Al-Shaiba, the 109th guardian of the Holy Kaaba and successor to the companion Uthman ibn Talha, was mourned by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who expressed deep sorrow and prayed for his exalted place in heaven.
“Every Muslim takes pride in the legacy of Dr. Sheikh Saleh Al-Shaiba,” remarked the Prime Minister.
Following prayers at Masjid Al-Haram, Al-Shaiba was laid to rest in Al-Mualla Cemetery, as reported by Khaleej Times. Notably, he visited Pakistan last November for six days, during which he met with top leaders of the country.
For approximately 1600 years, the Banu Shaiba tribe has been the custodians of the Kaaba, performing sacred duties known as “Sadna Baytullah.” These responsibilities include caring for the Kaaba, opening and closing it, cleaning, and maintaining its cover as needed. Even if the door of the Kaaba is replaced, the key remains unchanged, always entrusted to a member of the Al-Shaiba family in accordance with the will of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).