Masjid al Haram

Al-Masjid al-Haram (Arabic: المسجد الحرام) is a very large mosque in the city of Makkah (Mecca). Arabic (; , less formally, ) is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... Yeni Camii (the New Mosque), one of the landmarks of Ä°stanbul A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... Mecca or Makkah (in full: Makkah al-Mukkaramah; Arabic مكة المكرمة) is revered as the holiest site of Islam, and a pilgrimage to it is required of all Muslims who can afford to go. ...

It is considered by Muslims to be the holiest place on Earth and is the focal point of the hajj every year (pilgrimage; one of the Five Pillars of Islam; required of all able-bodied Muslims who can afford the trip). The mosque also serves as a regular mosque every day and is also the site of the Umrah which can be performed at anytime during the year. A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Earth is the third planet from the Sun. ... The Hajj or Haj (Arabic: ) is the Pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah) in Islam. ... The Five Pillars of Islam is the term given to the five most fundamental aspects of Sunni Islam. ... The Umrah or Umra (Arabic: عمرة ) is a pilgrimage to Mecca performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year. ...

History

The Kaaba is located inside the mosque

According to Islamic tradition, the mosque was built by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) with the help of his son Ishmael. They were ordered by Allah to build the mosque, and the Kaaba. Muslims are not allowed to wonder what is contained inside the Kaaba. Those who have entered are not allowed to reveal what is inside. The Black Stone is situated on the fourth corner of the Kaaba, and is believed to have fallen from heaven and turned black due to man's misdeeds. Image File history File links Good_kaabah_pic. ... Image File history File links Good_kaabah_pic. ... The Kaaba (Kaabah), (Arabic: الكعبة or Al Kaabah Al Musharafah : الكعبة المشرًّفة) also al-Bait ul Ateeq (Arabic: البيت العتيق ) and al-Bait ul Haram (Arabic: البيت الحرام ), is a building located inside the mosque known as Masjid al Haram in Mecca (Makkah). ... Islam (Arabic: ; ( (help· info)), the peaceful submission to the will of God) is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Abraham (אַבְרָהָם Father/Leader of many, Standard Hebrew Avraham, Tiberian Hebrew ʾAḇrāhām; Arabic ابراهيم Ibrāhīm) is the patriarch of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. ... Ishmael or Yishmael (יִשְׁמָעֵאל God hears or obeys, Standard Hebrew YiÅ¡maÊ¿el, Tiberian Hebrew YiÅ¡māʿêl, Arabic إسماعيل) is Abrahams eldest son, born by his servant Hagar. ... The word is the Arabic term for God. In other languages, it is often used to refer specifically to the Islamic concept of God: see Usage below. ... The Kaaba (Kaabah), (Arabic: الكعبة or Al Kaabah Al Musharafah : الكعبة المشرًّفة) also al-Bait ul Ateeq (Arabic: البيت العتيق ) and al-Bait ul Haram (Arabic: البيت الحرام ), is a building located inside the mosque known as Masjid al Haram in Mecca (Makkah). ... The Black Stone The Black Stone (called الحجر الأسود al-Hajar-ul-Aswad in Arabic) is a holy relic in Islam. ...

The story of Ishmael and his mother's search for water also takes place in the general vicinity of the mosque. In the story, Hagar runs between the hills of Safa and Marwah looking for water for her son, until God eventually reveals to her the Zamzam Well, from where water continues to flow non-stop to this day. The episode of Hagar's frantic search for water is emulated by Muslims as they run between the two hills whenever they visit Makkah. Hagar (Arabic هاجر; Hajar; Hebrew הָגָר Stranger, Standard Hebrew Hagar, Tiberian Hebrew Hāḡār) is an Egyptian-born servant of Sarah, wife of Abraham in the Book of Genesis of the Torah (Hebrew Bible). ... Al-Safa and Al-Marwah (Safa and Marwah) (Arabic: الصفا AÅŸ-Åžafā ; المروة Al-Marwah) are two small hills located in the Masjid al Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia between which Muslims travel back and forth seven times during the ritual pilgrimages of Hajj and Umrah. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Importance

The mosque has always been an important part of Arab culture. In pre-Islamic days it was a site for pilgrimages by pre-monotheistic Arabs, who filled the Kaaba with idols of the gods they worshipped. This episode is seen as a corruption of what the Kaaba was meant for, and the fact that they had strayed from the path of God explains why God sent Muhammad as a messenger to mankind in general, and the people of Makkah in particular. Muhammad's grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, was a caretaker of the Kaaba, and Muhammad spent much time there in prayer and reflection. The Arabs (Arabic: عرب ʻarab) are a large and heterogeneous ethnic group found throughout the Middle East and North Africa, originating in the Arabian Peninsula of southwest Asia. ... Muhammad (c. ... ...

After the Hijra, Muhammad was forced to withdraw to Medina. Upon his return to Mecca, years later, he ritually smashed all the idols in the Kaaba and cleansed it. This began Islamic rule over Kaaba, and the building of a mosque around it. Hijra may refer to: Hijra (Hegira/Hijrah/Hejira) is an Arabic term referring to the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622. ... This article is about the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia. ...

An aerial view of Masjid Al-Haram

Initially, the mosque was much smaller than it is today but, over time, it has been gradually expanded. Under the Ottomans it grew to roughly the size of the current courtyard. Great expansion work has taken place under the Saudi regime, along with modernization efforts. The mosque was much enlarged to handle the millions of visitors it receives during the hajj. It has also been outfitted with modern conveniences such as air conditioners and escalators. The outside of the current mosque has a splendid marble facade, and it has three stories, each of which can hold thousands of worshippers. Image File history File links High_veiw. ... Image File history File links High_veiw. ... Look up Aerial in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Aerial may refer to— a dance move. ... The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Imperial motto El Muzaffer Daima The Ever Victorious (as written in tugra) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople/Asitane/Konstantiniyye ) Sovereigns Sultans of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40 million Area 12+ million km² Establishment 1299 Dissolution October 29, 1923...

See also

• Islamic architecture
• List of famous mosques
• List of buildings
• Makkah
• Medina

Islamic architecture is the entire range of architecture that has evolved from Islam as a social, cultural, political and religious phenomenon. ... A partial list of famous mosques: Al-Aqsa, in Jerusalem Al-Azhar, the great mosque of Cairo, Egypt, whose university is the foremost school of Sunni Islam Al-Hakim Mosque, one of the largest Fatimid mosques in Cairo, Egypt Ar-Rifaye Mosque, in Cairo, Egypt Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, India... Famous or notable buildings with articles about them include: Index: A-B - C - D-G - H-L - M-O - P-R - S - T-V - W 1 Canada Square, London, United Kingdom 2 Fevrier Sofitel Hotel, Lomé, Togo 8 Canada Square, London, United Kingdom 30 St Mary Axe, London, United Kingdom... Mecca or Makkah (in full: Makkah al-Mukkaramah; Arabic مكة المكرمة) is revered as the holiest site of Islam, and a pilgrimage to it is required of all Muslims who can afford to go. ... This article is about the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia. ...

External links

• 3D Kabah has some computer generated images and clickable panoramic views of parts of the Masjid al-Haram.
• Google Maps Masjid al Haram on Google Maps (poor quality).