Haram (site)

**Haram** (Arabic: حَرَم, romanized: *ḥaram*, lit. 'sanctuary') be one of several similar words wey dey originate from de triliteral Semitic root Ḥ-R-M. De word literally dey mean "sanctuary", dem commonly use by Muslims to refer to Al-Masjid Al-Haram den Prophet Mohammad's Mosque. Der be certain rules wich Muslims within dese two areas for follow.

Anoda meaning of de word wich dem use insyd de past buh has since fallen out of use, dey include an "inviolable/protected zone", wey dey refer to an area insyd wich de number of residing families be limited, dem attribute to de idea of carrying capacity den early forms of nature reserves, den to de prayer hall of de mosque.

## Etymology
De Arabic language get two separate words, *ḥaram* (حَرَم) den *ḥarām* (حَرَام) dem both derive from de same triliteral Semitic root *Ḥ-R-M*. Both of dese words fi mean "forbidden" den/anaa "sacred"  isydn a general way, buh each sanso develop sam specialized meanings (*ḥarām* most often dey mean "forbidden by law"). A third related word dem derive from de same root, wey be *ḥarīm* (حَرِيْم), most directly dey correspond to English "harem". Dis article dey cover de word *ḥaram* (plus short vowels insyd de singular form).

## Insyd Islam

### Protected zone

As dem use insyd Islamic urban planning, de word *ḥaram* dey mean "inviolate zone", an important aspect of urban planning insyd Muslim civilization. Such protected areas be sanctuaries, anaa places wer contending parties fi settle disputes peacefully. Na dem usually build towns near a river wich provide drinking den domestic water (upstream) den carry away waste den sewage (downstream). Muslims dey claim to have introduce de idea of carrying capacity, den clearly sam times do limit de number of families insyd any given town. De harams typically be positioned to ensure access to parkland den nature (wich dem give anoda name, hima), to restrict urban sprawl, protect water-courses den watersheds den oases. Insyd dis respect de rules strongly resemble modern zoning laws, plus de same purposes.

### Holy site
*Ḥaram* sanso mean a site of high sanctity. De two sites wey dema Islamic sanctity be unchallengeably de highest of all be *Al-[[Masjid al-Haram]]* insyd Mecca (wich dem dey call *Ḥaraman Āminan* (حَرَمًا آمِنًا, "Sanctuary (wich be) Secure") insyd de Quran (28:57; 29:67), den the Prophet's Mosque insyd Medina, so de Arabic dual form *al-ḥaramān* (ٱلْحَرَمَان) anaa *al-ḥaramayn* (ٱلْحَرَمَيْن) dey refer to dese two places, both of wich dey insyd de Hejazi region of de Arabian Peninsula. Since 1986, de Saudi monarchy disclaim all royal titles except "Custodian of the Two Holy Sanctuaries" anaa "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" (خَادِم ٱلْحَرَمَيْن ٱلشَّرِيْفَيْن, *Khādim al-Ḥaramayn ash-Sharīfayn*).

In addition, de term *ḥaram* commonly be used to refer to certain oda holy sites, such as de Masjid Al-Aqsa (ٱلْحَرَم ٱلشَّرِيْف, *Al-Ḥaram Ash-Sharīf*) insyd Jerusalem — though over de protests of sam, such as Ibn Taymiyyah, wey declare say de only places wich fi be legitimately called "ḥaram" be Mecca, Medina, den probably de valley of Wajj insyd Taif, thus rejecting oda places like Hebron den even Jerusalem.

## References