Kaaba (Interior) - Madain Project (en)

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Kaaba (Interior) By the Editors of the Madain Project

The interior of Kabah (داخل الكعبة), also spelled Kaaba, is relatively simpler as compared to the rest of the mosque complex. Most recently the interior of the Ka'bah was renovated in 1996 CE. The area of the Kaaba's interior is about 180 square meters. It holds no specific ritualistic function in Islam, but its historical and spiritual significance stems from its association with Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Ismail, and the early Islamic period, as well as its role in the conquest of Mecca by Prophet Muhammad in 630 CE.

Contents Hide / Show

Overview
Architectural Features
- Bāb al-Tawbah
- Ceiling and the Fabric Trimming
- Wooden Pillars
- Incense Table Closet
- Prophet Muhammad's Prayer Spot
- Inscribed Plaques
- Walls
Architectural Model
Gallery
Recommended Books
See Also
References

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APA (7th Ed.) Kaaba (Interior). Madainproject.com. (2019). Editors, Retrieved on March 07, 2026, from https://madainproject.com/kabah_(interior) Intext citation: ("Kaaba (Interior) - Madain Project (en)", 2019) MLA (8th Ed.) Kaaba (Interior). Madainproject.com, 2019, https://madainproject.com/kabah_(interior). Accessed 07 March 2026. Intext citation: ("Kaaba (Interior) - Madain Project (en)") Chicago "Kaaba (Interior)." 2019. Madain Project. https://madainproject.com/kabah_(interior). Intext citation: ("Kaaba (Interior) - Madain Project (en)")

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Overview

The Interior of the Holy Kaaba refers to the sacred, enclosed space within the Kaaba, the cubic structure located at the center of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Unlike the widely recognized exterior, which is adorned with the black Kiswah (silk covering), the interior remains unseen by the vast majority of Muslims, as it is only accessible to a select few on rare occasions. The interior is simple yet deeply revered, featuring white marble walls, three wooden pillars supporting a double-layered roof, a staircase leading to the ceiling, and gold and silver hanging lanterns gifted by various Islamic rulers.

The wall directly opposite to the entrance of the Kaaba has six tablets inlaid with inscriptions, and there are two more tablets along the wall adjacent to the entrance. A small altar or table set between one and the other two. The interior walls, measuring 13 meters (43 feet) by 9 meters (30 feet), are clad with tiled, white marble halfway to the roof, with darker trimmings along the floor.

circa 600 CE

The interior of the Kaaba is a polygon, due to the stair-well in the northern corner, which allows access to the roof. The roof is supported by three wooden pillars. The main entrance to the Kabah is directly in the background, some of the older lamps hanging and the door to the stairs to the extreme left. Lamp-like objects (lanterns or the incense burners) hang from the ceiling. Caretakers anoint the marble cladding with the same scented oil used to anoint the Black Stone outside.

Inside the Kaaba, several gold and silver lamps (lanterns) hang from the ceiling. These lanterns were historically lit with oil but are now symbolic rather than functional. They have been gifted by various rulers and wealthy benefactors throughout Islamic history. Some of these lamps bear inscriptions of Quranic verses and names of rulers who commissioned them. These additions, while decorative, also serve as reminders of the reverence Muslims have for the Kaaba.

Architectural Features

circa 600 CE

Bāb al-Tawbah A golden door (gold-pleated), known as the bāb al-tawbah (باب التوبة, also romanized as Baabut Taubah, literally meaning the "Door of Repentance"), located to the right of the main entrance in the north-eastern corner of the Kaaba, opens to an enclosed staircase that leads to a hatch, which itself opens on to the roof. Historically and traditionally the staircase was made of wood (ladder) but has been replaced in modern times with a more durable metal structure. The door to the staircase is locked and only opened on rare occasions, such as during the ceremonial cleaning of the Kaaba (changed twice a year) and changing of Kiswah ceremony once a year, by Saudi authorities. To the left of the door a plaque notes the repairs made during the era of al-Malik Khalid bin 'Abdulaziz al-Saud, in the year 1978 CE.

circa 600 CE

Ceiling and the Fabric Trimming The ceiling of the Kaaba consists of two layers—an inner wooden roof and an outer roof, both supported by the three wooden pillars. The inner roof is decorated with an embroidered silk lining, similar to the one found on the upper walls. The Kaaba’s roof was historically accessible through a staircase, which was later replaced with a fixed ladder.

