Who Was First to Build the Ka'bah?

The Ka bah is the first and the most ancient house of worship ever
built for all mankind and it was dedicated to the worship of one God. So by
facing toward the Ka bah in our prayers, we are stressing the unity of
mankind under the Lordship of the One and only God. Moreover, by facing
toward the Ka bah, we are stressing the concept of Allah, the Almighty
being the center of our lives.

From the Qur an and Ahadith we learn that the Ka bah was the first
House established for mankind to worship Allah.

Almighty Allah says: Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for
mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah) full of blessing, and guidance for
Al-Alamin (mankind and jinn) (Surah Al- Imran 3:96). It is not
mentioned in any Ayah (verse) of the Qur an or authentic Hadith that it was
built by Adam (peace be upon him).

Some commentators of the Qur an say that it was first built by Adam
(peace be upon him) and some others say that it was first built by the
angels on this earth.

When Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) arrived at the place of the Ka
bah, the building itself did not exist. Even the city of Makkah had no
inhabitants.

Allah showed Prophet Ibrahim the site of the Ka bah. And (remember)
when We showed Ibrahim (Abraham) the site of the (Sacred) House (the Ka
bah at Makkah)(saying): Associate not anything (in worship) with Me, [La
ilaha illallah (nopne has the right to be worshipped but Allah) Islamic
Monotheism], and sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it, and
thowse who stand up (for prayer), and those who bow (submit themselves
with humility and obedience to Allah), and make prostration (in
prayer); (Surah Al-Hajj 22:26) and then he and his son Isma il (peace be upon
them both) together raised its foundations and built it from the ground
up. And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) and (his son) Isma il
(Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka bah) at Makkah),
(saying), Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the
all-Hearer, the all-Knower. (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:127).

The building of the Ka bah remained standing after the time of Prophet
Ibrahim (peace be upon him), though it had some structural damage from
time to time and underwent repairs.

When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was about 35 years old,
before his Prophethood, the Quraysh rebuilt the Ka bah because it had been
damaged due to a major flood in Makkah.

The Ka bah today stands on the same foundations on which it was raised
by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma il (peace be upon them).