Brief History:

Masjid al-Haram in Saudi Arabia — or the Grand Mosque — is the holiest site in Islam, located in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It covers an area of about 400,000 square meters (99 acres), including the circumambulation areas and the outdoor prayer areas. The mosque is symmetrically arranged around the Kaaba, a shrine located in the center of the mosque, and the Masjid al-Haram is the main focus of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages that occur annually. The Kaaba, which also houses the Black Stone, is believed by Muslims to be the oldest and most sacred mosque in the world, having been first built by Abraham and Ishmael. The Masjid al-Haram also includes many other historical monuments and shrines, including the Kaaba itself, the Zamzam Well, the Hill of Safa and Marwah, the Makam Ibrahim, the Mīzāb (spout), the Multazam, the Hijr Ismaʿil, the Jabl al-Rahmah (Mountain of Mercy), the Safwat al-Marwah, and the plain of Arafat. It is one of the most famous mosque in Saudi-Arabia which you must visit.

Architecture:

The Masjid al-Haram in Saudi-Arabia is the largest mosque in the world. The mosque is located in the holy city of Mecca and has an area of 88 acres. The mosque is circled by seven minarets and all of the minarets are over 100 meters in height. The main gate of the mosque is called the Bab-ul-Umrah and it overlooks the Grand Mosque. The design of the Masjid al-Haram is a combination of traditional Islamic and modern architecture. The main prayer hall is divided into several sections, with the main section for prayer being the Haramain. The Haramain is surrounded by seven minarets and has a roof that has been designed using the traditional Mughal style of architecture. In the centre of the Haramain is the Ka'aba, which is a cube-shaped building and considered to be the holiest site in Islam. The inner perimeter of the mosque is mainly made of marble and granite, and the exterior of the mosque is decorated with ornamental fountains and Islamic calligraphic inscriptions. The western wall of the mosque is inscribed with the names of Prophets from the Old Testament, and the eastern wall is inscribed with the names of Prophets from the New Testament. The south wall holds the Adhan Tower, and calls the faithful to prayer five times a day. The Masjid al-Haram complex also includes several other buildings such as the library, museum, guest rooms, and multiple ablution areas. There are also several buildings that are dedicated to the rituals of Hajj and Umrah, which are the two major Islamic pilgrimages. These buildings include the Makam-e-Ibrahim, where pilgrims can perform the ritual of Sa'i, and the Rawdah, which is a library dedicated to the preservation of Islamic texts. This is why, it is considered one of the most beautiful mosque in the world.

Visiting Hours:

The visiting hours of Masjid al-Haram in Saudi Arabia are from 1:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. everyday. The visiting hours may extend for special occasions or religious holidays. best mosque in the world.