# The Kaaba and the Black Stone: A Pilgrim's Guide

Source: https://umrahgateway.co.uk/blog/black-stone-and-kaaba/

Category: Ziyarat & Places. Published 2026-10-21, updated 2026-10-22.

The Kaaba, Black Stone, Kiswah, Maqam Ibrahim, Hijr Ismail and Multazam explained: what each means, what pilgrims do there and how to stay safe.

**Quick answer:** The Kaaba is the House of Allah in Makkah, built by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail, and the direction every Muslim faces in prayer. Around it are the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad), where each circuit of Tawaf begins, Maqam Ibrahim, where pilgrims pray two rak'ahs after Tawaf, the semi-circular Hijr Ismail, and the Multazam, a place of heartfelt dua. Touching the Black Stone is Sunnah, but pushing or harming others to reach it is not, and raising your right hand towards it is enough.

Seeing the Kaaba for the first time is overwhelming. Knowing what you are looking at, and the Sunnah at each spot, helps you use those minutes well and keeps everyone safe. Here is our guide to each landmark in the Mataf, the area around the Kaaba.

## What is the Kaaba and why is it important?

The Kaaba is a cube-shaped building at the centre of Masjid al-Haram. The Qur'an describes it as the first house of worship established for mankind (Surah Al Imran 3:96), and it was raised by Ibrahim and Ismail, peace be upon them, as described in Surah al-Baqarah.

Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It is the Qiblah, the focal point that unites prayer across the world, and the centre of Tawaf. Its door is on the north-east side, raised well above the ground, and it is opened only on special occasions such as the ceremonial washing of the interior.

Each corner has a name: the Black Stone corner, the Iraqi corner, the Shami (Syrian) corner and the Yemeni corner. On the north-west side is the golden waterspout, the Mizab ar-Rahmah, which drains the roof into Hijr Ismail.

## What is the Kiswah?

The Kiswah is the black cloth that covers the Kaaba. It is made of silk, embroidered with verses of the Qur'an in gold and silver thread, and produced in a dedicated workshop in Makkah. A new Kiswah is fitted once a year; in recent years this has taken place at the start of the Islamic new year.

During the Hajj season the lower part of the Kiswah is lifted and covered with white cloth to protect it from the crowds. Please never cut threads from the Kiswah or cling to it in a way that blocks people behind you.

## What is the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad)?

The Black Stone is set in the eastern corner of the Kaaba, at about chest height, held in a silver frame. In a well-known hadith in Tirmidhi, the Prophet ﷺ said it came down from Paradise whiter than milk and was blackened by the sins of the children of Adam.

The Prophet ﷺ kissed the Black Stone, and pilgrims follow this Sunnah. Yet Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, famously said that he knew it was only a stone that could neither harm nor benefit, and that he kissed it only because he had seen the Prophet ﷺ kiss it (Bukhari). Our love for the Black Stone is about following the Sunnah, not about the stone itself.

### What do pilgrims do at the Black Stone?

Every circuit of Tawaf starts and ends in line with the Black Stone, marked by a line of lights on the wall opposite. As you pass it, the Sunnah is, in order of ease:

- Kiss it, if you can reach it calmly.
- Touch it with your right hand and kiss your hand.
- If neither is possible, which is the case for most people most of the time, face it, raise your right hand towards it and say _Bismillah, Allahu Akbar_. Do not kiss your hand after pointing.

A practical tip: the Black Stone is usually perfumed. If you are in Ihram, touching it can transfer perfume to your hand, which you must avoid, so pointing is the better choice during Umrah.

## Is it worth pushing to touch the Black Stone?

No. Kissing the Black Stone is a Sunnah, while harming another Muslim is forbidden. Scholars are clear that if reaching it means shoving, squeezing or hurting people, you should simply point and continue your Tawaf. Your Tawaf is complete and fully rewarded without touching it.

The crowd at the Black Stone is the most dangerous point in the Mataf. People get crushed against the wall, lose their footing, have their Ihram pulled, and older pilgrims and women are pushed aside. Pickpockets also work this spot. If you do want to try, the quieter moments are usually late at night or during the hottest part of the day, and even then only if the line is calm. We cover this and other pitfalls in our article on [common Umrah mistakes](https://umrahgateway.co.uk/blog/common-umrah-mistakes/).

## What is the Yemeni corner (Rukn al-Yamani)?

The Yemeni corner is the one just before the Black Stone in your Tawaf. The Sunnah is to touch it with your right hand if you can, without kissing it. If you cannot reach it, simply carry on; there is no pointing or takbir at this corner.

Between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone, the Prophet ﷺ recited: _Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil-akhirati hasanah, wa qina 'adhaban-nar_, meaning "Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire." For more duas to learn before your trip, see our page on [Umrah duas and the Talbiyah](https://umrahgateway.co.uk/blog/umrah-duas-and-talbiyah/).

