The guardianship of the Kaaba is a hereditary profession for the sons of Shayba and their successors. It is a tradition established by the Prophet after the conquest of Mecca in the eighth year after the Hijra. After that, he entrusted the key of the city to Uthman ibn Abi Talha and considered the guardianship of the Kaaba a unique and eternal duty granted to the sons of Shayba.
History of the Guardianship of the Kaaba
The Islamic researcher and thinker Mohiuddin Al-Hashemi, who specializes in the two holy mosques, points out that the story of the guardianship of the Holy Kaaba began in the time of the Prophet Ibrahim. God commanded Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail to build the foundations of the Kaaba, and from there the tradition and guardianship of the Kaaba began.
The First Guardian of the Kaaba and Generational Succession
Al-Hashemi adds that the Prophet Ibrahim entrusted the guardianship of the Kaaba to his son Ismail, who continued the tradition until his death. The tradition was then passed from the sons of Ismail against their will to the Jurhum tribe, and later it was forcibly transferred to the Khuzah tribe. However, it was reclaimed by Qusai ibn Kilab ibn Murrah, who was the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah and a descendant of Ismail, who was the first to serve the Kaaba.
The Story of the Guardianship of the Kaaba in Islam
According to Mohiuddin Al-Hashemi, the guardianship of the Kaaba is inherited by the eldest son in each family, and it was passed down until it reached Uthman ibn Talha, who lived during the time of the Prophet. According to what Uthman ibn Talha mentioned on the day of victory for Islam in Mecca, the Messenger of God entered Mecca in the eighth year of the Hijra, and when they were about to enter the Kaaba, they found it closed. They asked who had the key and discovered it was with Uthman ibn Talha. Uthman ibn Talha was a disbeliever, so when he learned of the Prophet Muhammad’s arrival, he locked the door.
When the Prophet Muhammad entered Mecca, its people were embracing Islam, but Uthman was hiding. The Prophet Muhammad then ordered Ali ibn Abi Talib to take the key from Uthman.
Ali went to find Uthman and asked him for the key, but Uthman did not give it to him. Then Ali forcibly took the key from him so that the Prophet could enter the Kaaba. The door was opened, and the Prophet entered the Kaaba and prayed two units of prayer.
The Guardianship of the Kaaba in the Saudi Era
Al-Hashemi pointed out that the guardianship of the Kaaba is still held by the Bani Shayba, and it is granted to the senior members of the family to this day. The duties of the old guardian included opening and closing the door of the Kaaba, supervising its construction and maintenance, as well as washing and cleaning it and monitoring the tomb of Prophet Ibrahim.
Currently, Sheikh Muhammad ibn Zain al-Abidin ibn Abdul-Mutty al-Shaybi is in charge of the guardianship of the Kaaba. He has held his position for 43 years. He passed away in the year 1253 AH, leaving behind male children. Abdul Qadir inherited the guardianship after his death, followed by his brother Suleiman, Ahmed, and Abdullah.
Then his cousin Talha ibn Hassan al-Shaybi took over the guardianship of the Kaaba, and then it continued with Sheikh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Qadir al-Shaybi, who passed away in the month of Dhul-Hijjah in the year 1431 AH. The guardianship then transferred to Sheikh Abdul Qadir ibn Taha ibn Abdullah al-Shaybi, who served the Kaaba for four years. His tenure saw the changing of the lock of the Kaaba by the order of King Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz.
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal handed him the key on behalf of the king on the occasion of cleaning the Kaaba. He witnessed the installation of a lock for the internal door of repentance of the Kaaba and passed away after a fierce battle with illness. His cousin Sheikh Dr. Saleh ibn Zain al-Abidin al-Shaybi became the guardian of the Kaaba.
Al-Hashemi explained that the guardian’s duties are currently limited to opening and closing the Kaaba. He coordinates with the Royal Diwan and the Ministry of Interior and emergency forces in the case of official guests.
The Kaaba is cleaned annually on the fifteenth of Muharram each year. After the royal decree is issued, the Mecca Emirate coordinates with the guardian regarding procedural agreements. The cleaning of the Kaaba was canceled in the first of Sha’ban due to current expansion works and the high density of crowds during that time.
In addition to…
The new head of the guards receives the new covering for the Kaaba on the first of Dhu al-Hijjah to be installed on the Day of Arafah by tailors and experts from the King Abdulaziz Complex for Covering.
The ceremony for handing over the Kaaba covering is held at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Covering in the presence of the President of the Two Holy Mosques, Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sudais, alongside the Director of the Complex, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Baghdadi, and a large crowd of officials and deputies.
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