Al-Hijr (AL-HATWEEM)

In Ibraaheem’s (peace be upon him) time, the Ka’bah reached a height of 4.5 meters. On the Northern angle of the Ka’bah he built a curved (semi-circular) shaft made from Araak tree to serve as a yard for Ismaa’eel’s sheep (peace be upon him) it is (1.30m) high and (1.5m) wide. Its length form the wall of the Ka’bah to the wall of the Hijr is (8.5m). It is said that it is not right to ascribe the Hijr to Ismaa’eel (peace be upon him ). It was only called Al-Hijr because when the Quraish rebuilt the Ka’bah the lawful money they could gather through mutual contribution was not enough to complete the construction of the house as it was during the time of Ibraaheem Al-Khalil (peace be upon him ).consequently, they had to reduce about (3m) from its actual size from the Northern angle. Then they decided to built a short wall around it so that people can circumambulate the house from behind it. Following this incidence it became known as Al-Hijr.

This is in accordance with what is narrated about Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said the messenger of Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him ) said: Dear Aishah! Had your people not still fresh in Islam I would have ordered the House to be demolished so that I will rebuild it, affixing it with the ground and making a door for it from the East and another from the West, adding to it six dhiraa’ (cubits ) from the Hijr because the Quraishy reduced from it when they were reconstructing it’ [Muslim Hadith no. (1333) vol.2, pp. 969]. This position is also called Al-Hatweem.

Among its virtues is that a prayer offered in it is like a prayer offered inside the Ka’bah. Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said; I used to like entering the Sacred House to offer prayer but the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) held my hand and put me in the Al-Hijr and said : Pray in this place if you wish to enter inside the Ka’bah because It is a portion of the house. [At.Tirmidhi Hadith no. (876). vol,3, pp.225].