## What is Maqam Ibrahim?

Maqam Ibrahim is the stone on which Ibrahim, peace be upon him, stood while building the Kaaba. It bears the impression of his feet and is kept in a gold-coloured and glass enclosure a short distance from the Kaaba door. Allah says: "And take the station of Ibrahim as a place of prayer" (Surah al-Baqarah 2:125).

After completing Tawaf, pilgrims pray two rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim, often reciting Surah al-Kafirun in the first and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second. When the Mataf is busy, praying directly behind it blocks people still doing Tawaf. It is perfectly valid to pray these two rak'ahs further back, or anywhere in the mosque, and in busy periods that is the considerate choice.

## What is Hijr Ismail and can you pray inside it?

Hijr Ismail, also called the Hatim, is the semi-circular area enclosed by a low curved wall on the north-west side of the Kaaba. Part of it was originally inside the Kaaba itself. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, wanted to pray inside the Kaaba, and the Prophet ﷺ told her to pray in the Hijr, since it is part of the House.

Two practical points follow from this:

- **Your Tawaf must go around the outside of Hijr Ismail.** Walking through it means that circuit does not count, a common mistake among first-time pilgrims.
- **Access to pray inside is controlled.** At times it is open, at times it is closed or opened only for limited periods, often separately for men and women. Ask the mosque staff, and never force your way in.

## What is the Multazam?

The Multazam is the section of the Kaaba wall between the Black Stone and the door, roughly the width of outstretched arms. Some companions are reported to have pressed their chest, face and arms against it while making dua, and many pilgrims long to do the same.

In practice, the Multazam is one of the hardest places to reach, and at times it is barriered off. If you cannot get close, you can face it from a distance and make your dua. Allah hears you wherever you stand in His House, and a calm, sincere dua from the back of the Mataf is far better than one made after pushing through the crowd.

## How to stay safe around the Kaaba

- **Choose your time.** Straight after each of the five prayers the Mataf fills quickly. Late night and mid-morning are often calmer.
- **Use the upper floors** if you are elderly, unwell or with children. The circuits are longer but far less crushing.
- **Agree a meeting point**, such as a numbered gate, before you begin. Phones often lose signal in the crowd.
- **Keep valuables zipped** in a front pouch, especially near the Black Stone.
- **Move with the flow** and avoid stopping suddenly to take photos.

If someone in your group uses a wheelchair, our guide to [Umrah for wheelchair users](https://umrahgateway.co.uk/blog/umrah-wheelchair-disabled-pilgrims/) explains how Tawaf works on the upper levels.

Staying close to the Haram makes it easier to come back at quieter times. Hotels such as the [Makkah Clock Royal Tower](https://umrahgateway.co.uk/umrah-hotels/makkah-clock-royal-tower-a-fairmont-hotel/) are a short walk from the gates, so you can return to the Mataf whenever it looks calmer.

Not sure how far is too far? Our guide to [choosing Umrah hotels in Makkah and Madinah](https://umrahgateway.co.uk/blog/choosing-umrah-hotels-makkah-madinah/) explains how distance affects your daily routine.

If you would like help planning a trip with a hotel close enough to visit the Kaaba at calmer hours, take a look at our [4-star Umrah packages](https://umrahgateway.co.uk/4-star-umrah-packages/), or ask our team for a tailored quote.

**Related guides:** [Makkah Clock Tower Hotels: Are They Worth It?](https://umrahgateway.co.uk/blog/makkah-clock-tower-hotels/) · [Umrah Badal: Performing Umrah on Behalf of Others](https://umrahgateway.co.uk/blog/umrah-badal/) · [How Many Days Do You Need for Umrah from the UK?](https://umrahgateway.co.uk/blog/how-many-days-for-umrah/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Is my Tawaf valid if I do not touch the Black Stone?

Yes. Touching or kissing the Black Stone is a Sunnah, not a condition of Tawaf. Facing it and raising your right hand with "Bismillah, Allahu Akbar" is enough.

### Can women kiss the Black Stone?

Women may follow the same Sunnah, but scholars advise against pushing into crowds of men to reach it. In practice, pointing from a distance is the wiser and safer choice for most women.

### Can I go inside the Kaaba?

The Kaaba is not open to the public; its door is opened only on special occasions. Praying inside Hijr Ismail, when access allows, is like praying inside the Kaaba.

### Where should I pray the two rak'ahs after Tawaf?

The Sunnah is behind Maqam Ibrahim, but anywhere in the mosque is valid. When the Mataf is busy, praying further back avoids blocking those still doing Tawaf.

### When is the Kiswah changed?

A new Kiswah is fitted once a year, and in recent years the change has taken place at the start of the Islamic new year. During the Hajj season the lower part is raised and covered with white cloth.

## Contact Umrah Gateway

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