While no one is believed to be buried directly under the Kaaba itself, Islamic tradition holds that Prophet Ishmael (Ismail) and his mother, Hajar (Hagar), are interred in a sacred area immediately adjacent to it.
The Sacred Burial Site Near the Kaaba
The area where Ishmael and Hajar are believed to be buried is not beneath the Kaaba's structure, but rather in a significant space known as the Hatim (also referred to as Hijr Ismail). This semicircular, low wall encloses an unroofed area directly next to the Kaaba.
- Location: The Hatim is situated on the north side of the Kaaba, and the space between this wall and the Kaaba is considered a part of the Kaaba's sacred precinct. It is within this revered enclosure that the graves of Ishmael and Hajar are traditionally believed to be located.
- Significance: This area is highly sacred to Muslims, and pilgrims performing the Tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba are instructed to go around the Hatim as well, emphasizing its integral connection to the Kaaba. It is a place of prayer and deep reverence, believed to have immense spiritual blessings.
Muslims believe that Ishmael, the son of Prophet Abraham, and Hajar, his mother, were laid to rest in this blessed ground. This belief underscores the profound historical and spiritual significance of the area surrounding the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
For more information on the Kaaba and its surrounding areas, you can refer to comprehensive Islamic historical and architectural resources.
