Hijr Ismail & The Hateem — Complete Pilgrim Guide

The Hijr Ismail (الحجر الإسماعيلي) is a semicircular area adjacent to the northwestern wall of the Kaaba, enclosed by a low curved wall called the Hateem. It measures approximately 8.5 metres wide and 1.5 metres high — a compact, white marble space that can accommodate around 50–100 people at a time.

The area is open to the sky. Pilgrims performing Tawaf walk around the outside of the Hateem wall — meaning the Hijr Ismail is inside the circumambulation circuit. You must pass outside of it during Tawaf, but you can enter it through the gaps at either end of the wall when you are not actively performing Tawaf circuits.

The word Hateem (حطيم) comes from the Arabic root meaning "to break or smash" — a reference to the historical fact that when the Quraysh rebuilt the Kaaba before the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ, they ran short of funds and had to leave out this section of the original foundations. They built a low wall (the Hateem) to mark where the original Kaaba extended, rather than completing the full structure.

Some scholars use Hateem specifically for the wall itself, and Hijr Ismailfor the enclosed area. In common usage among pilgrims worldwide, both terms refer to the same blessed space — the semicircular enclosure alongside the Kaaba.

According to this authentic hadith — and the scholarly consensus built upon it — the Hijr Ismail represents the area that was part of the original Kaaba as built by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Ismail (AS). When the Quraysh rebuilt the Kaaba, they left this section outside the main structure due to insufficient funds, but it remains spiritually and legally considered part of the Kaaba.

This is why the majority of Islamic scholars hold that praying two rakat inside the Hijr Ismail is equivalent to praying two rakat inside the Kaaba itself — a privilege that most Muslims will never achieve through any other means.

The Hijr Ismail is located on the northwestern side of the Kaaba — the side facing the Zamzam Well area when you are standing in the main courtyard. When performing Tawaf, it is the wall you walk around (not through) during each circuit.

To enter the Hijr Ismail, complete your Tawaf first. Once your circuits are done and you have prayed two rakat at Maqam Ibrahim, you can approach the Hijr Ismail separately. Enter through either of the two open ends of the curved Hateem wall — there is no door, just openings on both sides.

Important: During Tawaf, you must circumambulate the outside of the Hateem wall. Cutting through the Hijr Ismail during Tawaf invalidates that circuit — you must start that circuit again.

There is no special prayer prescribed specifically for the Hijr Ismail. The recommended practice is to offer two rakat of nafl (voluntary) prayer facing the Kaaba — since you are inside the area considered part of the Kaaba itself, you will be facing the remaining walls on either side.

After praying, pilgrims typically spend time in heartfelt dua. This is one of the most powerful places on earth for supplication — within the boundaries of the Kaaba, in sight of the Black Stone, surrounded by millions of Muslims in a state of worship.