Milestones of the Circumambulation Courtyard
The sacred area surrounding the Ka'bah
Milestones of the Circumambulation Courtyard
The circumambulation area is the courtyard tiled with white marble, which surrounds the Noble Ka'bah. It is now called the courtyard. It is the space where Muslims rotate around the Kaaba.
Some important features of the circumambulation courtyard are:
The Noble Ka'bah
It is the qiblah of Muslims and is dear to their hearts. It is the only object around which they rotate in worship to Allah.
Maqam Ibrahim (Abraham)
It is the rock on which Abraham, peace be upon him, stood when building the Ka'bah. It is a clear and visible sign in the Haram. Allah Almighty said: "In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham."
Significance of the Circumambulation Courtyard
The circumambulation courtyard is one of the most sacred areas in Islam. It is where pilgrims perform the Tawaf ritual, which is an essential part of both Hajj and Umrah. During Tawaf, pilgrims walk around the Ka'bah seven times in a counterclockwise direction, starting and ending at the Black Stone.
The courtyard has been expanded multiple times throughout history to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims. Today, it can accommodate thousands of worshippers simultaneously, with multiple levels to maximize capacity while ensuring a smooth flow of pilgrims.