The ceiling and the upper half of the walls are trimmed with green fabric bearing inscriptions in Arabic. itself is of a darker colour, similar in hue to the lower trimming. The floor of the Kaaba is made of marble, most which is white while some of it is colored. The walls of the Kaaba's interior are made of colorful and emblazoned marble.

circa 600 CE

Wooden Pillars Three pillars (some erroneously report two) stand inside the Kaaba. The three wooden columns of the Kaaba hold the lower level of the ceiling. Each column has a squared wooden base (inspect). The half-column above the square abase is of fluted order, and rest of the top is plain. The perimeter of each column is around 150 centimeters while the diameter is 44 centimeters. Each pillar is relatively thick and evenly spaced, running from the floor to the ceiling. These pillars, dark brown in colour, are made of sandalwood (one of the strongest types of wood) and have been treated with a perfume mixture over the years, giving the interior a distinctive fragrance.

The columns of the Kaaba have been replaced multiple times throughout history, with the current ones dating back to the late late 20th century CE, installed during a major restoration in 1980-1990s CE. Some of the previous columns are now preserved and displayed in the Two Holy Mosques' Exhibition museum of Mecca including part of a burnt column which dates back to the prophet's companion 'Abdullah bin Zubair's time (circe seventh century CE).

circa 600 CE

Incense Table Closet A small white-golden table or platform is usually placed between the south and center pillars. This structure is said to be used for placing perfume and incense that are regularly applied to the Kaaba's interior walls during cleaning ceremonies. This table is not an original feature of the Kaaba but has been added over time for convenience during maintenance.

circa 600 CE

Prophet Muhammad's Prayer Spot A mihrab shaped marker (inspect) is situated on the spot believed to be the place where prophet Muhammad offered salah. It is situated near the south-western (Yemenite) corner, Rukn-e Yemani, of the Kaaba's interior.

circa 600 CE

Inscribed Plaques Throughout Islamic history, various inscriptions have been added to the interior of the Kaaba. These inscriptions primarily include Quranic verses, supplications, and the names of rulers who have renovated or contributed to the upkeep of the structure. While many of these inscriptions remain, some have faded or been covered by later modifications. One particularly important feature is a marble plaque with inscriptions detailing the renovations of the Kaaba by different Islamic rulers, including those from the Abbasid, Ottoman, and modern Saudi periods.

circa 600 CE

Walls The walls of the Kaaba’s interior are clad with white marble up to about 2 meters (6.5 feet) high. Above this, the walls are covered with a greenish silk curtain, embroidered with Quranic inscriptions in gold. The ceiling is also covered in a similar fabric. The floor of the Kaaba is made of white marble, with some red and green veining, sourced from different regions, including Mecca and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Architectural Model

circa 600 CE

This model, from the Mecca Museum, is somewhat accurate and depicts the double-roof of the Kabah (the double roof has crawl space between the lower and upper roof), the three pillars inside, the raised marble platform, the entrance to the right, the Bab al-Taubah in the left corner as well, along the other features. In contrast to the red brics shown here, Kabah was built with black volcanic rock abundant in the surroundings of Mecca, more recently it was reconstructed with granite.

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Recommended Books

The Hajj: The Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca and the Holy Places

Francis Edward Peters

Among the duties God imposes upon every Muslim capable of doing so is a pilgrimage to the holy places in and around Mecca in Arabia. Not only is it a religious ritual filled with blessings for the millions who make the journey annually, but it is also a social, political, and commercial experience that for centuries has set in motion a flood of travelers across the world's continents. Whatever its outcome--spiritual enrichment, cultural exchange, financial gain or ruin--the road to Mecca has long been an exhilarating human adventure. See on Amazon

The Kaʿba Orientations: Readings in Islam’s Ancient House

Simon O'Meara

The most sacred site of Islam, the Kaʿba (the granite cuboid structure at the centre of the Great Mosque of Mecca) is here investigated by examining six of its predominantly spatial effects: as the qibla (the direction faced in prayer); as the axis and matrix mundi of the Islamic world; as an architectural principle in the bedrock of this world; as a circumambulated goal of pilgrimage and site of spiritual union for mystics and Sufis; and as a dwelling that is imagined to shelter temporarily an animating force; but which otherwise, as a house, holds a void. See on Amazon

References

Bloom, Jonathan, and Sheila Blair. "Mecca." In The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture. Oxford University Press, 2009.
Creswell, Keppel A. C. Early Muslim Architecture. Oxford University Press, 1932. Revised and enlarged 1969.

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Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.

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