['Aalim Network QR] Ka'ba (It's extent)

[Abbas Jaffer <abbas@dircon.co.uk>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun alaykum,

The reply to the following question was kindly provided by Dr Liyakatali
Takim.

Regards

Abbas Jaffer
Moderator, 'Aalim Network

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QUESTION:

Salam,

A small area ouside kaba is included in tawaf... Please tell me why.. 
Some say it was a part inside Kaba.  Is it true? 
And also some say that the original shape of Kaba was a rectangle not a
square.  Is it true? 

Please enlight us about this area just outside Kaba which is included
in tawaf.

ANSWER:

Salaamun 'alaykum,

Tawaf is to be performed around the Ka'ba, the stipulated boundary within
which one can circumambulate is a distance between the Ka'aba and Maqame
Ibrahim. One can only go beyond this boundary if, due to the sheer volume
of people, one cannot perform the tawaf within the boundary. 

I have not seen any reports to suggest that the cubical Ka'ba used to be a
rectangle. 

With salaams and du'as

Liyakatali Takim