visitors to reach the entrance. Outside the building is an open space, called al-Ḥijr (lit., prohibited), marked by a semi-circular wall three feet high, running opposite the north-west wall of the Ka‘bah, the two ends of this wall being about six feet distant from the north and west corners of the Ka‘bah, and the central part about 37 feet from the wall. This part is also called al-Ḥaṭim (from ḥāṭama meaning it crushed), though Ibn ‘Abbās is reported as saying that it should not be called by that name, as this name was given to it in the days of Ignorance, and carried with it the superstitious association of throwing there one’s whip or shoe at the time of taking an oath (Bu. 63 :27). For the purpose of making circuits, the Ḥijr is included in the building. There are ḥadīth showing that the Ḥijr was considered by the Holy Prophet to be part of the building of the Ka‘bah (Bu. 25:42; M. 15:66). It was for this reason that ‘Abd Allāh ibn Zubair included it in the building proper, but it was again left an open space when the Ka‘bah was rebuilt after him by Ḥajjāj.
In the east corner at the height of about five feet is the Ḥajar al-Aswad (lit.; the Black Stone) built into the wall. It is of a reddish black colour about eight inches in diameter, and is now broken into pieces held together by a silver band. The Maqām Ibrāhīm must also be mentioned in connection with the Ka‘bah. It means “the place of Abraham,” and the name is given to a very small building within the Sacred Mosque, about five feet square, supported on six columns eight feet high. This name, handed down from antiquity from one generation to another, is a decided proof of the connection of Abraham with the Ka‘bah, and attention is drawn to this in the Holy Qur’ān in 3:97. But in 2:125, the words Maqām Ibrāhīm are used for the Sacred House itself.
The Ka‘bah is stated in the Holy Qur’ān to be “the first House (of Divine worship) appointed for men” (3:96), In one place it is called al-Bait al-‘Atīq or the Ancient House (22:29). It is also called al-Bait al-Ḥarām (5:97), or al-Muḥarram (14:37) which carries the same significance as al-Ḥarām, both meaning originally al-mamnū‘ min-hu or that which is forbidden; in other words, a place whereof the sanctity must not be