We think that there are two main points that need to be tackled:
- What is inside the Ka`bah?
- Is it permitted to enter the Ka`bah?
To answer the first question, we would like to cite for you the following statement given by Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, president of the Fiqh Council of North America, in which he stated the following:
-there are two pillars inside (others report 3 pillars)
– there is a table on the side to put items like perfume
– there are two lantern-type lamps hanging from the ceiling
– the space can accommodate about 50 people
– there are no electric lights inside
– the walls and the floors are of the marble
– there are no windows inside
– there is only one door
– the upper inside walls of the Ka`bah were covered with some kind of curtain with the Kalima written on it.
As for entering the Ka`bah, it is reported in many hadiths that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered the Ka`bah and performed Prayer therein, and so did some of the Prophet’s great Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). So, there is nothing wrong in entering the Ka`bah and performing Prayer therein.
In this regard, Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states:
“It is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered the Ka`bah and performed Prayer therein, and so did some of the Prophet’s great Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). There are many hadiths reported in this concern in Al-Bukhari and Muslim. Also, An-Nawawi stated in his book Al-Idah: “It is recommendable for one to enter the Ka`bah bare-footed and offer Prayer therein. It is better to pursue the spot where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform Prayer. On entering the Ka`bah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to walk from his entrance until there were about three cubits between him and the opposite wall and perform Prayer, as recorded in Al-Bukhari. This can be done on condition that no harm is inflicted on the person or on others. If there is any such harm, one should not enter the Ka`bah.”
As for the reward for entering the Ka`bah, there are many hadiths. Some of them can be traced back to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), while others have their chain of transmission cut before it reaches up to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Among these hadiths is one that reads: “Whoever enters the Ka`bah and performs Prayer therein acquires a reward and one of his sins is expiated.”
Scholars of the four well known schools of Fiqh have agreed that it is recommendable to enter the Ka`bah, and Imam Malik saw it is, moreover, recommendable to increase the times of entering the Ka`bah.