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