What Is the Black Box in Mecca Called?

The black box in Mecca is called the Kaaba (also spelled Ka'bah). It is the most sacred structure in Islam, located at the center of the Masjid al-Haram (the Grand Mosque) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The Kaaba (Arabic: ٱلْكَعْبَة, meaning "The Cube") is a cube-shaped building covered in a black cloth known as the Kiswah. Muslims around the world face the Kaaba during their daily prayers, no matter where they are located.

Key Facts About the Kaaba

Construction: According to Islamic tradition, it was first built by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail (Ishmael) as a house of monotheistic worship.

Black Kiswa: The Kaaba is covered with a black cloth embroidered with Quranic verses in gold, known as the Kiswa, which is replaced annually.

Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone): Embedded in the eastern corner of the Kaaba is a sacred stone believed to have been given to Ibrahim by the Angel Gabriel. Pilgrims often try to touch or kiss Hajar al-Aswad during Tawaf (circumambulation). Due to the crowds, many pilgrims may only point towards it or salute it from a distance.

Significance: The Kaaba is central to the Hajj pilgrimage (one of the Five Pillars of Islam) and the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). Millions of pilgrims gather to perform rituals, including walking around the Kaaba in a process known as Tawaf.