The following are some issues related to "Al-Multazam"

1.   The origin of the word:

Literally the word Multazam in Arabic means the place to hold on firmly to, and it is the name given to the area between the Black Stone and the door of the Ka’bah. It was called this because people hold on to it firmly, as mentioned in Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer.

2.   Its location:

It was narrated on the authority of the righteous predecessors that Al-Multazam is the place between the corner and the door of the Ka’bah and this is the most well-known opinion. Some of the righteous predecessors said that they used to embrace "the back of the Ka’bah", "i.e., what is under the Meezaab (i.e., the drainage pipe on the top of the Ka’bah)" or all of the Ka‘bah without specifying any part of it.

A. Narrations indicating that Al-Multazam is between the corner and the door of the Ka’bah:

• It was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, that Al-Multazam lies between the corner [that houses the Black Stone] and the door [of the Ka’bah].
• Ash-Shaybaani said, “I saw ‘Amr ibn Maymoon, may Allah be pleased with him, embracing what is between the corner and the door of the Ka‘bah.”
• Mujaahid said that the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to embrace the part of the Ka‘bah between the corner and the door and invoke Allah The Almighty.
• Muhammad ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Al-‘Abdi said, “I saw ‘Ikrimah ibn Khaalid, Abu Ja’far and ‘Ikrimah, the freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbaas, embracing what is between the corner and the door of the Ka’bah. I also saw them under the Meezaab in the Hijr (of Ismaa’eel).”
• Hanthalah may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I saw Saalim, ‘Ataa’ and Taawoos embracing what is between the corner and the door.” [Ibn Abi Shaybah in Al-Musannaf]

   

B.   Narrations indicating that Al-Multazam is at the back of the Ka’bah:

• Abu Is-Haaq said that he saw ‘Amr ibn Maymoon, may Allah be pleased with him, embracing the back of the Ka‘bah.
• It was narrated on the authority of Ibn Abi Mulaykah that ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd Al-‘Azeez went to the back of the Ka’bah and sought refuge with Allah The Almighty.
• It was narrated on the authority of Muhammad ibn Saalih that he saw Al-Qaasim embracing the back of the Ka’bah.
• It was narrated on the authority of Hanthalah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he saw Al-Qaasim seeking refuge with Allah at the back of the Ka’bah and saying, "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from Your Might, Wrath and Authority."
• It was narrated on the authority of Thaabit ibn Qays that he saw Naafi’ ibn Jubayr embracing the part between the Black Stone and the door of the Ka’bah and also embracing the back of the Ka’bah.
• It was narrated on the authority of Khaalid ibn Abi Bakr that he saw ‘Ubaydullaah ibn ‘Abdullaah embracing the back of the Ka’bah that faces the west and leaning his chest against it.
• Abu Is-haaq said that he saw ‘Amr ibn Maymoon, may Allah be pleased with him, embracing the Ka’bah and leaning his belly to the side that is next to the Yamaani (Yemeni) Corner.
• It was narrated on the authority ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Al-Aswad that his father used to embrace the back of the Ka’bah.
• Al-A’mash said that he saw Abu Bakr ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmaan embracing the back of the Ka’bah. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah]

C.   Narrations indicating that Al-Multazam is under the Meezaab:

• Muhammad ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Al-‘Abdi said, “I saw ‘Ikrimah ibn Khaalid, Abu Ja’far and ‘Ikrimah, the freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbaas, embracing what is between the corner and the door of the Ka’bah. I also saw them under the Meezaab in the Hijr [i.e., under the drainage pipe on the top of the Ka’bah].” [Ibn Abi Shaybah in Al-Musannaf]
• Al- Merdaawi said, “Saying (When he finishes the Farewell Tawaaf, he stands at Al-Multazam, between the corner and the door); this is an agreed upon opinion among the Hanbali scholars. Ahmad said that one should also stand at Al-Hateem, which is under the Meezaab and invoke Allah.” [Al-Insaaf]

To be continued …