On behalf of the Saudi King Abdullah, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal led the ceremonial washing of the Holy Kaaba on Saturday using Zamzam mixed with rose water.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of prominent figures, including Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and a number of diplomats from Muslim countries.
The interior of the Kaaba is washed twice a year — in Muharram and Shaaban, the first and ninth months of the Hijra calendar.
The Kaaba, which is located inside the sprawling Grand Mosque complex, is central to the Islamic faith as Muslims all over the world face it while performing daily prayers.
Millions of Muslims make pilgrimage to the mosque known as the Sacred House of Allah each year. Circumambulation of the cube-shaped structure is one of the mandatory rituals of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Visitors to the mosque complex circle the Kaaba seven times as a way of greeting.
It is believed that the Kaaba was built by the first man on earth, Adam (peace be upon him). It was later rebuilt by Prophet Ibrahim with his son, Prophet Ismail (peace be upon them) under God’s guidance about 4,000 years ago.
The Kaaba was the first house built for the worship of One God and is called “Bait-ul-Ateeq,” meaning the oldest house.
source : http://abna.ir
