Muslim tradition holds that the Kaaba’s origin goes back to the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail (Ishmael), who are believed to have raised its foundations in ancient times, long before Islam, but without a precise historical date attached to that event.

Historically, scholars can more confidently date reconstructions of the Kaaba rather than its very first construction.

  • The pre‑Islamic Kaaba was standing as a sanctuary in Mecca and was rebuilt by the Quraysh tribe around 608 CE, shortly before the Prophet Muhammad’s mission.
  • It was damaged during the siege of Mecca in 683 CE and rebuilt again soon after in the 7th century, with later major repairs and reconstructions occurring in 1630–1631 CE after serious flood damage.

So in simple terms:

  • From a religious perspective, Muslims say the Kaaba was first built by Ibrahim and Ismail in remote antiquity.
  • From a historical‑critical perspective, the structure can be clearly traced in records to pre‑Islamic Mecca and to major rebuilds beginning in the 7th century CE.