Chapter on the Reasons Behind Hajj
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 2|Book 3|Chapter 1
وَ إِنَّمَا صَارَ مَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ لِأَنَّ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ مَقَاماً فِي اَلْقِيَامَةِ وَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مَقَاماً فَمَقَامُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَنْ يَمِينِ عَرْشِ رَبِّنَا عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ شِمَالِ عَرْشِهِ، فَمَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي مَقَامِهِ يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ وَ عَرْشُ رَبِّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مُقْبِلٌ غَيْرُ مُدْبِرٍ وَ صَارَ اَلرُّكْنُ اَلشَّامِيُّ مُتَحَرِّكاً فِي اَلشِّتَاءِ وَ اَلصَّيْفِ وَ اَللَّيْلِ وَ اَلنَّهَارِ لِأَنَّ اَلرِّيحَ مَسْجُونَةٌ تَحْتَهُ وَ إِنَّمَا صَارَ اَلْبَيْتُ مُرْتَفِعاً يُصْعَدُ إِلَيْهِ بِالدَّرَجِ لِأَنَّهُ لَمَّا هَدَمَ اَلْحَجَّاجُ اَلْكَعْبَةَ فَرَّقَ اَلنَّاسُ تُرَابَهَا، فَلَمَّا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَبْنُوهَا خَرَجَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ حَيَّةٌ فَمَنَعَتِ اَلنَّاسَ اَلْبِنَاءَ فَأُتِيَ اَلْحَجَّاجُ فَأُخْبِرَ فَسَأَلَ اَلْحَجَّاجُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ اَلْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِمَا اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ «مُرِ اَلنَّاسَ أَنْ لاَ يَبْقَى أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ أَخَذَ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً إِلاَّ رَدَّهُ» فَلَمَّا اِرْتَفَعَتْ حِيطَانُهُ أَمَرَ بِالتُّرَابِ فَأُلْقِيَ فِي جَوْفِهِ فَلِذَلِكَ صَارَ اَلْبَيْتُ مُرْتَفِعاً يُصْعَدُ إِلَيْهِ بِالدَّرَجِ وَ صَارَ اَلنَّاسُ يَطُوفُونَ حَوْلَ اَلْحِجْرِ وَ لاَ يَطُوفُونَ فِيهِ لِأَنَّ أُمَّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ دُفِنَتْ فِي اَلْحِجْرِ فَفِيهِ قَبْرُهَا فَطِيفَ كَذَلِكَ كَيْلاَ يُوطَأَ قَبْرُهَا».
The station of Ibrahim (Maqam Ibrahim) is situated to the left because Ibrahim عليه السلام has a position on the Day of Judgment, as does Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم (peace be upon him and his family). The position of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم is to the right of the Divine Throne, while the position of Ibrahim عليه السلام is to its left. This earthly location of the Maqam Ibrahim corresponds to Ibrahim's position in the Hereafter, while the Throne of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (glorified and exalted) is ever-facing and not turned away. The Syrian Corner of the Ka'bah moves during the winter and summer, day and night, due to the winds trapped beneath it. The Ka'bah is elevated, and people ascend to it via steps because when Al-Hajjaj destroyed the Ka'bah, the people dispersed its soil. When they sought to rebuild it, a serpent emerged and prevented them from continuing. When Al-Hajjaj was informed, he consulted Ali ibn Al-Husayn عليه السلام, who instructed that everyone return the soil they had taken. After the walls were raised, the remaining soil was placed inside the Ka'bah, leading to its elevated state, requiring steps for access. As for why people circumambulate the Hijr Ismail without entering it, it is because the grave of Ismail’s mother (peace be upon her) is located within the Hijr. Circumambulating around it was established so that her grave would not be stepped upon.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh