The Holy Kaaba and Masjid al-Haram are managed by the Saudi government, but the Al-Shaiba tribe is in possession of the Kaaba’s keys.
The grandchildren of Qusai bin Kilab bin Murrah were experts in taking care of the Kaaba for more than 16 centuries, including holding onto its keys, before Islam expanded throughout the world.
The al-Shaiba tribe, one of the branches of the bin Murrah family, received the holy place’s keys from Prophet Mohammed in the year of Mecca’s conquest.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) tried to visit the Kaaba when Islam captured Makkah in the eighth year of Hijrah, but he was unable to do so since the door was locked. Others noticed it and told the Prophet (PBUH) that Uthman Ibn Talha, who was hiding on top of the Kaaba, had the keys.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) then gave Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS) the directive to grab the keys from Uthman Ibn Talha and unlock the Kaaba gate.
When Ali (AS) requested the keys, Uthman Ibn Talha refused to deliver them. But, Ali (AS) grabbed the keys away from him after he denied handing them to anyone. Ali (AS) then opened the Kaaba’s gate.
As the Prophet (PBUH) arrived, he was doing the salah. The Holy Quran was then revealed by Jibrael (AS), and one of its verses said, “Give the key back to its rightful owner.”
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) immediately ordered Ali (AS) to return the keys to Uthman Ibn Talha after hearing these verses of the Holy Quran. As Ali (AS) returned the keys per the Prophet’s (PBUH) order, Uthman Ibn Talha was astounded. He finds it hard to understand that the Prophet (PBUH), who has conquered Makkah, is giving him back the keys. Ali (AS) later clarified that Allah (SWT) intended for Uthman Ibn Talha to possess the Kaaba’s keys.
It is quite amazing for a Muslim to know this narrative. The Uthman Ibn Talha (RA) family currently holds the keys, and they are under the protection of the Saudi government.