Al-Masjid al-Haram: Difference between revisions

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'''Masjid al-ḥarām''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|المسجد الحرام}}) is the best-known and the most sacred [[mosque]] in the Islamic world, located in [[Mecca]] in [[Saudi Arabia]] in which the [[Ka'ba]], the [[qibla]] of Muslims, is located. In addition to the Ka'ba, there are other sacred buildings, objects, and places inside al-Masjid al-Haram, such as the [[Black Stone]] (al-Hajar al-Aswad), [[al-Multazam]], [[al-Mustajar]], [[al-Hatim]], and [[Hijr Isma'il]] all of which are of a high religious and spiritual place for Muslims. In Islamic jurisprudence ([[fiqh]]), al-Masjid al-Haram is subject to some special laws in addition to the general laws of [[shari'a]] applied to mosques. In [[Islam]], it is obligatory ([[wajib]]) for every Muslim to travel to Mecca (for [[hajj]]) at least once in his or her lifetime if he or she is capable of doing so ([[Mustati']]). There are some rituals of hajj that should be done inside al-Masjid al-Haram.

{{Main|Ka'ba}}

The [[Ka'ba]] is the well-known cube-shaped building at the center of al-Masjid al-Haram in [[Mecca]]. It is the [[qibla]] of Muslims and their most important place of worship. It is obligatory for Muslims to visit the place as part of the [[hajj]] rituals at least once in their lifetime if they meet some conditions such as financial ability.

===The Black Stone===

===Maqam Ibrahim===

Maqam Ibrahim is a stone on which [[Ibrahim (a)]] is believed to had stood, when he was reconstructing the Ka'ba, in order for his hands to reach the upper parts of the wall. On one account, the stone used to be inside the [[Ka'ba]] before [[Islam]], but when the [[verse]] "make Maqam Ibrahim [the place where Ibrahim stood] as a place of prayer" {{enote|iarabic|...وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى...}} (the Qur'an, 2:125)}} was revealed, the Prophet (s) ordered it to be taken out of the Ka'ba and put around it.

===Hijr Isma'il===

{{Main|Hijr Ismail}}

[[Hijr Isma'il]] is the space between the [[Ka'ba]] and a half-circled wall extending from the northern part of the Ka'ba (al-Rukn al-'Iraqi) to its western part (al-Rukn al-Shami). Some called it as Hatim or Huzayra. When Ibrahim (a), [[Hajar]] and their infant, [[Isma'il (a)]], entered the area of Mecca, [[Gabriel]] guided them to reside where Hijr is now located. Then Hajar and Isma'il dwelled there under a canopy, made of woods, with their sheep. After their death, both Hajar and Isma'il were buried there. Hijr Isma'il was venerated before [[Islam]]. After his [[Bi'that]], the [[Prophet (s)]] sat in this place, worshiped, recited the [[Qur'an]], and answered people's questions there. According to the majority of [[Imamiyya]] jurisprudents ([[faqih]]s), and by an appeal to reliable [[hadith]]s, Hijr Isma'il is not part of the Ka'ba.

===Al-Multazam===

According to [[shi'a|Shiite]]s, al-Multazam is part of the wall behind the Ka'ba, where [[al-Mustajar]] and al-Rukn al-Yamani are located. On one side of al-Multazam, the [[Black Stone]] is located and on the other side of it the door of the [[Ka'ba]]. This is called "multazam" (the place held or adhered by people) because [[hajj]] pilgrims stand there and hold to the wall and recite their prayers and orisons. According to some [[hadith]]s, the [[Prophet (s)]] put his face and hands on this part of the wall. He is reported as having said that [[God]] listens to people's prayers in this place. One supererogatory ([[mustahab]]) action in this place is to confess one's sins to God and ask for His forgiveness.

===Zamzam Well===

{{Main|Zamzam Well}}

There is a water well on the eastern side of al-Masjid al-Haram that is variously called the [[Zamzam Well]], [[Isma'il (a)|Isma'il]]'s well, [['Abd al-Muttalib]]'s well, Shafa' al-Suqm (healing of the disease), 'Afiya (health), Maymuna (blessed), Tu'm (tasty), Baraka (blessing), and Barra. The well is located underground near [[Maqam Ibrahim]] about 18 meters from the Ka'ba.

Here are some other works:

There is a great deal of information about [[Mecca]] and al-Masjid al-Haram in the travel literature. Most travel logbooks in this literature are reports of their authors' [[hajj]] pilgrimage, containing information about al-Masjid al-Haram as well. Two of the most important and the oldest hajj logbooks, containing precious historical information, are ''Tadhkir bi l-akhbar 'an ittifaqat al-amsar'' by Ibn Jubayr ([[540]]-[[614]]/1145-6 - 1217-8) and ''Tuhfa al-nuzzar'' by Ibn Battuta (d. [[779]]/1377-8).

[[Iran|Iranian]] [[Shi'a|Shiite]]s have shared a lot of information about al-Masjid al-Haram in their hajj logbooks. Some important works in this literature are ''Safarnama'' by [[Nasir Khusrow]] (d. [[481]]/1088-9), ''Safarnama'' by [[Farhad Mirza Mu'tamad al-Dawla]] (d. [[1305]]/1887-8), and ''Dalil al-anam fi sabil ziyarat bayt Allah al-Haram wa l-Quds al-sharif wa madinat al-salam'' by Hisam al-Saltana (d. [[1300]]/1882-3).

{{Hajj}}