So, to be upfront, I haven’t been inside the Kaaba myself. But given its significance and the curiosity that surrounds it, I’ve done a fair bit of reading on the subject.
First, for those who may not know, the Kaaba is the most sacred site in Islam. It's this cube-shaped building at the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and it’s a focal point for Islamic worship worldwide—Muslims around the globe face it during their five daily prayers.
Inside the Kaaba, the ambiance is meant to be austere. It's not decked out with flamboyance. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The interior walls are clad in white marble on the lower half, and the upper half is covered with green cloth decorated with Quranic verses in gold. There's not much else in terms of decoration or furniture, staying true to the Islamic principles of simplicity.
The space inside the Kaaba is modest—roughly 13x9 meters and about 11 meters high. In the corner of the room, you'll find the "Rukn al-Yamani," which is the only corner of the Kaaba that is not covered by the “kiswa” (the cloth that covers the Kaaba). It's an uncarved stone that's believed to be from the original structure built by Abraham and Ishmael.
Another notable feature is the "Hajar al-Aswad," or the Black Stone. It’s set in the eastern corner of the Kaaba. However, strictly speaking, the stone isn't inside; it’s embedded in the exterior wall, but it’s so integral to the structure that any conversation about what's "in" the Kaaba feels incomplete without mentioning it.
There's a small table or stand for the placement of perfumes, and above that, there's a rare, green lamp of sorts. On the upper sidewalls, there are also small lamps, which kind of look like ornate, old-school street lamps.
And let’s not forget—the Kaaba has its own “key keeper,” a role passed down within a specific family for generations. There's this beautiful ceremonial reverence every time the Kaaba is opened or closed.
The door of the Kaaba, which stands around two meters above the ground, is now made of solid gold. It was gifted by a king and isn't the original door, which was much humbler.
Access to the Kaaba is extremely limited. It's not part of the regular pilgrimage rituals, and it's typically only entered twice a year for a ceremonial cleaning, which is carried out by a select group that includes the custodians and various dignitaries.
So there you have it. Despite its grandeur and the massive, bustling crowds that it attracts from the outside, the Kaaba’s interior remains a beacon of simplicity and peace.
(And hey, if you're from Portland like me, and fascinated by the Kaaba, the library downtown has some great books on Islamic architecture that dive even deeper into this subject.)
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