Prophet Muhammad's Biography (Part 5)

Rebuilding Al-Ka'bah and Arbitration

When Allah's Messenger (pbuh) was 35, the Quraish started rebuilding Al-Ka'bah. That was because it was a low building of white stones no more than nine arm's length, from the days of Ismael (a.s). It was also roofless leaving thieves with easy access to its treasures inside. It was also exposed to wearing factors of nature - because it was built so long ago - that weakened and cracked its walls.
5 years before Prophethood, there was a great flood in Makkah that swept towards Al-Ka'bah and almost demolished it. The Quraish were obliged to rebuild it to safeguard its holiness and position. The chiefs of the Quraish decided to use licit money in rebuilding Al-Ka'bah, so money derived from immoral means was excluded. They were at first too fearful to knock down the walls of the K'abah, but Walid bin Al-Mughirah Al-Mukhzumi began the task. Seeing nothing happened to him, the others joined untill they reached the basis laid by Abraham (a.s).

When they started rebuilding the wall, they divided the tasks among tribes. Each tribe was responsible for rebuilding apart of it. The tribes collected stones and started working, the man who laid the stones was a Roman mason called Baqum.The work went on in harmony until the time came to put the sacred black stone in its proper place. Then strife broke out among the chiefs and lasted for 4/5 days, each contesting for the honor of placing the stone in its position. Daggers were on the point of being drawn and great bloodshed seemed imminent. Luckily the oldest among the chiefs Abu Umaiyah bin Mughirah Al-Mukhzumi made a proposal that was accepted by Allah. He said

Let him, who enters the Sanctuary first of all decide on the point

It was then Allah's Will that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) should be the first to enter the mosque. On seeing him, all the people present, cried with one voice:

Al-Ameen (the trustworthy has come. We are content to abide by his decision

They informed him of their objective. He asked for a mantle spreading it on the ground and placing the stone in its center.He then asked the representatives of different clans among them to lift the stone all together.When it reached the proper place, Muhammad (pbuh) laid it in the proper position with his own hands.This is how a very tense situation was eased and a grave danger averted by wisdom of the Prophet (pbuh)

The Quarish ran out of the licit money so they eliminated Six. an area covering six arm's length on the northern side of AL-Ka'bah which is called Al-Hijr or Al-Hateem. They raised its door from the level ground to let in only the people whom they desired. When the structure was fifteen arm's lengths high, they erected the roof which rested on six columns.

When the building of Al-Ka'bah was finished, it was assumed a square form about fifteen meters high. The side with black stone and   the one opposite were ten meters long each.The black stone was 1.50 Meters from the circumambulation level ground. The two  other sides were 12 Meters  long each.The door was 2 meters high from the level ground.A building structure of 0.25 meters high and 0.30 meters wide on the average surrounded Al-Ka'bah.It was called Ash-Shadherwan, originally an integral part of the Sacred Sanctuary, but the Quraish left it out. 
[Bukhari 1/215; Fiqh As-Seerah p.62-63; Ibn Hisham 2/192-197]

*As always thanks for taking your time visiting my blog and reading this. I advice you to read the book "The Sealed Nectar" by Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum as its where i get my posts from.
You never know, not get the time to write as am about to start my classes again.
I will try tho.

Thats it for now. Peace be with you

Salaam!.