How many times has the Ka'bah been built since Adam?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The Ka'bah was built several times. The following are the names of those who built the Ka'bah according to the consensus of scholars.

1) Prophet Ibraaheem

2) The Quraysh

3) Ibn az-Zubayr

4) Al-Hajjaaj ibn Yoosuf acting on the order of Ameer Abd al-Malik ibn Marwaan

The following are the constructions which are doubtful:

1) The construction done by Aadam

2) The construction done by the Angels before Aadam

3) Sheeth ibn Aadam

4) The Amalekites who might have built it after Ibraaheem

5) The tribe of Jurhum after the giant people who lived in the era that followed the era of Ibraaheem

6) Qusay ibn Kilaab

7) The construction done by Abd al-Muttalib after Qusay

There is no consensus on who built the Ka'bah first. Some believe that Allaah The Almighty first put it on earth for Aadam and it was not built by anybody. Others believe that the Angels built it first, then Aadam then his son Sheeth . A third group believes that Sheeth was the first to build it.

A fourth group even believes that Ibraaheem was the first one to build the Ka'bah.

The opinion that is  preferred, being the most backed by evidence, is one of following two opinions: The first one is that Ibraaheem was the first to build the Ka'bah and this is the choice of Ibn Katheer who said in this respect, "Ibn Abbaas said, "Had the people not performed Hajj to this House (Ka'bah) Allaah would have let the sky fall on the earth (hence destroying life on earth)."

No doubt that the honor of this goes back to Prophet Ibraaheem who was the first to build it, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And (remember) when We showed Ibraaheem (Abraham) the site of the (Sacred) House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) (saying): "Associate not anything (in worship) with Me, [Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah Islamic Monotheism] …} [Quran 22: 26].

Allaah The Almighty also Says (what means): {And (remember) when We showed Ibraaheem (Abraham) the site of the (Sacred) House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) (saying): "Associate not anything (in worship) with Me, [Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh Islâmic Monotheism], In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqaam (place) of Ibraaheem (Abraham); whosoever enters it, he attains security…} [Quran 3: 96-97].

Those who chose this opinion add the following verse to their evidence, Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And (remember) when Ibraaheem (Abraham) and (his son) Ismaa'eel (Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah), (saying), "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower."} [Quran 2: 127]. On the other hand, there is no sound evidence that the Prophet said: "The Ka'bah was built before Ibraaheem."

The second opinion is that Aadam was the first to build the Ka'bah. The only evidence for this is the Hadeeth reported by Al-Bayhaqi in Ad-Dalaa'il from Ibn Umar and which tells the story of the construction of the Ka'bah by Aadam . However, there is some weakness in the chain of this Hadeeth. It was also reported from Ibn Abbaas . Al-Zarqani said in his explanation of Al-Muwattaa that some information in these weak Hadeeth strengthen each other and it fits into the category of what can be proved through opinions.

Allaah Knows best.