Building of Kaaba, finding the Blackstone & Maqam Ibrahim

• Allah had commanded Prophet Ibrahim to build the Kaaba. Prophet Ibrahim asked Isma'il to help him build it. Maqam Ibrahim is where Ibrahim stood when he built the Ka'bah. Ibrahim would stand there and Ismail would pass stones up to him. In Surah Baq'rah it is stated for us to take Maqam Ibrahim as a place of prayer "And take the station of Ibrahim as a place of prayer" [Surah Baqarah 2:125]
• Prophet Ibrahim asked Isma'il to find a rock in order to place it where the Black stone currently is, as Isma'il went to look for one, Angel Jibreel came with the Black Stone from heaven & placed it. Reported by Bayhaqi 2/55, Sahih according to Muslims condition

The Elephant Incident

• Abrahah who was an Ethiopian Christian ruling Yemen had built a church, he wanted to divert the Pilgrimage of the Arabs from the Ka'bah to this Church. The Arabs were angered over this and a man from Kinanah came and desecrated the church, Abrahah got angry over this and led an army to destroy the Kaaba. The Arabs were unable to fight this army so backed off and tried to make peace, but Abrahah was intent on destroying the Kaaba. Abrahah prepered his elephant to enter Makkah, but he elephant refused to get up. Allah then sent birds with stones defeating the army & Abrahah. 

Kaaba Rebuilt 

• The Quraysh wanted to rebuild the Kaaba & put a roof in it, so they got the resources to do it. There was a decision that needed to be made on who should place the black stone and they agreed that the next person to appear from a certain direction would place it, that person was Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and he then placed the Blackstone. Reported by 2/56 Hakim & Dhahabi declared it trustworthy & it was reported in Musnad Imam Ahmad 3/425, Albani said it's chain is good.
• Ibn Az-Zubair had rebuilt the Kaaba due weakness of the foundations, and built it on the foundations of Ibrahim as the Quraish had fallen short in that regard. He incorporated the Hijr in the house and made two doors in order to fufil what the Prophet had commanded

  "Ibn Az-Zubair said to me, "Aisha used to tell you secretly a number of things. What did she tell you about the Ka`ba?" I replied, "She told me that once the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'O `Aisha! Had not your people been still close to the pre-Islamic period of ignorance (infidelity)! I would have dismantled the Ka`ba and would have made two doors in it; one for entrance and the other for exit." Later on Ibn Az-Zubair did the same. [Bukhari 3/128]. Zubair had also covered the Kaaba with a cloth. 

• Al-Hajjaj wrote to Abdul-Malik bin Marwan telling him what Ibn Az-Zubair had done in regards to the changes of the Kaaba, Abdul-Malik advised Al-Hajjaj to revert what Ibn Az-Zubair did and return the appearance back to how it was at Prophet Muhammad's time. Al-Hajjaj went and did this. Al-Hajjaj then came to know of the hadith mentioned above and regretted what he did, but did not make any further changes.  Abd al-Malik said: I do riot think that Abu Khubaib (i. e. Ibn Zabair) had heard from 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) (about the intended wish of the Prophet [may peace be upon him) In regard to the alteration of the Ka'ba). Harith said: Yes, I myself did hear from her. He ('Abd al-Malik) said: Well, tell me what you heard from her. He stated that she (Hadrat 'A'isha) had said that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) remarked: Verily your people have reduced (the area) of the House from its (original foundations, and if they had not recently abandoned polytheism (and embraced Islam) I would have reversed it to (those foundations) which they had left out of it. nd if your people would take initiative after me in rebuilding it, then come along with me so that I should show you what they have left out of it. He showed her about fifteen cubits of area from the side of Hatim (that they had separated). This is the narration transmitted by 'Abdullah b. Ubaid. Walid b. 'Ata' has, however, made this addition to it:" Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: I would have made two doors on the level of the ground (facing) the east and the west. Do you know why your people raised the level of its door (i. e. the door of the Ka'ba)? She said: No. He said: (They did it) out of vanity so that (they might be in a position) to grant admittance to him only whom they wished. When a person intended to get into it, they let him climb (the stairs), and as he was about to enter, they pushed him and he fell down." 'Abd al-Malik said to Harith; Did you yourself hear her saying this? He said: Yes. He (Harith) said that he ('Abd al-Malik) scratched the ground with his staff for some time and then said: I wish I had left his (Ibn Zubair's) work there [Sahih Muslim 7/3084]
• Caliph Al-Walif bin Abdul Malik added gold plates to the door of the Kaaba, he was the first person in Islam to adorn the Kaaba with gold.

