Door of the Kaaba

The Door of the Kaaba (Arabic: باب الكعبة) is the only entrance to the Kaaba, the four-sided structure located in the center of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The door is on the eastern side of the Kaaba, near the corner where the Black Stone (Hajarul Aswad) is located.

The door is elevated above ground level by several meters from the base of the Kaaba, so when it is opened a wheeled staircase is brought and placed against it. The Kaaba is not opened daily; it is opened only at certain times, such as when the interior is being cleaned or when dignitaries are being received.

Appearance and structure

The door consists of two wooden panels covered in gold. The gold surface is inscribed with fine calligraphy including Quranic verses and religious inscriptions. Around the door's frame are geometric patterns.

Historically, the Kaaba's door has been replaced several times over different periods as various rulers and states have reconstructed or renewed it. The current door was made during the Saudi period, consisting of heavy gold with wooden panels.

Custody of the key

The key to the Kaaba has traditionally been kept by the Bani Shayba family (also known as Sadanatul Kaaba). This duty of guardianship has been passed down by that family from antiquity and includes being consulted when the Kaaba is opened or cleaned.

The kiswa and the door

The kiswa—the black covering draped over the Kaaba—has a special section that hangs over the door, known as the burqucul baab. This section is made of gold-embroidered silk on which religious texts are inscribed, and it is replaced when a new kiswa is put on.