Kaaba – Place of Worship

Kaaba – Place of Worship

The Kaaba is a building located inside the mosque known as al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. The mosque was built around the original Kaaba. The Kaaba is the holiest place in Islam. The qibla, the direction Muslims face during prayer, is the direction from any point to the Kaaba. The name Kaaba comes from the Arabic word “muka’ab” meaning cube. It is covered by a black silk curtain decorated with gold-embroidered calligraphy. This cloth is known as thekiswah, it is replaced yearly. The Shahada is outlined in the weave of the fabric. About two-thirds of the way up runs a gold embroidered band covered with tex from the Koran.