Responsibility for safety of Kaaba is still passed to the sons of Shaiba. It is tradition which was introduced by Prophet Muhammad for the eighth year after resettlement to Medina (Hijra). After that he entrusted a key from the city to Usman ibn Abi Talkha. It’s considered, that protection of the Kaaba laid down on shoulders of the sons of Shaiba undoubtedly and forever. The Prophet told to take him, Oh, Bani Talkha, forever, up to Day of Revival, and nobody would be able to take it away from you, except the unfair, oppressing tyrant".
It, in turn, explains, why that tradition was inherited by Shayba's sons and their descendants up today.
Amin al-Shaybi (on the right) and Abdulyaziz al-Shaybi (on the left)
The Kaaba protection history in Islam
As Mukhitdin al-Hashimi said, care of the Kaaba was inherited by the eldest son in every family, and it was proceeded in that way until the duty was assigned to Usman ibn Talkha who lived at the time of the Prophet (PBUH). As Usman ibn Talkha reported, on the day when Muhammad entered Mecca for the eighth year of Hijra and when they were going to enter the Kaaba, found it locked. They asked who stored the key, and found it at Usman ibn Talkh. The last did not follow Islam, therefore, he locked a door after he had learned about arrival of the Prophet Muhammad.
The oldest photos of Abdulkadir al-Shaybi (on the right) and his son Abdullah al-Shaybi
When the prophet Muhammad entered Mecca, his people accepted Islam, only Usman hid. Then the prophet ordered to Ali ibn Abu Talib to take the key away of Usman. Ali tried to find Usman and asked for a key but Usman did not want to give it voluntarily. Then Ali just snatched out the key at him. Doors of the Kaaba were open, the Prophet came inside and made a his prayer there. At that time there was the Prophet's uncle Abbas ibn Abd al-Mutallib who expressed desire together with the family to watch the key.
Soon the prophet Muhammad ordered to Ali to return the key to Usman ibn Talkha and to apologize at him. It threw Usman in shock: he could not believe that Ali returned the key on order of the person who had conquered Mecca. Ali explained to him that the verse came to him, where the Creator instructed the prophet to regain the trust to the one to whom it belonged.
At installation of a new lock on the Kaaba door. Sheikh Abdulkadir al-Shaibi receives the lock from hands of the prince of Mecca Khalid al-Faysal
Care of the Kaaba during an era of Saudi Arabia
Al-Hashemi noted that care of the Kaaba remained on shoulders of the Bani Shaiba, and it was assigned to the senior members of this family up today. The Duties of the ancient inspector were to open and close Kaaba’s door, and also watch the course of its construction. Also there were such duties as washing, keeping clean and observation of Ibrahim's shrine. Now guardianship belongs to the sheikh Muhammad bin Zine Al-Hashemi-Abidin bin Abdul-Maati of al-Shaibi. He remained in this position for 43 years.
His senior successor Abdul Qadeer inherited care of the Kaaba after the father, then his brothers Solomon, Ahmed and Abdullah. Al-Hashemi said that care of the Kaaba was transferred to the next generation – the sheikh Abdul Qadeer Bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Zine Al-Hashemi-Abidin Al-Hashemi Shaibi. He was the first witness of reunification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the united state. Mohammed bin Mohammed Saleh Al-Hashemi of Shaibi became a watchman of the Kaaba. After disease he shifted his duties to the Sheikh Abdullah bin Abdul Qadeer al-Shaibi who haв sons Amin, Taha and Assem.
Al-Saden al-Sheikh Saleh bin Zine Al-Abidin al-Shabi (in the center)
Their cousin of Talkh bin Hassan al-Shaibi received guardianship after death in 1431 on Hijra in a month of Zulhijjha of Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Kadar of al-Shaibi. Care of Kaaba's safety passed to Sheikh Adbul to Qadeer bin Taha bin Abdullah Alla al-Shaibi who cared for the Kaaba within four years. He became the witness of change of the lock of the Kaaba by the king Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.
Key of the Kaaba and a case for its storage
Prince Khaled al-Feysal handed him the lock on behalf of the king on occasion of cleaning of the Kaaba. He became the witness of installation of the lock of an inside door of the Kaaba and died after long but unsuccessful fight against a disease. His cousin Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Zain of Al-Abidin Al-Shaibi became a protector. At that time, Hashemi said that functions of the protector were limited only by opening and closing of the Kaaba. The Royal Court and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Emergency Situations kept in contact with him on a case of a visit of important guests.
Annually the Kaaba is cleaned on the 15th day of the month of Mukharram. After delivery of the Royal award, the emir of Mecca keeps in regular contact with the protector, especially as for procedural agreements. According to these documents Kaaba’s cleaning of the first Shaaban was denied as there were works on expansion was cancelled, and there was a big load at this time. Besides, the chief protector accepts new facing of the Kaaba on the first Thursday of a hajj, which will be fit up in the day of Arafat by experts of of Adbul of Aziz king's complex. The ceremony of transfer of facing of Kaaba takes place in Adbul of Aziz king's complex, and is held in the presence of the head of the main mosque of Mecca and the mosque an-Nabavim Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz of al Judges together with the director of a complex Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Baguda and also in the presence of a large number of officials and deputies.
Islam-Russia.com