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المسجد الحرام
Masjidil Haram (The Sacred Masjid) in Mekkah is the largest masjid in the world, with a capacity exceeding 1.5 million worshippers. It surrounds the Kabah, the holiest site in Islam. A single shalat performed here equals 100,000 shalat elsewhere, according to hadith. It is the destination of Haji and Umrah ibadah hajis.
Masjidil Haram's origins trace back to the time of Nabi Ibrahim (Abraham), who, along with his son Ismail, raised the foundations of the Kabah and established the sacred precinct around it. For centuries, the area around the Kabah 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 shalat area and erected a low wall around the compound. The Caliph Uthman ibn Affan further expanded the masjid 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 masjid. The Abbasid Caliph al-Mahdi (775-785 CE) carried out one of the most significant expansions, extending the masjid to encompass the Mas'a (the sa'i corridor between Safa and Marwa) and adding the first minarets. The Ottoman Empire maintained and renovated the masjid 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 masjid's area, adding the landmark King Fahd Gate and air-conditioned shalat halls. The most recent and largest expansion project, begun under King Abdullah in 2011 and continued under King Salman, aims to increase the masjid's capacity to over 2.2 million worshippers. This expansion added the massive northern shalat area with retractable domes, new escalator towers, and a redesigned Mataf (tawaf area) with expanded capacity. The project also modernized infrastructure including cooling systems, crowd management technology, and accessibility features. Today, Masjidil Haram covers approximately 356,800 square meters of indoor shalat space, with additional outdoor areas bringing the total usable area to over 750,000 square meters. The masjid features 13 minarets, each standing 89 meters tall, and 210 gates. The complex includes the Zamzam Well, Maqam Ibrahim, the Mas'a corridor, underground shalat levels, and extensive service facilities for millions of annual pengunjung.
Masjidil Haram holds the highest rank among all masjids in Islam. Nabi Muhammad (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: 'One shalat in my masjid is better than one thousand shalat elsewhere, except Masjidil Haram, for one shalat in Masjidil Haram is better than one hundred thousand shalat elsewhere' (Ahmad and Ibn Majah). This immense reward reflects the masjid's unique status as the house surrounding the Kabah, the first house of worship established for humanity. The Al-Quran designates the precincts of Masjidil Haram as a sanctuary where violence is haram and all creatures are protected. It is one of only three masjids to which Muslims may undertake a special religious journey, as stated in the hadith: 'Do not set out on a journey except to three masjids: Masjidil Haram, my masjid (Masjid Nabawi), and Masjid al-Aqsa' (Bukhari and Muslim). The masjid is also the site of the Isra and Mi'raj, the night journey and ascension, from which Nabi Muhammad (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was transported to al-Aqsa and then to the heavens.
Masjidil Haram is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and there is no admission fee. The masjid can be entered through any of its 210 gates, with the most prominent being King Abdulaziz Gate (Gate 1), King Fahd Gate, and Umrah Gate. Security screening is required at all entrances. Visitors must remove their shoes before entering the shalat halls; shoe storage racks are available at all gates, though carrying shoes in a bag is sunnah during peak times to avoid loss. The masjid is fully air-conditioned, with temperatures maintained at a comfortable level even during the extreme summer panas. Zamzam water stations are located throughout the masjid. Wheelchair services are available, and the entire facility is accessible via ramps and elevators. Electric scooters for tawaf can be rented on the roof level. The masjid provides free Al-Qurans in multiple languages, and translation services for sermons are available via FM radio receivers. During Haji season and Ramadhan, the masjid experiences its highest crowd density. Pilgrims should plan their visits during off-peak hours when possible — the period between Dhuhr and Asr shalat, and the late-night hours after Isha, tend to be least crowded. The masjid management has implemented a sophisticated crowd flow system with color-coded zones and digital signage to manage jamaah haji movement. Separate shalat areas for women are available on all levels.