9 facts of Hijr Ismail or Hateem of Kaaba

Hijr Ismail or Hateem is a crescent-shaped area situated between the Iraqi and Syrian corners of the Holy Kaaba 🕋 in Makkah. Hijr Ismail means the stone of Prophet Ismail عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ.

• 13 Places of Holy Kaaba to know

Hateem is part of Holy Kaaba

Holy Kaaba 🕋 was initially constructed by Prophet Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and his son Prophet Ismail عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. Hijr Ismail was part of the Holy Kaaba 🕋 when Prophet Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ built it initially.

No Tawaf in Hijr Ismail

It is said that approximately 3 meters of the area adjacent to the wall of the Holy Kaaba 🕋 are considered to be a part of the Kaaba so Tawaf must be performed outside the finish range of Hateem.

Who is buried in the Kaaba?

Many researchers believe that the Prophet Ismail عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and his mother Hajar عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ are buried under Hateem in the Holy Kaaba 🕋. However, other researchers deny this claim of weak references.

It is also important to note that the grave of Prophet Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ is in Jerusalem while no one knows where is the tomb of Prophet Ismail عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ.

Flood in the Holy Kaaba

In 605 A.D, when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was 35 years old, a disastrous flood harmed the Holy Kaaba 🕋, which was already weakened previously by a huge fire, and was at risk of destruction.

Feeling the need to protect the house of worship, the Quraish chose to modify the structure and rebuilt the Kaaba, and did every possible thing for the development. It was that time when Hijr Ismail was taken out of the Holy Kaaba 🕋.

Praying in Hateem

Aisha رضي الله عنها said: I liked to enter inside the Holy Kaaba 🕋 and pray there. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ caught me by hand and admitted me to Hijr Ismail.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Pray in Hateem when you intend to go inside the Holy Kaaba 🕋, for it is a part of the Holy Kaaba. Your people shortened it when they built the Kaaba, and they took it out of the House.”  – Sunan Abi Dawud 2028

• How to pray inside the Holy Kaaba?

Prophet Muhammad stood on Hijr Ismail

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: When the people of Quraish did not believe me (Night of Isra), I stood up on Hateem and Allah displayed Jerusalem in front of me, and I began describing it to them while I was looking at it. – Sahih al-Bukhari 3886

Prophet Muhammad’s love for Hateem

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: If your people, had not been recent converts to Islam, I would have spent the treasure of the Holy Kaaba 🕋 in the way of Allah and would have constructed its door just on the level of the ground and would have encompassed in it the space of Hijr Ismail. – Sahih Muslim 1333d

Acceptance of Dua

Hateem is one of the 8 places in Holy Kaaba where dua is accepted.

Hijr Ismail and Water spout

During a rain, the water from the roof of the Holy Kaaba falls in Hateem through Meezab Rehmat.