Draft:Al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn

17th-century depiction of the Two Holy Sanctuaries with Persian poems

Al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn refers to two sacred places for Muslims, namely al-Haram al-Makki and al-Haram al-Madani. It is said that al-Haram al-Makki, which is also referred to with terms such as Haram Allah and the Haram of Mecca, has the greatest importance for Muslims due to the existence of the Ka'ba and al-Masjid al-Haram in it. Al-Haram al-Madani, which is known by names such as Haram al-Rasul, al-Haram al-Nabawi, and the Haram of the Prophet, is in the next position of importance for Muslims due to the burial place of the Prophet of Islam (s) and al-Masjid al-Nabawi. Although the term "al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn" is also used for the two shrines of Najaf and Karbala or the two shrines of Bayt al-Muqaddas (Jerusalem) and Hebron, its most famous and prominent manifestation is considered to be Mecca and Medina.

The use of the term al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn regarding Mecca and Medina has occurred conceptually in two narrow and broad forms; in the specific sense, it refers to al-Masjid al-Haram itself in Mecca and al-Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina; but in its broad sense, it refers to the cities of Mecca and Medina. For example, the expression "Khadim al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn" (Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques), as one of the respectful titles for the kings of Saudi Arabia, refers to the specific meaning and means the servant, key-holder, and protector of the two holy mosques. In contrast, expressions such as "Qamus al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn", Encyclopedia of Hajj and the Two Holy Sanctuaries or "Expansion Project of al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn", refer to the cities of Mecca and Medina and its broad meaning is intended.

According to Hasan al-Basha, a historical researcher, the title "Khadim al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn" was used by various dynasties of Islamic kings, and Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi was the first person to choose this title for himself due to seeking taqarrub to God. The Mamluk Sultan al-Ashraf, during the Mamluks of Egypt, was the second sultan to use this title, and among the Ottoman sultans, Selim I chose this title for the first time. In Saudi Arabia, King Faisal used the title Khadim al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn for the first time, but after him, King Khalid was not referred to by this title. When King Fahd b. Abdulaziz came to power in 1982 CE, he chose the title "Khadim al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn" instead of "His Majesty", and his successors, King Abdullah and King Salman, also used this title.