهم السالم), [then it was later destroyed by floods], so they rebuilt the House on top of this foundation”, there is no Textual evidence to support this claim, because these are only statements (which either stop at a Companion or a Taabi`ee) and there is nothing reported from the Prophet ﷺ except for this rejected narration, which is reported in “Taareekh Ibn `Asaakir” and “Tafseer al-Tabaree” and other books, and (its weakness) is evident to those who have studied its chain (of narration), as well as due to its opposition to the Aayah, which is mentioned above. Then I (al-Albaanee) saw that al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer also mentioned the same in his book, “al-Bidaayah” (1/163). He (Ibn Katheer) said: “There is no authentic report from the Prophet ﷺ substantiating that the house was already built before the Khaleel (Ibraaheem). As for those who clung to the statement of Allaah: ﴿ م ك ان ال بـ ي ت﴾ {the site of the (Sacred) House} [Surah al-Hajj (22): 26] Then there is nothing (in this Aayah) which clearly or supposedly (supports this claim). This is because the Text means: ‘the designated place’, i.e. ‘Allaah showed Ibraaheem the site of the Ka`bah as specified and predestined by the Knowledge of Allaah and His Decree, and the place which all the Prophets – from Aadam to Ibraaheem – venerated.’ And we (Ibn Katheer) already mentioned that the narrations that: Aadam عليه السالم had constructed a dome over it; and that the Angels informed him: ‘We have made Tawaaf (circumambulation) of this House before you’; and that the ship (of Nooh عليه السالم) circumambulated it for forty days.

However, narrations of this nature are all Israailiyyaat (narrations originating from the Children of Israaeel). It is stated that such narrations are neither trusted nor belied, so that they cannot stand as evidence. However, if such narrations are contradicted by what is established as the truth, they must be rejected.” [Al-Dha`eefah (13/927). See also al-Dha`eefah (1106 & 6411)] Some of the scholars who said that the foundation was first laid by Ibraaheem عليه السالم are, Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn alQayyim, Ibn Katheer, Ibn al-`Uthaymeen and the Fatwa of the Lajna (26/413).] in its proper place, strife broke out among them as to who will (have the honor) to do so. They then agreed that the next person who will enter through this gate (of the Haram) will get to decide.

Thereupon, it was the Prophet ﷺ who entered from the gate of Banee Shaibah. He ﷺ asked for a mantle which he spread on the ground and placed the Stone in its center. He ﷺ then asked the representatives of the different clans among them to lift the stone altogether. (When it had reached its designated area), the Prophet ﷺ placed it in the designated position (with his own hands).❞ 70 Imaam Ahmad reported from Mujaahid that al-Saaib Ibn `Abdullaah رضي اهلل عنه informed him that he was one of those who had participated in the reconstruction of the Ka`bah in the Jaahiliyyah (days of ignorance). He (al-Saaib) said: ❝I had a stone which I sculpted with my own hands.

I used to worship it instead of Allaah تبارك وتعاىل.❞ He added: ❝I used to give precedence to it over me and used to pour curd milk over it. A dog used to lick the curd milk and then used to urinate over it.❞ He added: ❝We were constructed (the Ka`bah) till we reached the place of al-Hajar (al-Aswad), and no one could locate where it was. There it was in the midst of our stones (idols) looking like a head of a man. One of the clans of Quraish said: ‘We will put the Stone in its place.’ Others said that they wanted to do it. They said: ‘Appoint an arbitrator amongst you.’ They said: ‘The first person who comes through this route (will be the arbitrator).’ It was the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ (who happened to enter through that route).

They said: ‘Al-Ameen (the trustworthy) has come to you.’ He was informed about it, (so he asked for a mantle) and placed the Stone over it and asked the representatives (of each clan) and they lifted the mantle till it reached the level of its designated place, then he ﷺ placed it (with his own hands).❞ 71 I (Ibn Katheer) say: They (the Quraish) eliminated six or seven yards area in the direction of Syria (i.e. on the northern side of the Ka`bah) which is called al-Hijr (or al-Hateem) because they ran short of (lawful) money. So, they were not able to reconstruct the Ka`bah according to the foundation laid by Ibraaheem عليه السالم. They kept only one door which is to the eastern side of the Ka`bah (and eliminated the other door), and they raised this door (two meters from the ground level) so that not everyone could enter. 70 Musnad Abu Dawood al-Tayaalisee (115); I (al-Albaanee) say: the chain of this narration is “Hasan” at the very least due to what is reported in the next narration. Al-Haakim also narrated a similar narration in his “alMustadrak” (1684) and said that it is “sahih” as per the condition of Imaam Muslim, and al-Dhahabee agreed with him. 71 I (al-Albaanee) say: The chain of this narration is “Hasan”, except for the difference of opinion regarding Hilaal Ibn Khabbaab, al-Haithmai said: ‘he is “reliable” but some spoke against him, the rest of the narrators are of the level of “sahih”.’ See also “Fiqh al-Seerah” (1/84). They allowed only the people they desired and prevented those whom they did not desire to enter.

In the Saheehain it is reported hadith of `Aaishah رضي اهلل عنها that she asked the Prophet ﷺ about the wall (outside the Ka`bah): “Is it regarded as part of the Ka`bah?” He ﷺ replied: ❝Yes.❞ I said: “Then why didn't the people include it in the Ka`bah?” He ﷺ said: ❝(Because) your people ran short of money.❞ I asked: “And why is its gate so high?” He ﷺ replied: ❝Your people did so in order to admit to it whom they would and forbid whom they would. Were your people not still close to the period of ignorance, and were I not afraid that their hearts might deny my action, then surely I would include the wall in the Ka`bah and make its gate touch the ground.❞ 72 This is why when Ibn Zubair رضي اهلل عنه rebuilt the Ka`bah in accordance with the Prophet’s ﷺ description, with extreme beauty and splendor, which was based on the foundations laid by Ibraaheem عليه السالم, having two doors, one facing the east and the other facing the west, one door for the entrance and the other for the exit, and brought the doors down to the level of the ground. When al-Hajjaaj killed ibn Zubair رضي اهلل عنه, he (al-Hajjaaj) wrote to `Abdul Malik Ibn Marwaan – who was the Khaleefah at that time – stating the changes made by Ibn Zubair to the Ka`bah. They believed that he made the changes on his own accord. So he (`Abdul Malik) ordered that the Ka`bah should be returned to its previous shape, and to this day it is like that. 73 We (Ibn Katheer) have mentioned the story of the construction of the House and the Ahaadeeth regarding it in our Tafseer of Surah al-Baqarah, in the saying of Allaah تعاىل: ﴿ و إ ذ يـ ر ف ع إ بـ ر اه يم ال ق و اع د م ن ال بـ ي ت و إ ْس اع يل﴾ {And (remember) when Ibraaheem and (his son) Ismaa`eel were raising the foundations of the House…} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 127] We have discussed this in great details over there, whoever wishes can refer to it. And all praise is for Allaah alone. 72 [sahih al-Bukhaaree (1583, 1584, 1585, 1586, 3368, 4484, 7243) and sahih Muslim (1333-399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405)] 73 This is also reported in sahih Muslim (1333-402, 403)