The Maqaam is the rock Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) would stand upon to build the Ka’bah. When the walls became high Isma’il (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) brought his father Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) the rock so he could stand upon it, and he would pass him the stones. Every time one side was completed they would move to the other side with the rock, Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) would stand upon it (& build the high parts of the walls on each side).

The footprints of Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) were clear in the rock, and the Arabs knew of them in Jaahiliyyah.

Thereafter, the Muslims witnessed them too (once Islam was revealed). It is narrated from Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه who stated: “I saw the Maqaam and in it the imprints of the toes and soles of the feet of Ibrahim (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace), however, people constantly wiping the imprints (despite it not being legislated) have eroded them.

No doubt Maqaam Ibrahim is established, that which the glass has been placed over is the Maqaam. However it does not seem that the imprints are the original imprints, rather the holes have been placed as a marker only. What is known from history is that the original imprints eroded away a long time ago.