3 Holy Mosques Tour Significance

There are numerous holy sites that Muslims can visit and see. Especially the ones written in the holy Qur’an are of massive significance to devout Muslims. The 3 holy mosques tour covers the three most important of these places. Islamic traditions and verses in the holy book of the Qur’an reflect the significance of these mosques.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Do not prepare yourself for a journey except to three Mosques i.e. The Great Mosque of Makkah, the Mosque of Aqsa and My Mosque.” – (Bukhari 20:2)

The 3 Holiest Mosques

1. Masjid al-Ḥarām – The first site of the 3 mosques holy tour

Masjid al-Ḥarām is also known as the Great Mosque of Makkah. The name literally means ‘The Sacred Mosque’. For Muslims, it is one of the holiest places to visit and is credited as the world’s largest mosque. During the pilgrimage of Umrah and Hajj, millions of pilgrims gather in this mosque to pray at the holy Kaaba and attain salvation.

As per Islamic belief, the Great Mosque of Makkah was the creation of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) along with his son Ismail or Ishmael. Under the orders of Allah, they built both the Kabba and the Mosque. The revered Black Stone is located on the holy Kaaba’s eastern corner. Muslims believe that is the only remaining part of the actual structure built by Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH). Islamic teachings mention that the holy well of Zamzam is a miraculous well. It is believed to have never dried since it was discovered.

Presently, the Great Mosque of Makkah stands covering 356,800 square meters. It includes both indoor and outdoor praying areas. It is one of the most important sites in the 3 holy mosques tour.

2. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi – The second mosque of the 3 mosques holy tour

Situated in Madina, the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is also known as the Mosque of the Prophet. It is the second-largest and the second holiest mosque in the world. It is the third mosque built in the history of Islam and now serves as the final resting place of Allah’s peaceful messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The foundation of the original mosque was laid down by the Prophet (PBUH) himself. It was adjacent to the house where he lived after his migration to the holy city of Madinah in 622 AD. At that time, it was an open air structure that had an elevated dais for the Quran reading sessions. The mosque acted as a religious educational institution, court, and community center.

Apart from the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Mosque also houses the final resting place for the Rashidun caliphs, Umar and Abu Bakr. The southeast corner of the mosque has special importance. The Green Dome, which was actually the house of Bibi Aisha, now serves as the tomb area of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

3. Al-Aqsa – The final site of the 3 mosques holy tour

Situated in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is also known as the Temple Mount. The place is not only sacred for Muslims but for Jews and Christians too. As per Islamic teachings, Al-Aqsa is the second mosque built right after the Masjid al-Ḥarām located in Makkah. Al-Haram Al-Sharif, also referred to as the Noble Sanctuary, is a 3-acre compound area that houses the Al-Aqsa. Here, pilgrims also pay homage at the Dome of the Rock. As per Islamic traditions, this is the structure where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is believed to have stepped into Heaven. It is also a source of major conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Facts one should know on the 3 holy Mosques tour

• With a total mosque area of around 356,000 sq meters, Masjid Al Haram can accommodate more than 4 million pilgrims and visitors at a time. It has 9 minarets with an average height of 292 feets.
• Masjid An Nabawi was the first place to have electricity in the whole of Arabia. Also, the mosque has expanded 100 times its old original area and now can accommodate around 1 million pilgrims simultaneously.
• Masjid Al Aqsa was a dumping ground for a long time and used by Romans to dump their garbage in the area. Later, Umar (ra) cleared the trash from the city and the masjid and also gave the right to refugees to occupy the city once again.

During the 3 holy mosques tour, the mosques can be visited in any order, depending upon where you are starting from. Since two of these mosques are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, pilgrims spend more time in Makkah and Madinah. Flights to these cities are available from all parts of the world. Pilgrims must have valid visas for both Saudi Arabia and Israel.

FAQs regarding the 3 Holy Mosques Tour

Suggested Read: Life After Umrah: 5 Things To Do Once You Are Back

The post The 3 Holy Mosques Tour – Masjid Al Haram, Masjid Al-Nabawi, Masjid Al Aqsa appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

10 Most Beautiful Mosques In The World

This blog is a curation of 10 most stunning mosques in the world and quick peep into their historical and religious significance.

