Masjid al-Haram

Masjid al-Haram (Arabic: المسجد الحرام, romanized: al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, lit. 'The Sacred Mosque'), also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, is a mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, serving as the holiest and most important mosque in Islam. As of 2026, the Great Mosque is the largest mosque and most expensive building in the world. The Great Mosque is considered, alongside the Quba Mosque in Medina, among the earliest mosques in Islam. According to Islamic scholars, Abraham is seen as having built the Kaaba in Mecca, and consequently its sanctuary, which according to the Muslim view is seen as the first mosque that ever existed. It has undergone major renovations and expansions through the years. It has passed through the control of various caliphs, sultans and kings, and is now under the control of the King of Saudi Arabia who is titled the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. It encloses the vicinity of the Kaaba in Mecca, in the western region of the country. It is among the pilgrimage sites associated with the Hajj, which every Muslim according to orthodox Islamic belief, must perform at least once in their lives if able. It is also the main site for the performance of ʿUmrah, the lesser pilgrimage that can be undertaken any time of the year. The rites of both pilgrimages include circumambulating the Kaaba within the mosque. The Great Mosque contains other important sites, such as the Black Stone, the Zamzam Well, Maqam Ibrahim, and the hills of Safa and Marwa. History In the pre-Islamic religions of Arabia -spanning from the Levant to Yemen, numerous deities —such as, Al-Lat, Dhu al-Khalasa, and al-Uzza (also occasionally referred to as Chaabou), Dushara, Dhu Samawi etc.— were represented by aniconic cubic stone carvings or by cubic structures regarded as the abodes of these deities; furthermore, the existence of "sacred/haram zones" surrounding these sanctuaries and the widespread use of the name "Ka'b" to denote such sanctity, is well-established. Although the cultural heritage of the pagan era was largely eradicated during Islam's struggle to establish Islamic monotheism, historical research has uncovered traces of some sanctuaries that were significant enough to rival the Kaaba in Mecca; nevertheless, the belief that there has always been only one Kaaba has become deeply ingrained in Muslim literary and religious tradition. Today, the Kaaba and the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca are identified as the direction of prayer; however, an archaeological document found in the Taif region suggests that this view is anachronistic from the perspective of traditional Islamic historiography, as a stone inscription discovered there dates the construction of the Masjid al-Haram to the year 78 AH. Furthermore, a Quranic verse recounting Muhammad's night journey —an event often presented today as a miracle— to the Masjid al-Aqsa offers clues suggesting that the *Masjid al-Haram* mentioned in the Quran might differ from the one located in Mecca. Surah Al-Isra 17:1: Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from Masjid al-Haram to the Masjid al-Aqsa whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing The significance of mosque structures from the early Islamic period that face in different directions continues to be a subject of serious debate between revisionist historians and conservatives. Era of Abraham and Ishmael According to Islamic tradition in the Quran, Abraham, together with his son Ismael, raised the foundations of a house, which has been identified by commentators as the Kaaba. According to Islamic tradition, it is said that Allah showed Abraham the exact site, which was previously built by Adam, very near to what is now the Well of Zamzam. After Abraham had built the Kaaba, an angel is said to have brought him the Black Stone, a celestial stone that, according to tradition, had fallen from Heaven on the nearby hill Abu Qubays. The Black Stone is believed by Islamic scholars to be the only remnant of the original structure made by Abraham. After placing the Black Stone in the Eastern corner of the Kaaba, Abraham reportedly received a revelation in which God told the aged prophet that he should now go and proclaim the pilgrimage to mankind, so that men may come both from Arabia and from lands far away, on camel and on foot. Era of Muhammad Upon Muhammad's victorious return to Mecca in 630 CE, he and a number of the Sahaba including Ali broke the idols in and around the Kaaba, similar to what, according to the Quran, Abraham did in his homeland. This ended polytheistic use of the Kaaba, and began monotheistic rule over it and its sanctuary. Rashidun era The mosque has been expanded by caliph Umar in 637 CE by 1,500 m2, in response to the increasing number of Muslims, its area has reached a total of 3,600 m2, another expansion was carried out by caliph Uthman where the covered porticoes have been introduced for the first time. Umayyad era In 682, the ruler of Mecca Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, who opposed the Umayyads following the death of Mu'awiya I carried an expansion that increased the total area to 7,465 m2, and following the reconquest of Mecca by the Umayyads in 692, the first major renovation to the mosque took place on the orders of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. Before this renovation, which included the mosque's outer walls being raised, the mosque was a small open area