Masjid al-haram is called the grand mosque as it is the largest mosque in the world covering an area of 88.2 acres of land (originally). The house of worship has been built and rebuilt after getting destroyed by natural calamities. Today, the pillars stand tall protecting the Great Black Stone standing in all its glory. Masjid al-haram is the single holiest site in Islam, the holiest place for Muslims to exist on the face of the earth.

The Grand Mosque of Makkah is a Beauty to behold

The Forbidden Mosque or the Masjid al-haram is the most beautiful. It is a sight to behold. You can feel the presence of Allah when you are between the pillars. It is said that the mosque never sleeps. Millions of Muslims go there to repent, ask for forgiveness, and worship the Almighty.

You can see the holy Kaaba in the center of the masjid standing tall and beautiful. Surrounding the Kaaba or the house of Allah, people perform the Tawaf or the circling ritual which is a part of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Muslims wear special Ihram clothing to adhere to the fifth pillar of Islam. When the sun is out, the gleaming marbles reflect the holiness of the people and during the night, millions of lights flood the grand mosque in the most magnificent way to throw light on the minarets who watch over the gate.

Many Muslims are seen to be overwhelmed by their repentance and by being among so many people who have the same holy intention at heart. The aura of the mosque is such that it will make your faith stronger as you witness everything that you learned in the holy book, the Quran.

Masjid al-Haram History

The history of the Al-Haram mosque begins before the beginning of the earth. The book of the Quran says that the mosque was built even before the creation of mankind. It is supposed to mirror the place of Worship for the angels from the heavens. The mosque is a reflection of ‘The Worship Place for Angels’ or al-Baytu l-Ma’mur.

According to the Gregorian calendar, the construction of this mosque began in the 7th century by Caliph Omar Ibn al-Khattab. The number of pilgrims was increasing hence the walls were reconstructed further around the Kaaba. In 777, Abbasid Caliph Al Mahdi demolished the original mosque and came out with a grid plan. He then built a larger mosque around the Kaaba. There are many buildings in that mosque that date back to 1571.

The mosque was renovated to be expanded from 1950 to accommodate more people into its sanctuary. The most recent construction was done in 2018. After this, it became the world’s largest mosque set to be home to 2.5 million worshippers in a land of 187 acres.

Important structures in Masjid Al-Haram

Even though there are so many sites to behold in the grand mosque, here are some important structures that hold significance in the heart of every Muslim.

• The holy Kaaba is a cuboid-shaped structure, located at the center of the mosque. It is in the direction where all Muslims direct their prayers.
• The Black Stone, located on the eastern corner of the holy Kaaba.
• The Station of Ibrahim, a rock situated next to Kaaba, known to have the footprint of Ibrahim (SAW)
• Safa and Marwah, the two hills located inside the mosque. Between this, Ibrahim’s(SAW) wife Hagar, ran in search of water for her infant son. This event is commemorated as a ritual of Hajj.
• The ZamZam well, which has a constant flow of water, spurted up miraculously when Hagar was unable to find any water.

The History of the Kaaba

We understood that the mosque is of great importance and there have been many floods and natural calamities that have destroyed multiple areas of the mosque. However, the spellbound fact is, even after the destruction of many areas of the mosque, nothing happened to the Black Stone of Kaaba.

Kaaba was built by Prophet Ibrahim (SAW) even before Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was born. Before the Prophet influenced most people to take up Islam, there were idols kept inside the Kaaba. As we know, idol worship is forbidden in Islam and thus resulted in a lot of conflicts. After the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, escaped to Madinah, his followers also traced his steps. Subsequently, following a lot of conflicts and battles, our Prophet finally returned to his home (Mecca) and Azaan was sung on the holy Kaaba.

Even though there have been a lot of constructions and a reconstruction of the mosque, Kaaba is the only structure that has maintained originality that was built by Prophet Ibrahim (SAW). Allah ordained the black stone to be the direction of worship.

Must Read: History Of Kaaba, From Origin To Its Last Renovation In 1626

5 Facts about Masjid Al-Haram

1. Masjid Al-Haram is the eighth largest building in the world.
2. It is not the oldest mosque known to mankind. The Mosque of the Companions in the Eritrean city of Massawa and Mosque Quba are the oldest mosques.
3. The mosque was severely damaged in the year 1629 due to heavy rains and floods. It was rebuilt by Sultan Murad IV.
4. In 930 AD, the black stone of the Kabbah was broken to pieces during the Qarmatian raid.
5. The mosque is spread over an area of 356,800 sq metres.

Islam has a very rich history and Masjid Al-Haram is a very important part of it. Ever since Prophet Muhammad (SAW) became enlightened, the world has seen a lot of people overnight turning towards Islam. This is because the idea of Islam is based on having one true God and that is Allah. Although, the beginning of Islam was well before Prophet Muhammad (SAW). History suggests that there have been many prophets who have spread their knowledge and fought their share of battles in order to embed the idea of Islam and protect the Religion in the hearts of the followers. Masjid Al-Haram unites Muslims as they perform prayers in congregation during Hajj and Umrah, and takes forward the tradition and faith of Islam.

The post Masjid Al-Haram: Its History, Key Structures And Lesser-Known Facts appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

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.