كعبة

Core meaning

The name of the central point of the Inviolable House; the root ك ع ب names the pivot, as the knees are the body's pivots.

Uses

1. ٱلْكَعْبَة → "the Ka'ba" : the central point of the Inviolable House, where the offerings arrive.

   • «هَدْيًۢا بَٰلِغَ ٱلْكَعْبَةِ» — "as an offering reaching the Ka'ba" (5:95)
   • «جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكَعْبَةَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ قِيَٰمًۭا لِّلنَّاسِ» — "God has made the Ka'ba, the Inviolable House, a support for mankind" (5:97)

Evidence from the text

The text defines the Ka'ba by its function. In 5:97, it is "a support for mankind", together with the inviolable month and the offerings, voluntary or vow-bound; in 5:95, the offering that makes amends for a fault must be one "reaching the Ka'ba". It is the point where offerings converge before being distributed. The same root names ٱلْكَعْبَيْن, the knees (5:6): the pivot of the body and the pivot of the House.

See also

كعب (the knees (5:6)) · بيت (the Inviolable House)