Masjid al-Haram
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Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām (المسجد الحرام IPA: [ælˈmæs.ʤi.dæl.ħɑˈrɑm] "The Sacred Mosque"), is a large mosque in the city of Mecca. It surrounds the Kaaba, the place which all Muslims turn towards each day in prayer, considered by Muslims to be the holiest place on Earth. The mosque is also commonly known as the Haram or Haram Sharif[citation needed].
The current structure covers an area of 356,800 square meters including the outdoor and indoor praying spaces and can accommodate up to 820,000 worshippers during the Hajj period.
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[edit] History
[edit] Narrative of origin
According to Islamic theology, the mosque was first built by the angels before the creation of mankind, when God ordained a place of worship on Earth to reflect the house in heaven called al-Baytu l-Maˤmur (Arabic: البيت المعمور), which translates to 'The Worship Place of Angels'. Al-Baytu l-Maˤmur is directly above the Kaaba in heaven. The first Kaaba was built by angels and Adam was the first human to re-build it. From time to time the mosque was destroyed and rebuilt anew. According to popular belief it was last 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. 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.
| “ | And when We assigned to Abraham the place of the House (Kaaba), saying: Do not associate with Me aught, and purify My House for those who make the circuit and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves. | „ |
| “ | And when Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House (Kaaba): Our Lord! accept from us; surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing. | „ |
Muslim belief places the story of Ishmael and his mother's search for water 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 search for water is emulated by Muslims as they run between the two hills whenever they visit Mecca.
After the Hijra, upon Prophet Muhammed's victorious return to Mecca, the people of Mecca themselves removed all the idols in and around the Kaaba and cleansed it. This began the Islamic rule over the Kaaba, and the building of a mosque around it.
The current structure is the result of an expansive extension beginning in 1982, under the sponsorship of the late King Fahd.
[edit] Religious significance
[edit] Qibla
The qibla—the direction that Muslims turn to in their prayers (salah)—is toward the Kaaba. This is to symbolize unity in worshipping one god.
[edit] Pilgrimage
The Haram is the focal point of the hajj and umrah pilgrimages that occur in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar and at any time of the year, respectively. The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, required of all able-bodied Muslims who can afford the trip. In recent times, about 3 million muslims perform the hajj every year[citation needed].
[edit] Architecture
[edit] Kaaba
Literally, Kaaba in Arabic means a high place with respect and prestige. The word Kaaba may also be derivative of a word meaning a cube.
Some of these other names include:- Al-Bait ul Ateeq which, according to one interpretation, means the earliest and ancient. According to another interpretation, it means independent and liberating.
- Al-Bayt ul Haram which may be translated as 'the honorable house'.
The whole building is constructed out of the layers of gray blue stone from the hills surrounding Makka. The four corners roughly face the four points of the compass. In the eastern corner is the Rukn-al-Aswad (the Black Stone), at the northern corner lies the Rukn-al-Iraqi ('The Iraqi corner', at the west lies Rukn-al-Shami ('The Levantine corner') and at the south Rukn-al-Yamani ('The Yemeni corner'). The four walls are covered with a curtain (Kiswa). The kiswa is usually of black brocade with the Shahada outlined in the weave of the fabric. About two-thirds of the way up runs a gold embroidered band covered with Qur'anic text.
[edit] Courtyard
This is around the Kaaba and worshippers use this space to perform tawaf and salah.
[edit] Mosque
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 government along with modernization of architecture. 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.
[edit] Imams
Imams at Haram Sharif include:
Former Imams include:
- Ali Bin Jaabir
- Al-Subayyil
[edit] See also
- H-R-M
- Islamic architecture
- List of famous mosques
- List of buildings
- Mecca
- Medina
- Grand Mosque Seizure - the 1979 seizure of and attack on the Masjid al-Haram
[edit] 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
- Great Mosque of al-Haram [Image Gallery
- QiblaLocator.com can find the direction of the ka'bah from anywhere in the world.
- Great Mosque of al-Haramar:المسجد الحرام
fr:Masjid al-Haram id:Masjidil Haram ja:マスジド・ハラーム pt:Al Masjid Al-Haram sv:Masjid-ul-Haram ur:مسجد حرام