Background of ZamZam & Safa/Marwa

• Prophet Ibrahim left Hajar & Ishmael (who was a baby at this time) in the Dessert which is now the Masjid Al Haram area. It was Allah's command for him to do this. As he was walking away Hajar asked him "to whom are you leaving us?" Prophet Ibrahim replied with "I am leaving you to Allah's care", Hajar was satisfied with this response. Hajar returned to her place and drank water from the little that was in her water skin, as it finished she went to search for some water.
• She went to Safa mountain & looked hoping to see somebody, but nobody was there, she then went to Marwa mountain and nothing to be found there either. She went back and fourth several times. She then went back to check on Ishmael and found that he was in a state of dying. She then went back to both Safa & Marwa, but nobody to be found. She then was proceeding back to check on Ishmael & Angel Jibreel then spoke to her & she asked for his help "if he can". She did not know it was Angel Jibreel. Jibreel hit the earth with his heel and water started gushing fourth, the location being the ZamZam Well. This has been collected in Sahih al-Bukhari 3365.

ZamZam well is found by Prophets Father (Abdul-Muttalib)

• The ZamZam well had been lost over the years, location was unknown. It is said that Jurhum are the ones who buried it when they left Makkah. Abdul-Muttalib had a dream where someone said "dig Barrah" after further dreams Abdul Muttalib was told about ZamZam and given a description of it's location.
• After digging that location for 3 days he identified the Well. Abdul Muttalib then took charge of giving pilgrims this water. This has been collected by Al-Bayhaqi & classed as Hassan by Hammoud ibn ‘Abdullaah At-Tuwaijri.

Prophet Calls the Quraysh to Islam from Safa

• Anas has narrated: When the following verse was revealed: “And warn your closest relatives [Surah Shu’ara, Verse: 214]”. The Prophet ﷺ ascended upon [Mount] Safa and began to call out to the tribes of Quraysh: ‘O Bani Fihr, O Bani ‘Adiyy’. Until they had all gathered. If a man was unable to come out, he sent a delegate to see what it was. Abu Lahab came as well as the [rest of] Quraysh. Prophet ﷺ then said: ‘Tell me, if I were to inform you that there is an army by the valley, which intends to attack you, would you believe me?’ They said: “Yes! We have only experienced truthfulness from you!” He said: ‘Indeed, I am most definitely warning you of a severe punishment ahead!’ Abu Lahab then said: “May destruction come to you for the rest of your life! Have you merely gathered us for this? “ The following verses were then revealed: “May the hands of Abu Lahab be destroyed, and may he be destroyed! Neither his wealth nor the things he earned shall benefit him! [Surah Lahab]”” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 4770; Also see: Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 4972]

Teaching The New Reverts About Islam Near Safa

•  The house of Arqam bin Arqam was used to teach the new reverts to Islam in secret, this was located near Safa

• Masjid Al Haram used to very small, with no walls. It was surrounded by houses. As the Ummah grew it became too small for the people. Umar bin Al-Khattab purchased the houses around the Haram & broke these down in order to extend. 
• Uthman also made some additions around 26AH
• Abdullah Bin Az-Zubair, Abu Ja'far Al'Mansur, Al-Mahdi bin Abi Jafar Al'Mansur & others also extended further.

The First Revelation 

• The Prophet ﷺ would often stay in this cave. It was where Angel Jibreel came & asked the Prophet ﷺ to recite the 1st verse in Surah Al-Alaq, the Prophet ﷺ replied I cannot read. Jibreel then recited the next 4 verses of Surah Alaq. The Prophet ﷺ was 40 years old when this happened. A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), reported: The first (form) with which was started the revelation to the Messenger of Allah was the true vision in sleep. And he did not see any vision but it came like the bright gleam of dawn. Thenceforth solitude became dear to him and he used to seclude himself in the cave of Hira', where he would engage in tahannuth (and that is a worship for a number of nights) before returning to his family and getting provisions again for this purpose. He would then return to Khadija and take provisions for a like period, till Truth came upon him while he was in the cave of Hira'. There came to him the angel and said: Recite, to which he replied: I am not lettered. He took hold of me [the Apostle said] and pressed me, till I was hard pressed; thereafter he let me off and said: Recite. I said: I am not lettered. He then again took hold of me and pressed me for the second time till I was hard pressed and then let me off and said: Recite, to which I replied: I am not lettered. He took hold of me and pressed me for the third time, till I was hard pressed and then let me go and said: Recite in the name of your Lord Who created, created man from a clot of blood. Recite. And your most bountiful Lord is He Who taught the use of pen, taught man what he knew not (al-Qur'an, Al-Alaq 1-4)...... [Sahih Muslim 1/308 (Hadith shortened) 

• The first Aqabah pledge took place around here. Muslims from Madinah came to perform Hajj, the Prophet ﷺ had given them dawah a year ago during his visit to Taif. Ubadah ibn As-Samat narrated He said, “I was one of the Naqibs who swore allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him). We took a pledge not to join partners with Allah, not to commit illegal sexual intercourse, not to steal, not to kill a life which Allah has sanctified, except if there is a right to do so, not to slander chaste women and not to sin. If we keep to that, (we will have) paradise, but if we committed some of these sins, Allah (Glorified is He) will judge us” [related by Muslim].

