The Holy Kaaba
The Kaaba (The Cube) is a building at the center of Islam's most important mosque, that is Masjid-al-Haram, Saudi Arabia. The Kaaba is the epicenter of Mecca. The cube-shaped structure is the most sacred site in Islam . It is considered by Muslims to be the Bayt Allah "House of God". Wherever they are in the world, Muslims are expected to face the Kaaba when performing Salat. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It serves as a focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus and direction. It is the only place on Earth that you can pray in any direction you want. Until recently, the Kaaba was opened twice a week for anyone to enter and pray. However, due to the rapid expansion in the number of pilgrims and other factors, the Kaaba is now opened only twice a year for dignitaries and exclusive guests only. The cloth on the Kaaba is called the Kiswah and it is changed every year, just once