Jabir Ibn `Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, related: "Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, touched the Yamani Corner. Then he made three rounds circumambulating around the Ka`bah hastily and made the other four walking. Then he went near the Maqam of Ibrahim and recited the Qur'anic verse, “Take as your place of worship the place where Abraham stood (to pray)”. (Al-Baqarah: 124) Then he stood behind the Maqam facing the Ka`bah and performed two Rak`ahs (in Prayer)." After relating many Hadiths about the Prophet's prayer behind the Maqam and his circumambulation around the Ka`bah, Ibn Kathir said that the Maqam is the rock on which Prophet Ibrahim, peace and blessings be upon him, stood when the walls got too high for him and he needed to be in a higher position.

Abu Talib said that Ibrahim's footprints appear on the rock up till now.

Anas Ibn Malik also said that he saw the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim, peace and blessings be upon him, on the Maqam. Then people kept on wiping it until they disappeared.

Maqamul-Khalil (Prophet Ibrahim)

The Maqam is the rock on which Prophet Ibrahim, peace and blessings be upon him, stood while building the Ka`bah. Another opinion says that it is the rock on which he stood when he called people to perform Hajj there. Others say that it is the rock on which he stood while his daughter-in-law was washing his head when he went there asking about his son Isma`il. All these opinions can be coordinated by saying that Prophet Ibrahim, peace and blessings be upon him, stood on that rock while doing all or most of the mentioned things.

Description of the Maqam:

The Maqam is located under a wooden dome standing on four slight stony columns, among which there are four iron windows from its four sides. The Maqam is to be reached from the eastern side. The dome above the Maqam is ornamented with gold, and white-colored from its top. It was renewed in 810 A.H. upon the order of An-Nasir Farag, king of Egypt.

Position of the Maqam Before and After Islam:

The current position of the Maqam is the same as it was before Islam, upon the advent of Islam and in the eras of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and Abu Bakr and `Umar, may Allah be pleased with them. But in the Caliphate of `Umar, a flood happened and drew the Maqam from its place and placed it in front of the Ka`bah. Then `Umar returned it back to its original place in the presence of the masses.

The Ornament of the Maqam:

The first one to decorate the Maqam was the Caliph Al-Mahdi Al-`Abbasi. He feared it may decay, as it was made of soft rocks. He sent one thousand dinars to make the necessary procedures in order to get it strengthened. Then in the era of Al-Mutawakkil, it was ornamented with gold in 236 A.H.

The decoration put in the era of Al-Mahdi was removed in 256 A.H. to mend the Maqam. So it was renewed and hardened and more gold and silver were added to it. It was surrounded by two gold belts, made of 992 mithqal of gold, and a silver belt. The Maqam was brought to the palace and chemical compounds were made for it to be hardened and mended therewith, as some pieces fell down while removing the decoration in 255 A.H. in the process of mending it. After it was already made stronger, the Maqam was taken to its place in the Holy Mosque and was fixed there in 256 A.H.

The distance between the Maqam and the Black Stone is about 29 cubits and 9 fingers, and from the middle of the Ka`bah and the Maqam is 27 cubits, and between Shazurwan (part of the Ka`bah) and the Maqam and the well of Zamzam 24 cubits and 20 fingers. The Maqam has been subjected to many mending process and still up till now.

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