Inside the Kaaba | What’s Inside and Who Can Go In

By | September 19, 2024

The inside of the Kaaba is an open space adorned with marble, textiles, and historical artefacts. The floor is covered with white marble, bordered by black, while the walls feature rose-coloured marble up to a height of four meters, with green cloth inscribed with Quranic verses extending to the ceiling. Historical inscriptions from various rulers are embedded in the walls,

alongside lanterns and incense burners hanging from the ceiling. Three wooden pillars support the roof, and the area includes markers commemorating where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed and supplicated. The Kaaba also houses a staircase leading to the roof.

The internal floor of the Kaaba is covered with white marble, bordered by a black marble strip.

The internal walls are covered with rose-coloured marble up to a height of about 4 meters. This marble is fixed in such a way that it does not come into contact with the original walls of the Kaaba. Above this marble, the walls are covered with green cloth extending 5 metres up to the roof. These textiles are adorned with Quranic verses inscribed in silver, extending to cover the entire ceiling of the Kaaba.

On the walls, 10 marble stones bear inscriptions commemorating architectural contributions to Masjid al-Haram by past rulers. Nine of these are in Thuluth script, while one is scripted in prominent Kufic. The last document, placed by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia concerning his mosque expansion, was added to the eastern wall.

A number of lanterns and incense burners, tracing their origins back to the Ottoman era, hang from the ceiling. These are crafted from copper, silver, and glass and are adorned with Quranic verses. These lanterns were gifted to the Kaaba by caliphs, sultans, princes, and kings over the ages.

At the front, dark-coloured marble slabs mark the area where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed inside the Kaaba. Those permitted to enter the Kaaba can pray in this location.

Near the Multazam, another marker crafted from the same marble stands. This spot commemorates the place where the Prophet ﷺ pressed his blessed stomach and cheek against the wall of the Kaaba, raising his hands in supplication and shedding tears.

In the centre of the Kaaba, three wooden pillars support the roof. Each one is about 9 meters high and has a diameter of 44 centimetres . The distance between each pillar is approximately 2.35 meters.

Inside the Kaaba

To the right of this area is a door known as Bab al-Tawbah (The Door of Repentance), through which a staircase leading to the roof can be accessed. This staircase, made of aluminium and crystal, has 50 steps. It was last renovated in 1417 AH (1996 CE) during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, coinciding with the renovation of the Kaaba itself.

Additionally, there is a large box inside the Kaaba used to store some of its belongings. The box contains oud oil and Taif rose oil, which are used to anoint and perfume the walls of the Holy Kaaba following its washing with a mixture of Zamzam and rose water. It also stores silver incense burners used to incense the inside of the Holy Kaaba after the washing ceremony is completed. This cleansing process is done annually.