The rebuilding of the Kaaba and Prophet Muhammad's role as an arbitrator

When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) reached thirty-five years of age, the Quraysh wanted to demolish the Kaaba to rebuild it again, as its walls had cracked and it was just about to fall down. Moreover, it did not have a roof so a group of thieves stole the treasures kept inside it. Therefore, the Quraysh had to rebuild it; they were eager to keep it in good shape. They agreed that they would use only pure money, so money gained from prostitution, usury or from oppressing people was not used in rebuilding it. But they feared that demolishing the Kaaba would earn Allah’s wrath.

Al-Waleed ibn Al-Mugheerah Al-Makhzumy was the first to start to demolish it. He took a pick-axe and said, “Oh Allah, we only intend good.” Then he started to demolish it, and Quraysh joined him in demolishing it until they reached the foundations Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) had laid.

When they wanted to start constructing it, they divided the Kaaba into parts and gave each tribe a part to build. Each tribe gathered the stones needed to build the part that was assigned to it and started to build their section. They assigned a Roman mason called Baqoom to reconstruct the walls.

When they reached the position of the Black Stone, they started to disagree as to who would place the Black Stone into position. After the dispute intensified and blood shed was imminent, they agreed that they would allow the first person to enter the precincts of the Kaaba to solve the dispute. The first person who entered was the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). When they saw him, they exclaimed, “The trustworthy one has come.” Consequently, they all agreed to listen to him.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ordered that a piece of cloth be brought, and he placed the Black Stone in the middle of the cloth. Then he (peace be upon him) ordered for every tribe to lift an edge of the sheet at the same time and bring it near the Kaaba. Next, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) took the Black Stone and placed it in its position. This was a wise solution to the dispute which illustrated how clever and wise the Messenger of Allah was, and his people were pleased with the Messenger of Allah’s decision.