Which prophet, with his son Isma'il, rebuilt the Kaaba?

Ibrahim, known as Abraham in English, rebuilt the Kaaba with his son Isma'il, according to Islamic tradition. The Qur'an describes the two of them raising the foundations of the sacred sanctuary in Mecca.

In the Qur'anic account, Ibrahim and Isma'il pray while building, asking God to accept their work and guide their descendants. The Kaaba becomes the focal point of Muslim prayer and pilgrimage, and Islamic tradition connects its foundation with the worship of the one God. Ibrahim is therefore closely associated with the origins of the Hajj and with the spiritual heritage shared by Muslims.

The phrase “rebuilt the Kaaba” matters because Islamic tradition generally presents the sanctuary as having an earlier foundation. Ibrahim and Isma'il are understood to have restored or raised its foundations rather than necessarily constructing the site for the first time. The Qur'an does not provide a detailed architectural description of the work.

A common mix-up is to credit Muhammad with building the Kaaba. Muhammad restored its monotheistic function after the conquest of Mecca and helped establish its place in Islam, but Ibrahim and Isma'il are the figures traditionally linked with rebuilding it. The Kaaba remains at the center of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.