Gatekeeping and custody are synonymous. It is a service of the Sacred House, opening and locking its doors. This was bestowed on Tasm, a tribe of Aad before Quraish. It passed to Khuza'a, then Qusai, who gave it to his son Abdul Dar, who handed it over to his son Othman. It shifted from one person to another until it rested with their nephew Shaiba. It is still inherited by their ancestors up to the present day. The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) handed the key to Bani Shaiba in' the year of the conquest of Makkah AI-Mukarramah, and said, "Take it, O Bani Talha, eternally up to the Day of Resurrection, and it will not be taken from you unless by an unjust, oppressive tyrant". (12)
A picture of one of the custodians of the Holy Ka'bah. It has been taken from 'bleeder atlas'.
