adopted by Islām. Hence it is clear that ḥajj was a recognized institution of Islām in the first year of Hijirah. In fact, ḥajj was instituted before the Hijrah took place, and while the Holy Prophet was still in Makkah. The chapter entitled al-Ḥajj was revealed towards the close of the Holy Prophet’s career at Makkah4 and it was in this chapter that ḥajj was proclaimed to be an institution of Islām: “And proclaim to men the ḥajj (pilgrimage):5 they will come to thee on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path, that they may witness benefits (provided) for them and mention the name of Allāh on appointed days over what He has given them of the cattle quadrupeds, then eat of them and feed the distressed one, the needy. Then let them accomplish their needful acts of cleansing, and let them fulfil their vows and go round the Ancient House” (22 :27-29). These verses leave not the least doubt that ḥajj was ordained as an Islamic institution before the Hijrah.

Description of the Ka‘bah

As the chief features of the ḥajj centre round the Ka‘bah, something must be said about this building and its name. The root-word Ka‘ba means it swelled or became prominent (LL), or it became high and exalted (‘alā-wa-rtafa‘a) (N.) and the Sacred House is called Ka‘bah on account of its glory and exaltation (N.). The Ka‘bah is a rectangular building, almost in the centre of the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Ḥarām), whereof the front and back walls (north-east and south-west) are each 40 feet in length, and the two side-walls 35 feet each, the height being 50 feet, the four walls running north-west, north-east, south-west and south-east.

The four corners of the building are known by four different names, the north corner as al-rukn al-‘Irāqī (after ‘Irāq), the south corner as al-rukn al-Yamanī (after Yemen), the west corner as al-rukn al-Shāmī (after Shām or Syria) and the east corner as al-rukn al-Aswad (after the Ḥajar al-Aswad, or the Black Stone). The four walls of the Ka‘bah are covered with a black curtain called Kiswah (lit.; clothing). The door of the Ka‘bah is in the northeast wall, about seven feet from the ground, not in the middle of the wall but nearer the Black Stone. When the Ka‘bah is opened, a stair-case is placed in front of it to enable the