20 Must-Know Kaaba Facts For Kids

The Kaaba is central to the soul-lifting journeys of Hajj and Umrah in which, Muslims circle the Kaaba in reverence to the almighty Allah. Sharing Kaaba facts for kids with your little ones is a great way to introduce them to Islam.

The Kaaba is a large cube-shaped building at the centre of the oldest mosque in the world, Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām.Pilgrims across the globe travel to the Hejazi city in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to visit the holy Kaaba, which is considered one of the most sacred sites as per Islam. In this blog, we share some noteworthy Kaaba facts that will help kids expand their religious knowledge.

20 Kaaba facts for kids

1. Kaaba, also written as Kabbah, is known as the Bayṫ Allāh (“House of Allah”).
2. Before the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula, the Kaaba was a site sacred to the different Bedouin tribes. Irrespective of their tribal feuds, they would make the annual pilgrimage to Makkah to offer homage to the pagan gods. It is one of the most interesting Kaaba facts for kids.
3. One must tell kids how old the Kaaba is. The Kaaba was first built by Prophet Ibrahim(PBUH) and his son Prophet Ismail(PBUH) by orders of Allah.
4. During the period between 570 to 632 CE, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reconstructed the Kaaba after it suffered extensive damage due to floods. He also removed the idols within the Kaaba.
5. Kaaba sustained much more damage since the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). After each destruction, the Kaaba was reconstructed and expanded. During Makkah’s first siege, a fire severely damaged the structure. Then, in the second siege, it was constantly stoned.
6. One of the most exciting Kaaba facts for kids is that the structure is made of granite. It has a height of about 13.1 meters. The floor within the Kaaba is made from limestone and marble.
7. Inscriptions are prevalent within the Kaaba. There are six tablets with inscriptions on the wall just adjacent to its entrance. There is a green cloth with inscriptions of Quranic verses, embroidered in gold on the top-most wall corners.
8. The interior walls clad with marble are anointed with the scented oil that is used on the outside of the Kaaba. There are three pillars within the Black Stone, along with a small altar that offers a place to keep the perfumes and other items.
9. There is a rainwater pipe that was added to offer protection to the roof of the Kaaba. Known as al-Shadrawan, it was created to protect the foundation of the structure from the accumulation of rainwater.
10. Tawaf is an important ritual of the sacred pilgrimages of Hajj and Umrah. In this ceremony, Muslims circumambulate around the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction, ensuring that the Black Stone remains on the left side of the pilgrims. During moving, the pilgrims pray and recite different supplications.
11. One of the most interesting Kaaba facts for kids pertains to the Kiswah of Kaaba. The Kiswa is replaced only once every year, that is on the Eid Al-Adha evening.
12. The original Kaaba structure had a window and multiple doors. The doors were used for entering and exiting the Kaaba. However, the present-day Kaaba has no window and only one door.
13. The stone with footprints of Prophet Ibrahim(PBUH) is in front of Kabbah, and it is called Maqam-e-Ibrahim. The footprints were engraved on the stone when Prophet Ibrahim(PBUH) stood on it to build Kabbah. It is one of the interesting Kaaba facts for kids.
14. The Kaaba that the pilgrims see now is covered in a black cloth. However, that was not always the tradition. Previously, the structure was covered in a cloth, which had multiple colours, such as white, red, and green. It was the Abbasids that started the tradition of black cloth.
15. In olden times, any one could go inside the Kaaba. It was open for anyone who wished to pray two times a week. But, the expansion of pilgrims to the holy city of Makkah changed this particular rule. Now, the Kaaba is exclusively opened only twice a year for dignitaries and high-profile guests. The keys to the Kaaba are kept with the Banī Shaybah tribe.
16. The important fact about key holders of Kabbah is that they are a humble and financially weak tribe, hence the choice of the Holy Prophet(PBUH) by choosing the humble tribe and not some highly rich tribes shows the importance of being humble in Islam. This fact about Kabbah teaches children about the importance of being humble.
17. Planes and birds can not fly over Al Kaaba because of the magnetic attraction and that’s why, in Saudi Arabia, there is no airport in the city of Makkah.
18. This might be the most surprising Kaaba fact for kids out of all — the original Kaaba did not have a cube shape. It was rectangular. Due to financial restrictions, the Kaaba could not be reconstructed into its original shape by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
19. The Kaaba is opened for cleaning two times a year. It is one of the most intriguing Kaaba facts for kids. The ceremony occurs around thirty days before Hajj starts and thirty days before the starting of Ramadan.
20. The Black stone embodied in the Kabbah was sent by Allah Almighty to the first Prophet, that is Prophet Adam(PBUH). When the stone was brought from Heaven to the earth it was pure white in colour but as soon as it touched earth it turned black because of all the sins on earth. From that time it existed on earth. 

These Kaaba facts for kids are a mix of information about the origin and history of the Kaaba, and the rituals that are performed around the Kaaba by devout Muslims who come to Makkah from all around the world. Knowing these will definitely help children develop a better understanding of their religion and its intricacies.

Suggested Read:Top Hotels At Ibrahim Khalil Road, Makkah To Stay Near The Kaaba

The Holy Kaaba FAQs

Why is Kaaba a revered place?

Kaaba is considered a revered site as it is known as the Bayṫ Allāh, or the house of Allah.

Are there any more important sites around the Kaaba

Yes, the Kaaba is situated within Masjid al Haram, which is home to Maqam-e-Ibrahim and some parts of the Safa and Marwa hills

Who can go inside the Kaaba?

Only selected dignitaries and high-profile guests are allowed to enter the Kaaba.