Importance of Maqam e Ibraaheem

 

Maqaam e Ibraaheem, which means "station of Ibraaheem," is a very important place in Holy Makkah. Maqam is an Arabic word that means the place where a person stands with two feet together. The stone that Hazrat Ibraaheem A.s. used to build the Kabah is called Maqam e Ibraaheem. It is a big stone block that shows where the Prophet Ibrahim stood while building the upper walls of the Holy Kabah. People believe that this sacred stone and two other stones also came from Jannah. One is the famous Hajra Al Aswad, also called the "Black Stone." Another is the "Stone of the Children of Israel," and the third is "Maqaam e Ibraaheem." Visit the Mawam e Ibraheem after booking islamic travel Umrah Package 2023 from Birmingham. When one side of the building was done, the big stone block was moved. This was done while the rest of the upper part of the Holy Kabah was being built. After the building was done, this sacred stone was left on the eastern side of the Kabah. Even after 1400 years, Muslims from all over the world still pray two rakah behind it.

 

Allah SWT loves His Prophets very much and shows them many miracles. One of the miracles that HE SWT gave to Hazrat Ibraaheem A.S. that many of us might not know about is that when Hazrat Ibraaheem stood on the stone for building, the hard, solid rock became so soft that his feet sank into the rock, leaving an impression of his feet. The rock still has those marks on it! Saeed bin Jubair said that the Prophet PBUH said:

 

"The rock is Ibraaheem's station. God SWT made it gentle and merciful. Ibraheem would stand on it, and Ishmael would give him the stones.

 

The station of Ibraaheem is a small, round stone place about 20 cm high that is on the ground in front of the door to the Holy Kabah. On an oval-shaped, rectangular stone set in silver are the prints of Prophet Ibraaheem's feet. The first time the dome of Hazrat Ibraaheem A.S. was built was in 810 H. Since then, it has been rebuilt many times. Before 1967, Maqaam e Ibraaheem was kept in a room. Now, it is kept in a gold case.

 

During the time of Hazrat Umar, the second Caliph of Islam, the rock was moved from the east side of the Kabah to the front, near the door of the sanctuary, because it got in the way of pilgrims when they did Tawaf. When Hazrat Ibraaheem A.S. finished building the Holy Kabah, he prayed at the place where Maqaam e Ibraaheem is now. During Tawaf, it is a good idea for pilgrims to pray two rakahs behind Maqaam e Ibraaheem. This is true for both 5 star non-shifting Hajj packages and Umrah. You don't have to pray right behind the Maqaam e Ibraaheem, and you shouldn't bother other pilgrims just to do so. One can say two rakahs without getting in the way of the pilgrims doing Tawaf. If you don't pray after Tawaf, your Tawaf won't count. In Surah Baqarah Allah SWT said;

 

"Remember that We made the Kabah a place for people to gather and a place of safety. Take the station of Abraham as a place to pray, and We made a promise to Abraham and Isaac that they would consecrate. My House is for those who walk around it, use it as a retreat, bow, or get down on their knees to pray in it.

 

At another place in the Holy Quran Allah SWT said;

 

"There are clear signs in it, the Maqaam of Ibraaheem. Whoever enters it will be safe. And the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to the house of Allah (Kabah) is a duty that everyone owes to Allah, as long as they can pay for it. If someone doesn't believe in Allah, then he or she doesn't believe in Allah, and Allah doesn't need anyone or anything.

 

"Allah SWT told Ibraaheem A.S. to finish building the Holy Kabah. And tell everyone about the Hajj. They will come to you from every deep and faraway mountain road (to perform Hajj)."

 

Ibn Kathir says this verse means, "Proclaim (O Ibraaheem) the Hajj to the people, calling them to come on pilgrimage to this House (Kabah) that We told you to build." He (Ibraheem) said, "O Lord, how can I proclaim it to the people when my voice doesn't reach them?" "Call them, and We will help you," Allah Almighty told the people. So Ibraaheem stood at his post and told the people, "O people, your Lord has taken a House, so make a pilgrimage to it." And it was said that the mountains lowered themselves so that his voice could reach all parts of the earth. Those who were still in their mothers' wombs or in their fathers' wombs also heard him, as did cities, nomad camps, and trees. Everyone who Allah has told to do the Hajj pilgrimage every year until the Day of Judgment should say "Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk."

 

Behind Maqaam e Ibraaheem, there is a very important reason to pray two rakahs. Even though it's not required, it has a lot of benefits. Muslims are told by Allah SWT and His Prophet PBUH to do two rakah behind the station of Ibraaheem. It's best to remember that Maqaam e Ibraaheem is a holy place for praying Salah, not for touching or kissing. Hazrat Anas said that Umar bin Al-Khattab R.A. said the following:

 

"I told him, 'O Prophet of Allah (SAWW)! I wish you could pray behind the Maqaam e Ibraaheem. So, this was revealed: "Take the Maqaam of Ibrahim as your place of prayer."

 

From this Hadith, it's easy to see that praying two rakah behind Maqaam e Ibraaheem is a good thing that pilgrims must do as part of their Hajj or Cheap Umrah Packages from UK.