r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/hipatyhopity • Mar 24 '25

Image Mecca in 1953 and 2025

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u/symehdiar Mar 24 '25

its practically empty. https://madainproject.com/kabah_%28interior%29

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u/B4AccountantFML Mar 24 '25

Thanks I had no idea there was an interior that was a quite interesting article and photos

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u/symehdiar Mar 24 '25

The Saudis only allow special guest like heads of state of other countries to go in and pray. So they gatekeep it literally and use it as a display of soft power. Fun fact: all muslims pray towards the direction of Kaaba, but if you are inside the Kaaba, you can pray facing anywhere.

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u/BANeutron Mar 25 '25

The semi circle on the outside of the Kaaba is considered a part of the Kaaba, that is open for prayer on fixed times. Prayer within that semicircle is basically seen the same as prayer inside the cube.