Have you ever imagined someone swimming around the Kaaba? This person did it 83 years ago

2024-06-10 2024-06-10T11:18:19Z

Weather of Arabia - 83 years ago, after heavy rains fell on Mecca, the water flooded the courtyard for more than a meter and a half, until it covered the Black Stone, and in those circumstances, the young Bahraini Ali Al-Awadi circumambulated swimming around the Kaaba, in a rare scene recorded in the photo taken of him. 1941.

The story of circumambulating the Kaaba 83 years ago

This picture tells the story of Ali Al-Awadhi, who was studying in Mecca at the time and was no more than 12 years old. Al-Awadhi indicated in previous press reports that the heavy rains continued for an entire week without interruption, whether at night or during the day.

On the last day of rain, Al-Awadhi decided with his brother and two of his friends, accompanied by their professor, to go to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and upon their arrival, they found that water had completely covered the Grand Mosque.

Al-Awadhi, who was an experienced swimmer, suggested that they swim around the Holy Kaaba, to perform this act of worship in an unconventional way. Indeed, he went down with his brother and one of his friends to implement the idea.

The photo was taken of Al-Awadhi near the Maqam Ibrahim, while his brother and friend were sitting at the door of the Kaaba to rest after a rare and distinguished circumambulation. Ali Al-Awadi died in mid-2015, but he left behind an exceptional story recorded in biographies, indicating that a companion had previously gone swimming around the ancient house.

One of the first people to circumambulate the Kaaba while swimming

Before circumambulation and swimming became a rare incident, the story of rain mixed with the Holy Kaaba was transmitted in biographical books from the early days of the life of the Messenger - may God bless him and grant him peace - prior to the mission. At that time, the ancient house collapsed as a result of the impact of the rain, so the Noble Messenger participated in rebuilding it, where he placed The black stone is in place.

In biographical accounts, it is mentioned that the first person to circumambulate the ancient House swimming was the companion Abdullah bin Al-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam. When the floods came and the water flooded the courtyard, people saw Ibn Al-Zubayr swimming around, as Mujahid mentioned that he saw Ibn Al-Zubayr doing that. The scholars also mentioned Al-Badr bin Jama’ah, who also floated around swimming and whenever he was close to the Black Stone, he dived to kiss it, according to what was stated in the book “Kashf Al-Khifa and Remover of Confusion.”

Despite the occurrence of many floods in Mecca, the practice of circumambulating by swimming is a rare incident, as historians say that people waded in the water with their feet in most cases, with the exception of famous incidents, one of which occurred in the era of early Islam and the other about 83 years ago.