1. The Al-Haram Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

The Al-Haram mosque is one of the most prominent places of worship in the world. The mosque is annually visited by millions of people for Hajj and Umrah rituals and is mentioned in the Quran as the first place built for worshipping Allah.

The largest mosque in the world

Spread over an area of 400,800 sqm, the Al-Haram mosque is not just the largest Islamic shrine but prettiest among the most beautiful mosques in the world. It is one of the most prominent places of worship globally, visited annually by millions of people for Hajj and Umrah rituals. It is mentioned in the holy book of the Quran as the first place built for worshipping Allah. It is also known as the forbidden mosque as fighting is forbidden in its vicinity. Regarded as one of the most important mosques in Islam, Al-Haram houses the holy Kaaba and the sacred black stone. It has other significant sites in Islam, such as Maqam Ibrahim and Zamzam well. The hills of Safa and Marwa are also situated within the premises of the mosque. Since it was built, Al-Haram or the forbidden mosque is continuously expanding to accommodate more and more pilgrims. It has ranked as the largest mosque in the world, with a total capacity of 4 million worshippers.

Suggested clothing for visiting Masjid al-Haram: For visiting the mosque, men usually prefer wearing long pants. Women are advised to dress up in a loose-fitted white or black Abaya if not performing Hajj or Umrah.

Address: Al Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah 24231, Saudi Arabia
Suggested clothing for visiting Masjid al-Haram: For visiting the mosque, men usually prefer wearing long pants. Women are advised to dress up in a loose-fitted white or black Abaya, if not performing Hajj or Umrah.

2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE

With 82 gleaming white domes, several beautiful hand-knotted carpets, and many Swarovski-covered chandeliers, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque definitely deserves a spot among the most beautiful mosques in the world. It is an architectural marvel with a capacity for allowing more than 40,000 worshippers at one time. Also, it has a pool that reflects the mosque columns and looks charming during the night time. The mosque has 1096 columns embedded with amethyst and jasper. Further, it has the prized owner of Guinness Book of World Records for housing the largest hand woven carpet. The mosque has calligraphic writings on the walls and arches encouraging the Muslims to maintain patience and spread peace.

Address: Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street، – 5th St – Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 2 419 1919
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Timings: The mosque remains open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. between Saturdays and Thursdays. On Fridays, visitors are allowed between 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. only.

3. Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

The Hagia Sophia mosque is a must-visit site for all Muslims not only for its unparalleled beauty but for its significant history. One of the most beautiful mosques in the world, this sacred place is a surviving example of Byzantine architecture. It was originally built as a Christian church, however during the Ottoman rule (1453-1935), it was converted into a mosque. The building shows the religious transformations that the mosque has seen in the past. It has long minarets and inscriptions in Arabic relating to the Muslim culture while the beautiful mosaics tell about the storied Christians past.

Address: Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Timings: Open 24 hours
Phone: +90 212 522 17 50
Dress code for women entering the Hagia Sophia Mosque: Women are not allowed to enter the mosque without a headscarf. Also, shorts or any revealing clothes are not permitted.

4. Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan

Located in one of the busiest streets in the northern city of Lahore, the Wazir Khan mosque is a must-visit site for all religious tourists. This place of worship was constructed back in the 17th century and is adorned with beautiful Fresco paintings and tiles. Built in Indo-Islamic architectural style, the mosque serves as one of the best Islamic structures that displays breath-taking mosaic tile work from the Mughal period.

Address: Shahi Guzargah، Dabbi Bazar, Chota Mufti Baqar Walled City of Lahore, Lahore, Punjab 54000, Pakistan
Wazir Khan Mosque Visiting Hours: The Wazir Khan mosque can be visited between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m.

5. Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque in Shiraz, Iran

Known for its kaleidoscopic beauty, Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque is constructed to uniquely blend the play of light and the act of worshipping Allah. It dates back to the 19th century when it was built under the order of Mirza Hasan Ali Nasir of the Qajar dynasty. It is beautified with a lot of pink tiles, and is therefore also known as the Pink Mosque. The mosque has a beautiful rectangular pool in the compound surrounded by flowering plants adding to the overall elegance of the structure.

Address: Fars Province, Shiraz, Lotf Ali Khan Zand Street، Iran
Timings: Opens 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: +98 71 3224 1661
Suggested Attire for visiting Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque: Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque follows the regular Iranian dressing guidelines for both men and women.

6. Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

Also known as Blue Mosque because of the Blue Iznik tiles that adorn its interiors, Sultan Ahmed Mosque is an awe-inspiring sight. The mosque dates back to the 17th century when it was constructed under the rule of Ahmed I. This structure featuring six high-rising minarets and five main domes is believed to be the last great mosque of the classical era.

Address: Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Sultan Ahmed Mosque rules: For entering Blue Mosque, women are required to wear a headscarf while men need to wear full pants. Also, visitors must remember that flash photography is not allowed inside the mosque premises.

7. Islamic Centre Mosque in Rijeka, Croatia

This mosque is a beautiful amalgamation of contemporary and traditional Islamic art. Featuring curved geometric shapes and patterns, the mosque has a uniquely styled dome, shaped in five separate parts that visually make a single object. The Islamic Centre Mosque was designed by the well-known Croatian sculptor, Dušan Džamonja. A popular tourist site today, the mosque was built as a result of years-old aspiration of the Islamic community of Rijeka to have a dedicated space for offering prayers.

Address: Ul. Ante Mandića 50, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
Phone: +385 51 317 059
Islamic Centre Mosque Timings: Visitors are allowed inside the mosque premises between 9 a.m. up and 10 p.m.

8. Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India

Located in New Delhi, Jama Masjid that was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1650 and 1656 is the largest mosque in India. This place of worship has a capacity for allowing 25,000 worshippers and is made from red sandstone and white marble. Featuring Indo-Islamic architecture, the mosque has three domes, two minarets, and three gates and is deserving of a spot in the top 10 most beautiful mosques in the world. The mosque’s architecture is inspired from the hindi and jain religion spread as the majority in the country. It was completed by around 5000 laborers working day and night to build the mosque at 1 million rupees at that time.

Address: Jama Masjid Rd, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006
Phone: 011 2336 5358
Timings: Jama Masjid stays open from 7 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. during all days of the week.

9. Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria

The beautiful mosque that has stood the test of times since it was completed over 1000 years ago in 715. It features three high-rising domes and a large courtyard where several Muslims gather every day to offer prayers. Interestingly, the mosque is believed to have a shrine that holds the head of John Baptist, a Jewish itinerant preacher from the early 1st century AD, also known Prophet John (Yaḥyā) in Islam.

Address: G864+MMC, Damascus, Syria
Umayyad Mosque Timings: Tourists must visit this famous mosque between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.

10. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman

Designed to accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Oman is a beautiful place of worship. It was opened in 2001 and was built to celebrate 30 years of rule by Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the Sultan of Oman. The mosque features five minarets representing five pillars of Islam and has colourful mosaic patterns and fine crystal work that make it one of the most beautiful mosques in the world.

Address: Sultan Qaboos St, ولاية بوشر، Oman
Timings: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. ; Closed on Fridays
Phone: +968 24 505170
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Rules: The mosque allows non-Muslim tourists to visit the mosque every day except for Fridays. Tourists are expected to dress up in a way befitting a place of worship for entering the mosque.

Mosques, with their beauty and brimming spirituality, are the best place to spend some time and soak in the devotion that flows in the premises. Pilgrims offer prayers to Allah and seek forgiveness, prosperity and rewards. The magnificent architecture and aesthetics put them high on the places-to-see list of devout Muslims, travelers, architects, and historians, among others.

Suggested Read: The 3 Holy Mosques Tour – Masjid Al Haram, Masjid Al-Nabawi, Masjid Al Aqsa

Most Beautiful Mosques In The World FAQs.

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