The Renovation of the Ka’bah
When the Prophet ﷺ was thirty-five years old, the Quraysh had begun the renovation of the Ka’bah. It was a low structure, no taller than nine arm-lengths since the time of Isma’il ﵇. It had no roof, which allowed thieves easy access to its treasures. It was of course also a very old building and the structure had weakened over the course of time. And then there was also the recent flood that had raged through Makkah and nearly destroyed the Ka’bah. For all these reasons, the Quraysh resolved to renovate the Ka’bah and to safeguard its sanctity and status.
The Quraysh set one condition: no money would be used that originated from injustice, usury or prostitution. This principle reflected the sanctity that the Quraysh still attributed to the Ka’bah, despite their idolatry. Only pure money, honestly earned, could be used for the reconstruction of the House of Allah ﷻ. The tasks for the reconstruction were divided among the various tribes.
The Dispute over the Black Stone
Each tribe thus had the task of rebuilding a section, and everyone set to work harmoniously. This continued until the time came to replace الحجر الأسود (Al-Hajr al-Aswad), the Black Stone. A conflict arose among the tribal leaders that lasted four to five days. Each tribe claimed the right and the honour of replacing the Black Stone. Tensions rose so high that they were prepared to go to war and shed blood. Chieftain after chieftain threatened war. Heavily armed men stood facing one another in the shadow of the Sacred House, ready to take up weapons over the honour of a single stone.
The Wisdom of Al-Amin
The Prophet ﷺ had been known his entire life as Al-Amin, the Trustworthy. He had earned this title through his consistent conduct over thirty-five years: he had never lied, never cheated, never violated an amanah (an entrusted possession). Everyone in Makkah, friend and foe alike, acknowledged his trustworthiness.
It was Abu Umaiyah bin Mughirah, the eldest of the tribal leaders, who came up with the idea to let the first person to enter the Ka’bah decide the matter. By the will of Allah ﷻ, it was the Prophet ﷺ who entered the Ka’bah. When the tribal leaders saw him, they immediately laid down their weapons. Everyone exclaimed: “Al-Amin has come! The Trustworthy has come!” It was not out of weakness that they laid down their weapons, but out of trust in this one man.
They told him ﷺ what their intention was and he asked for a cloak. He spread it on the ground and placed the stone in the centre. He ﷺ asked all the representatives of the various tribes to lift the cloak together and carry it to its designated place. Not one tribe triumphed; all tribes carried together. Once there, the Prophet ﷺ placed the stone with his own hands in its position, and a large-scale conflict and bloodshed was averted.
The Unfinished Wall and Al-Shadherwan
The pure money eventually ran out. Because the Quraysh refused to use impure money, the Ka’bah could not be fully built upon the complete original foundation that had once been laid by Ibrahim ﵇ and Isma’il ﵇. It was decided to raise the walls of the remaining section on the northern side of the Ka’bah to a height of 25 cm. This section is called الشاذروان (Al-Shadherwan).
Thus a part of the original foundation of Ibrahim ﵇ remained outside the actual Ka’bah walls. Whoever circumambulates the Ka’bah and touches the Shadherwan walks in fact upon the ground of the original temple: a silent reminder of an unfinished task and an eternal covenant.