with the Kaaba at the center. By the end of the 8th century, the mosque's old wooden columns had been replaced with marble columns and the wings of the prayer hall had been extended on both sides along with the addition of a minaret on the orders of Al-Walid I. Abbasid era The next expansion of the mosque was sponsored by the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur between 754 and 757. This was followed by a major expansion begun by his successor, Caliph al-Mahdi, in 779. This work was completed shortly after him by his successor, Caliph al-Hadi (r. 785–786), which made the made the mosque's total area to reach 28,000 m2, this was the largest expansion to the size of the mosque until the Saudi era, except for two further extensions by the caliph al-Mu'tadid in 894–5 and by the caliph al-Muqtadir in 918, but it retained its overall form from this period until the later Ottoman renovations. Ottoman era In 1570, Sultan Selim II commissioned the chief architect Mimar Sinan to renovate the mosque. This renovation resulted in the replacement of the flat roof with domes decorated with calligraphy internally, and the placement of new support columns which are acknowledged as the earliest architectural features of the present mosque. These features are the oldest surviving parts of the building. During heavy rains and flash floods in 1621 and 1629, the walls of the Kaaba and the mosque suffered extensive damage. In 1629, during the reign of Sultan Murad IV, the mosque was renovated. In the renovation of the mosque, a new stone arcade was added, three more minarets (bringing the total to seven) were built, and the marble flooring was retiled. This was the unaltered state of the mosque for nearly three centuries, the Ottoman era renovations did not expand the size of the mosque. The Saudi era First Saudi expansion The first major renovation under the Saudi kings was done between 1955 and 1976. In this renovation, four more minarets were added, the ceiling was refurnished, and the floor was replaced with artificial stone and marble. The Mas'a gallery (As-Safa and Al-Marwah) is included in the Mosque, via roofing and enclosures. During this renovation many of the historical features built by the Ottomans, particularly the support columns, were demolished. On 20 November 1979, the Great Mosque was seized by extremist insurgents who called for the overthrow of the Saudi dynasty. They took hostages and in the ensuing siege hundreds were killed. These events came as a shock to the Islamic world, as violence is strictly forbidden within the mosque. Second Saudi expansion The second Saudi renovations under King Fahd, added a new wing and an outdoor prayer area to the mosque. The new wing, which is also for prayers, is reached through the King Fahd Gate. This extension was performed between 1986 and 1994. 1987 to 2005 saw the building of more minarets, the erecting of a King's residence overlooking the mosque and more prayer area in and around the mosque itself. These developments took place simultaneously with those in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah. This extension also added 18 more gates, three domes corresponding in position to each gate and the installation of nearly 500 marble columns. Other modern developments added heated floors, air conditioning, escalators and a drainage system. In addition, the King Fahd expansion includes 6 dedicated prayer halls for people with disabilities. These halls have ramps to facilitate entry and exit with wheelchairs, as well as dedicated paths and free electric and manual carts for their use. Third Saudi expansion In 2008, the Saudi government under King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz announced an expansion of the mosque, involving the expropriation of land to the north and northwest of the mosque covering 300,000 m2 (3,200,000 sq ft). At that time, the mosque covered an area of 356,800 m2 (3,841,000 sq ft) including indoor and outdoor praying spaces. 40 billion riyals (US$10.6 billion) was allocated for the expansion project.In August 2011, the government under King Abdullah announced further details of the expansion. It would cover an area of 400,000 m2 (4,300,000 ft2) and accommodate 1.2 million worshippers, including a multi-level extension on the north side of the complex, new stairways and tunnels, a gate named after King Abdullah, and two minarets, bringing the total number of minarets to eleven. The circumambulation areas (Mataf) around the Kaaba would be expanded and all closed spaces receive air conditioning. After completion, it would raise the mosque's capacity from 770,000 to over 2.5 million worshippers. His successor, King Salman launched five megaprojects as part of the overall King Abdullah Expansion Project in July 2015, covering an area of 456,000 m2 (4,910,000 sq ft). The project was carried out by the Saudi Binladin Group. In 2012, the Abraj Al Bait complex was completed along with the 601-meter-tall (1,972 ft) Makkah Royal Clock Tower. Austrian company Lights of Vienna was hired to complete a 100 million euro order of 4700 chandeliers and light fixtures in 26 sizes in 2013. The chandeliers and light fixtures were installed in the Shamiya Extension of the mosque. Some of the biggest gilded chandeliers were priced at 1 million euros each. The company has since been the provider of additional light fixtures to the mosque and other buildings in Mecca. In 2025, the lighting for the Mataf extension was completed by Lights of Vienna. The project involved the delivery of 10 different