15/69. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1333a — Kaaba Foundations of Ibrahim
Demolishing the Ka'bah and rebuilding it
Kaaba Foundations of Ibrahim Hadith Explained
Sahih Muslim : 1333a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1333a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْلاَ حَدَاثَةُ عَهْدِ قَوْمِكِ بِالْكُفْرِ لَنَقَضْتُ الْكَعْبَةَ وَلَجَعَلْتُهَا عَلَى أَسَاسِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَإِنَّ قُرَيْشًا حِينَ بَنَتِ الْبَيْتَ اسْتَقْصَرَتْ وَلَجَعَلْتُ لَهَا خَلْفًا " .
A'isha Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger may peace be upon him) said to me: Had your people not been unbelievers in the recent past (had they not quite recently accepted Islam), I would have demolished the Ka'ba and would have rebuilt it on the foundation (laid) by Ibrahim; for when the Quraish had built the Ka'ba, they reduced its (area), and I would also have built (a door) in the rear.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1333aIn-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 444USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 7, Hadith 3078
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1333a
This hadith about the Kaaba foundations of Ibrahim shows the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم care in dealing with people’s situation. He told Aisha that if her people had not been close to unbelief in the recent past, he would have demolished the Kaaba and rebuilt it on the foundation laid by Ibrahim. He also said that when Quraysh built the Kaaba, they had reduced its area, and he would have made a door at the rear. The report does not tell readers to rebuild anything themselves. It shows an intention the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not carry out because of the condition of the people. The main teaching is wisdom, restraint, and awareness of how a public action may affect new Muslims.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم knew that Quraysh had reduced the Kaaba’s area when rebuilding it.
- He wished to restore it to Ibrahim’s foundation but did not do so then.
- The people’s recent past was considered before making a major public change.
