The Maqaams

The Maqaams
Written by Dr. Bilal Philips
Prior to ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Saud’s conquest of Arabia (1927), there were a number of structures around the Ka‘bah. Opposite the four sides of the Ka‘bah, stood four other small buildings, where the Imaams of the four orthodox schools of law (Madh-habs); Hanafee, Shaafi‘ee, Hambalee and Maalikee, took their station and guided the congregation in their prayers. The Maalikee Maqaam on the south and that of Hambalee opposite the Black Stone were small pavilions open on all sides and supported by four slender pillars with a light sloping roof, terminating in a point exactly in the style of Indian pagodas.



The Hanafee Maqaam, which was the largest, was open on all sides and supported by twelve small pillars. It had an upper storey, which remained open, where the Muazzin, who calls to prayer, used to take his stand. This was first built in 1517 by Sultaan Saleem I and was afterwards rebuilt by Khushgildee, governor of Jiddah, in 1540 CE. However, all four Maqaams were built in 1664 and the Shaafi‘ee Maqaam was over the well of Zam-Zam, to which it served as an upper chamber. The adherents of the four different schools of law used to seat themselves near their respective Maqaams for prayer.



The Hambalee Maqaam was the place where the government officers and important people were seated during prayers. The Pashas and the Shareef were placed there and in their absence, the eunuchs of the Ka‘bah. They filled the space under this Maqaam in front, and the female pilgrims had their places assigned behind it. The ladies used to visit chiefly for the two evening prayers.