•  

  The second Aqabah pledge was the following Hajj from the first pledge where a large of Muslim's from Madinah came. The event has been recorded by Ka'b bin Malik but is a lengthy hadith, this is the summary; There were 73 people, the Prophet ﷺ asked them to; hear & obey, expand in charity, enjoying the good & forbidding the evil, stand up for Allah regardless of criticism & protect him just as they protect their women & children & in return they would get paradise. They all agreed and took the pledge. 

Kufar Plot to Kill the Prophet ﷺ & Permission to Migrate to Madinah

• The kufar had plotted to kill the Prophet ﷺ, Jibreel revealed this to him and then the Prophet ﷺ was given permission to migrate, he told the news to Abu Bakr, who asked if he could come with the Prophet ﷺ too. This has been collected in Sahih Bukhaari (3905)
• Before going to this place, the Quraish had blocked the Prophet's ﷺ house waiting for him to come out. This is when he asked Ali to sleep in his bed and confirmed that no harm will befall him. This verse was revealed [And we have put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and we have covered them up so they cannot see, 36:9]. Thus the Prophet ﷺ left the house and they were unable to see him, went to Abu Bakr's house and they proceeded on their way to this cave and made hijrah towards Madinah. Reported by Ahmad through Hasan chain.

Prophet ﷺ & Abu Bakr at the Cave

• It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah, the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), said: “… then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and Abu Bakr headed towards a cave on the mountain of Thawr, and they hid in it for three nights, during which ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Bakr – who was a smart young lad – stayed with them at night then left just before dawn (at the end of the night) so that he would be among Quraysh in Makkah when morning came, as if he had spent the night among them. He used to listen out to see what they were planning, then he would bring news of that [to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and Abu Bakr] when darkness came…” This was narrated by al-Bukhaari (3905)

• Allah had cloaked them both, from the Quraysh seeing them - It was narrated that Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I said to the Prophet ﷺ , when I was with him in the cave: “If one of them looks down at his feet he will see us.” He said, “What do you think, O Abu Bakr, of two the third of whom is Allaah?” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3653.
• “If you help him (Muhammad) not (it does not matter), for Allaah did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of the two; when they (Muhammad and Abu Bakr) were in the cave, he said to his companion (Abu Bakr): “Be not sad (or afraid), surely, Allaah is with us.” Then Allaah sent down His Sakeenah (calmness, tranquillity, peace) upon him, and strengthened him with forces (angels) which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while the Word of Allaah that became the uppermost; and Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise” [al-Tawbah 9:40]

• This battle took place after the conquest of Makkah. the Prophet ﷺ stayed in Makkah for 10 days.  The Hawazin and Thaqif tribes, when hearing about the Prophet ﷺ being in Makkah, prepared their military operations to attack the Muslims. They disbelievers also brought women & children to the battle in order to stop anyone fleeing. These two tribes were fearing they'd be attacked by the Muslims and therefore prepared their military operations to attack. 
• Prophet ﷺ led an army of 12,000 people and reached the area, Muslims were victorious. Only 4 Muslims had died in the battle.
•  "Truly Allah has given you victory on many battle fields, and on the Day of Hunain (battle) when you rejoiced at your great number, but it availed you naught and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you, then you turned back in flight" [Surah At-Tawba, 25]

• This is where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had given the famous "farewell speech" delivered in the farewell pilgrim (Hajj). & where Allah revealed the verse: "Today I have completed your religion for you, perfected My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion" (Quran 5:3)

• Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: A man from the Jews said, “O leader of the believers, there is a verse you recite in your book and, had it been revealed to us as Jews, we would have taken that day as a celebration.” Umar said, “Which verse is it?” The man recited the verse, “Today I have completed your religion for you, perfected My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.” (5:3) Umar said, “I know the day and place in which this verse was revealed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. It was while he was standing on the day of Arafat on Friday.” [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim]

• "O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. God has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. God has Judged that there shall be no interest, and that all the interest due to Al-Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib shall henceforth be waived...Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under a trust from God and with His permission. If they abide by your right, then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.O People, listen to me in earnest, worship God, perform your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan, and offer Zakat. Perform Hajj if you have the means.All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white; [none have superiority over another] except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves. Remember, one day you will appear before God and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me, and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O people, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example, the Sunnah, and if you follow these you will never go astray.All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and it may be that the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O God, that I have conveyed your message to your people." [Reported by Bukhari, Muslim & more]