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المسجد الحرام
মসজিদুল হারাম (The Sacred Mosque) in মক্কা মুকাররমা is the largest মসজিদ in the world, with a capacity exceeding 1.5 million worshippers. It surrounds the কাবা শরীফ, the holiest site in Islam. A single সালাত performed here equals 100,000 সালাতs elsewhere, according to hadith. It is the destination of হজ্জ and উমরাহ হজ্জs.
মসজিদুল হারাম's origins trace back to the time of নবী করীম Ibrahim (Abraham), who, along with his son Ismail, raised the foundations of the কাবা শরীফ and established the sacred precinct around it. For centuries, the area around the কাবা শরীফ served as an open-air place of worship. The first formal enclosure walls were built by the Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) around 638 CE, when he purchased surrounding houses to expand the সালাত area and erected a low wall around the compound. The Caliph Uthman ibn Affan further expanded the মসজিদ in 647 CE, adding a covered colonnade (riwaq) to provide shade for worshippers. Successive Islamic dynasties — the Umayyads, Abbasids, Mamluks, and Ottomans — each enlarged and embellished the মসজিদ. The Abbasid Caliph al-Mahdi (775-785 CE) carried out one of the most significant expansions, extending the মসজিদ to encompass the Mas'a (the সাঈ corridor between Safa and Marwa) and adding the first minarets. The Ottoman Empire maintained and renovated the মসজিদ for over four centuries. Sultan Selim II commissioned major repairs after a devastating flood in 1571, and subsequent sultans added architectural refinements including the distinctive Ottoman-style minarets. However, the most dramatic transformation came under the Saudi government. King Abdulaziz initiated the first Saudi expansion in 1955, and King Fahd's expansion (1982-1992) more than tripled the মসজিদ's area, adding the landmark King Fahd Gate and air-conditioned সালাত halls. The most recent and largest expansion project, begun under King Abdullah in 2011 and continued under King Salman, aims to increase the মসজিদ's capacity to over 2.2 million worshippers. This expansion added the massive northern সালাত area with retractable domes, new escalator towers, and a redesigned Mataf (তাওয়াফ area) with expanded capacity. The project also modernized infrastructure including cooling systems, crowd management technology, and accessibility features. Today, মসজিদুল হারাম covers approximately 356,800 square meters of indoor সালাত space, with additional outdoor areas bringing the total usable area to over 750,000 square meters. The মসজিদ features 13 minarets, each standing 89 meters tall, and 210 gates. The complex includes the Zamzam Well, Maqam Ibrahim, the Mas'a corridor, underground সালাত levels, and extensive service facilities for millions of annual visitors.
মসজিদুল হারাম holds the highest rank among all মসজিদs in Islam. নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'One সালাত in my মসজিদ is better than one thousand সালাতs elsewhere, except মসজিদুল হারাম, for one সালাত in মসজিদুল হারাম is better than one hundred thousand সালাতs elsewhere' (Ahmad and Ibn Majah). This immense reward reflects the মসজিদ's unique status as the house surrounding the কাবা শরীফ, the first house of worship established for humanity. The কুরআন designates the precincts of মসজিদুল হারাম as a sanctuary where violence is হারাম and all creatures are protected. It is one of only three মসজিদs to which Muslims may undertake a special religious journey, as stated in the hadith: 'Do not set out on a journey except to three মসজিদs: মসজিদুল হারাম, my মসজিদ (মসজিদে নববী), and Masjid al-Aqsa' (Bukhari and Muslim). The মসজিদ is also the site of the Isra and Mi'raj, the night journey and ascension, from which নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) was transported to al-Aqsa and then to the heavens.
মসজিদুল হারাম is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and there is no admission fee. The মসজিদ can be entered through any of its 210 gates, with the most prominent being King Abdulaziz Gate (Gate 1), King Fahd Gate, and উমরাহ Gate. Security screening is required at all entrances. Visitors must remove their shoes before entering the সালাত halls; shoe storage racks are available at all gates, though carrying shoes in a bag is মুস্তাহাব during peak times to avoid loss. The মসজিদ is fully air-conditioned, with temperatures maintained at a comfortable level even during the extreme summer heat. Zamzam water stations are located throughout the মসজিদ. Wheelchair services are available, and the entire facility is accessible via ramps and elevators. Electric scooters for তাওয়াফ can be rented on the roof level. The মসজিদ provides free কুরআনs in multiple languages, and translation services for sermons are available via FM radio receivers. During হজ্জ season and Ramadan, the মসজিদ experiences its highest crowd density. Pilgrims should plan their visits during off-peak hours when possible — the period between Dhuhr and Asr সালাতs, and the late-night hours after Isha, tend to be least crowded. The মসজিদ management has implemented a sophisticated crowd flow system with color-coded zones and digital signage to manage হাজী movement. Separate সালাত areas for women are available on all levels.