lighting types and a total of around 550 custom-made chandeliers and luminaires, all produced from high-grade stainless steel and gilded with more than 200 kg of 24-karat gold. The project value is approximately €90 million. Part of the new lights was the 7-metre Al Fath Gate Chandelier, an octagonal, gold-plated chandelier with a 7-meter diameter and 360,000 lumens of output. All fixtures incorporate high-efficiency LED systems. On 11 September 2015, at least 111 people died and 394 were injured when a crane collapsed onto the mosque. Construction work was suspended after the incident, and remained on hold due to financial issues during the 2010s oil glut. Development was eventually restarted two years later in September 2017. COVID-19 Pandemic On 5 March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mosque began to be closed at night and the Umrah pilgrimage was suspended to limit attendance. The resumption of Umrah service began on 4 October 2020 with the first phase of a gradual resumption that was limited to Saudi citizens and expatriates from within the Kingdom at a rate of 30 percent. Only 10,000 people were given Hajj visas in 2020 while 60,000 people were given visas in 2021. Pilgrimage The Great Mosque is the main setting for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages that occur in the month of Dhu al-Hijja in the Islamic calendar and at any time of the year, respectively. The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the Pillars of Islam, required of all able-bodied Muslims who can afford the trip. In recent times, over 5 million Muslims perform the Hajj every year. Notable structures Kaaba The Kaaba is a cuboid-shaped building in the centre of the Masjid al-Haram and is the most sacred site in Islam. It is the qibla (direction of prayer) for Muslims worldwide. It is the focal point of the Hajj and Umrah rites. The pilgrims perform the tawaf (circumambulation) around its exterior. The Kaaba's fabric covering (kiswah) is replaced annually in a formal ceremony. Hatim Adjacent to the Kaaba is the Hijr Ismail, also known as the Hatim, a low semi-circular wall that marks an area historically regarded as part of the original footprint of the Kaaba. Black Stone The Black Stone is set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba's external wall. Historically and culturally venerated in Islamic tradition, the stone today exists as several fragments within a silver frame and is a focal point of devotion during tawaf. Mataf (Tawaf area) The mataf is the open, circular, paved area immediately surrounding the Kaaba where tawaf (circumambulation) is performed. Over centuries the mataf has been enlarged and modernised, including multi-level and climate-controlled expansions to accommodate the large and growing numbers of pilgrims that visit during Hajj and throughout the year. Major 20th- and 21st-century Saudi expansion programmes substantially increased the mataf’s capacity. Maqam Ibrahim Maqam Ibrahim is a small square stone associated in Islamic tradition with the Abraham (Ibrahim). It is displayed near the Kaaba under a protective enclosure. According to Islamic tradition, the imprint on the stone came from Abraham's feet. It is the only standing historic structure in the Mataf area out of at least six other, which were removed to clear the area for the circumambulation (tawaf). Safa and Marwa Safa and Marwa are two small hills within the mosque precinct, connected by the enclosed al-Mas'a walkway, where pilgrims perform the saʿī ritual during Hajj and Umrah. The ritual commemorates Hājar (Hagar), wife of Abraham and mother of Ismail, who ran between the hills searching for water for her infant son. The area was historically separate but incorporated into Masjid al-Haram during 20th-century expansions. Zamzam Well The Zamzam well, located 20 m (66 ft) east of the Kaaba, is an ancient groundwater source traditionally linked to Hājar and Ishmael. Modern engineering has enclosed the well and provides Zamzam water to pilgrims through pumping, bottling and distribution systems. Destruction of heritage sites There has been some controversy that the expansion projects of the mosque and Mecca itself are causing harm to early Islamic heritage. Many ancient buildings, some more than a thousand years old, have been demolished to make room for the expansion. List of notable Imams Abd ar-Rahman as-Sudais, appointed Imam and Khatib in 1984. (Chief Imam and President of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques) Salih bin Abdullah al Humaid, appointed Imam and Khatib in 1982. Former Chairman of Majlis Ash-Shura (Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia) Usama bin Abdullah Khayyat, appointed Imam and Khatib in 1998. Maher al-Mu'aiqly, appointed Imam in 2007, and Khatib in 2016. Abdullah Awad Al Juhany, appointed Imam in 2007 and Khatib in 2019. Bandar Baleela, appointed Imam in 2013, and Khatib in 2019. Yasser Al-Dosari, appointed Imam in 2019 and Khatib in 2022. Saud Al-Shuraim, appointed Imam in 1991, and retired in 2022. See also Al-Aqsa Holiest sites in Islam Ḥ-R-M Incidents during the Hajj Islam in Saudi Arabia List of mosques in Saudi Arabia List of the oldest mosques Masjid As-Sahabah in Massawa, Eritrea Masar Destination Al-Rayah Mosque References Further reading Isma'il, Muhammad Kamal (1998). Damluji, Salma Samar (ed.). The Architecture of the Holy Mosque, Makkah. Hazar. ISBN 978-1-874371-32-8. (Description of the mosque's architectural history up to the late 20th century.) External links Official website Watch Live