Pilgrimage / The Haram at Mecca and the Ka’ba

'The Ka'ba is the qibla of Islam.'

The Ka'ba is the qibla (direction of prayer) of Islam. It is also at the heart of the Hajj and everyone who visits the Haram at Mecca has to circumvent the Ka'ba seven times as part of the prescribed pilgrimage ritual. The Ka'ba has many names in the Islamic tradition, among them: al-Masjid al-Haram (The Sacred Mosque, referring to the mosque within the precinct of the Ka'ba) and al-Bayt al-Atiq (the Ancient House). The Ka'ba is an almost square structure: 9.29 m on its north side, 12.15 m on its west, 10.25 m on its south side, and 11.88 m on its east side. It is 15 m high and has only one access door on the east face that is 2 m above ground level.

NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Ceramic tile panelHegira 1087 / AD 1676OttomanMuseum of Islamic Art
Cairo, Egypt
A tile panel showing a ground-plan for the Holy Mosque at Mecca with the Ka'ba in the centre.
PaintingHegira early 12th century / AD early 18th centuryOttomanUppsala University Library
Uppsala, Sweden
A topographical painting of the Haram shown with details of entrances, minarets and the surrounding sites.
Astronomical instrument: QiblanumaHegira 1151 / AD 1738OttomanMuseum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey
A compass (qiblanuma) that determined the direction of prayer (qibla) and the correct route to Mecca.
Prayer rugHegira 1217 / AD 1802OttomanBurrell Collection, Glasgow Museums
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Pilgrims traded prayer rugs while travelling, or offered them as votive gifts to mosques.
NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Prayer rugHegira 12th century / AD 18th centuryOttomanMuseum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities (Medelhavsmuseet)
Stockholm, Sweden
Pilgrims traded prayer rugs while travelling, or offered them as votive gifts to mosques.