Enter Kaabah

Aa'isha r.anha says: 'I very much wanted to enter the Kaaba to perform salaat inside it. Rasulullah s.a.w then took me by the hand and said: 'Perform the salaat you desire in this hateem for verily your people, the Quraish left this section of the Kaaba outside it when they rebuilt the Kaaba.

It is mustahab to enter the Kaaba. This is one of the places where duaa is accepted and answered. However, it is never permissible for anyone to enter through the giving of bribes. When the Quraish rebuilt the Kaaba they lifted the roof quite high and raised the door so high that one cannot enter the Kaaba without a staircase. Rasulullah s.a.w wanted to rebuild the Kaaba according to the same plan as it had been before. Hence he said to Aa'isha r.anha: 'These Arabs have only recently entered Islam; It is possible that their feelings may become roused and sentiments excited, as a result of the demolition of the Kaaba; if it was not for this I would rebuilt the Kaaba, and I would have included the hateem in the Kaaba: and I would have made two doors. One from which people could enter and leave from the other; and I would have lowered the door of the Kaaba to the ground: 'Your people raised the door of the Kaaba so that they admit only these whom they prefer.'

According to another hadith Rasulullah s.a.w said to Aa'isha r.anha: 'Your people did not do the roper thing when erecting the Kaaba, if we were not so near to the times of disbelief, I would again include this section into the Kaaba; the section they have left outside; rebuilt, this should be included. Rasulullah s.a.w then measured off a further seven feet'. This was the cause of Abdullah bin Zubair r.a increasing the size of the Kaaba when he rebuilt it. So actually Ibn Zubair r.a accomplished what Rasulullah s.a.w himself had desired. Later under Abdul Malik bin Marwaan , Hijjaaj had the Kaaba restored to its pre-Islamic structure.

No matter what niyyat prompted Hajjaj, one can to day still feel thankful that it is made so easy for anyone who wishes to be inside the Kaaba. No bribe to be given to enter into the hateem. Here one may enter at any time to his heart delight, pray there and make his special supplication to Allah. Being in the hateem, means being inside the Kaaba. For this reason Rasulullah s.a.w told Aa'isha r.anha to say her prayers here. Further, it becomes exceedingly difficult for females to enter the Kaaba. This hateem simplifies matters for them. Be very careful of your conduct inside the Kaaba. The ulama have stated that on entering the Kaaba, one's conduct should be one of utmost respect, upholding the great dignity of the place. It is best to go bare feet without socks, and to bath before entry. It is best to enter with great humility and to enter crying, with tears streaming down.

One saintly man was once asked: 'Did you ever enter the Kaaba? He said: "I do not consider my feet worthy of being allowed to walk around the Holy House of my Lord, so how can, consider them worthy of entering his Holy House? I know where these two have been going and coming, and I also know for which bad intentions they went." (Ithaaf)

Ghalib the poet said:
'With what face O Ghalib, shall you appear before the Kaaba. Have you no shame no fear.'

Some ulama (e.g. Nawawi and Ithaaf) have laid great emphasis on the following two points against which people entering the Kaaba should watch. Firstly there is a ring on the wall opposite the door of the Kaaba. Ignorant ones have called it the Urwatul Wuthqa- the handle of strength. Having touched it they considered themselves 'possessors of the strong handle' which is pure nonsense. Secondly there is a peg in the center of the floor of the Ka'ba. This has been called the 'navel of the earth', by ignorant people. On entering the Ka'ba they used to rub their navels against it. This too is pure nonsense and ignorance.

- From Fadhail Hajj by Maulana Zakariya rah.