5 Facts about Alabaster of the Holy Kaaba

You might have noticed EIGHT pieces of alabaster on the right side of the door of the Holy Kaaba upon a gutter. Do you know, around 200 years ago, these marbles were stolen? Recommended: 13 Sights of Holy Kaaba you should know about

1. Rare type of Marble

It is one of the rarest types of marble in the world known as “Mary Stone,” distinguished by a yellowish-brown color, and it is said to be 807 years old.

2. It was gifted to the grand mosque in 631

The Caliph Abu Jafar Al Mansur gifted these alabaster marble pieces when he re-established the circumambulation terrace of the Grand Mosque in the Hijri year 631; the date was recorded under a blue colored stone below one of the rare pieces of marble.

The details were explained to Al Arabiya by Mohi Eddine Al Hashemi, an investigator in the Management of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.

3. The Size of Alabaster

The biggest piece is 33 cm in length and 21 cm in width. The pieces are attractive and show interesting dedication.

4. The place where Prophet Muhammad S.A.W was taught by Jibraeel A.S.

The eight marbles were placed in a low place far from the circumambulation terrace and opposed to the area of the eight marbles, the place where Hazrat Jabraeel (A.S) taught Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) how to pray. The place where Prophet Muhammad S.A.W was taught is shown with red dots below.

Prophet Muhammad S.A.W said that Jibraeel A.S led me in prayer in Masjid al-Haram. He prayed the noon prayer with me when the sun had passed the meridian to the extent of the thong of a sandal; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when the shadow of everything was as long as itself; he prayed the sunset prayer with me when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when the twilight had ended, and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when food and drink become forbidden to one who is keeping the fast.

On the following day he prayed the noon prayer with me when his shadow was as long as himself; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when his shadow was twice as long as himself; he prayed the sunset prayer at the time when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when about a third of the night had passed; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when there was a fair amount of light. – Sunan Abi Dawud 393

5. They were stolen for 164 years

In 1213 (Hijri), the marbles were stolen. They were later found near a dead body of a man. They were put back to their original spot in 1377 (Hijri). Reported in an English Saudi newspaper.

Source: Saudi Gazette