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.
Ceramic tile panel

Hegira 1087 / AD 1676
Ottoman
Museum 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.