The Sacredness of the Kaʿba in the Light of the Qurʾān: An Analytical Study

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Article

Author

Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran.

10.30513/rhj.2026.8573.1026

Abstract

In this paper, I intend to examine the Qurʾān's description of the Kaʿba as the most sacred shrine for Muslims. In other words, I aim to identify the characteristics that the Qurʾān attributes to the Kaʿba, which emphasize its sacredness. To this end, I first analyze the Qurʾānic names that refer directly to the Kaʿba, as well as those referring to al-Masjid al-Ḥarām—the mosque at whose center the Kaʿba is located—and to Mecca, the city in which al-Masjid al-Ḥarām stands. I then show how these names reflect the Kaʿba’s sacredness. In the next step, I discuss the relevant Qurʾānic verses concerning the Kaʿba to show how their content affirms its sacredness and what specific attributes they ascribe to it. Based on these two lines of examination, I conclude that the Qurʾān introduces the Kaʿba not merely as a sacred place, but also as the most sacred one.

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References

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Available Online from 12 February 2026

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