Mekka mit dem Harem e'Scherif und der Kaaba - Banse Ewald - 1919

The Kaaba is a cube-shaped building located in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is considered the holiest site in Islam and is the direction in which Muslims around the world face during their daily prayers. According to Islamic tradition, the Kaaba was built by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail (Ishmael) as a house of worship for God. The building is draped in a black cloth embroidered with gold Koranic verses and is surrounded by a large courtyard where millions of pilgrims gather during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The Kaaba is also known as the House of Allah or Baitullah in Arabic.