Al-Masjid al-Haram: Difference between revisions

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'''Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām''' (Arabic: {{ia|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.

The Arabic word "al-Masjid al-Haram" is a descriptive phrase. "Masjid" means [[mosque]], and it is described as "Haram" because some acts which are not haram (that is, forbidden) in other mosques are haram (forbidden) in this mosque, because this mosque should be respected in a special way. Moreover, committing sins in this mosque is doubly wrong, and according to some sources, even the intention to do a sinful action in this mosque counts as equivalent to doing that action.

Islamic sources, and in particular the [[Qur'an]], imply that al-Masjid al-Haram was called so by people of [[Hijaz]] even before the emergence of [[Islam]], and even though there used to be no buildings or walls around the [[Ka'ba]], the area in which the pilgrims circumambulate ([[Tawaf]]) around the Ka'ba was known as al-Masjid al-Haram. The descriptive phrase "al-Masjid al-Haram" is repeatedly used in the Quran; for example in a [[verse]] stating that [[polytheist]]s should not be allowed to pilgrim the Ka'ba and perform [[hajj]]:

{{centered pull quote

|{{center|{{iarabic|وَ ما لَهُمْ أَلاَّ يُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَ هُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرامِ}}}}

==The location and its boundaries==

Al-Masjid al-Haram is located in [[Mecca]] in [[Saudi Arabia]] surrounded by the mountains [[mount Abu Qubays|Abu Qubays]], [[mount Ajyad|Ajyad]], [[mount Hindi|Hindi]], and [[mount 'Umar|'Umar]]. The current boundaries of al-Masjid al-Haram are as follows: from the east to the Abu Qubays mountain, from the west to the 'Umar mountain and Shubayka Street, from the north to Shamiyya Street and the Hindi mountain, and from the south to Ajyad Street and Masfala.

==Virtues of al-Masjid al-Haram==

According to a hadith by the [[Prophet (s)]], al-Masjid al-Haram is the oldest [[mosque]] on the Earth and it was built before [[Masjid al-Aqsa]] (or Jerusalem).

 

According to a hadith known as [[Shadd al-Rihal]], the Prophet (s) has said: "do not travel except to visit three mosques..." one of which is al-Masjid al-Haram.

===The pre-Islamic period===

Some hadiths take [[Adam (a)]] to be the one who built or rebuilt the Ka'ba. After that, [[Ibrahim (a)]] and [[Isma'il (a)]] reconstructed the building.

 

There is a hadith from the [[Prophet (s)]] to the effect that al-Masjid al-Haram was built by Ibrahim (a). This hadith took al-Masjid al-Haram to be the oldest mosque on the Earth.

===The period of the Four Caliphs===

===The Umayyad Era===

[[Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik al-Umawi]] (reign: [[86]]-[[96]]/ 705-715) added an area of 1725 square meters to al-Masjid al-Haram and reconstructed it. He built porches around it with large pillars. The pillars were nicely decorated and partly gilded. Walid made a golden downspout for the [[Ka'ba]] that is still known as the golden downspout.

[[Al-Mansur al-'Abbasi]], the second [[Abbasid]] [[caliph]], (reign: [[136]]-[[158]]/ 754-775) doubled the area of al-Masjid al-Haram in [[137]]/754-5, adding an area of around 5000 square meters to its northern and western sides. He also made porches around it, built a minaret in its western side, and made more decorations on its walls and pillars.

In [[164]]/780-1, al-Mahdi al-'Abbasi expanded al-Masjid al-Haram from its southern part as well in order to turn the whole mosque into a square at the center of which the [[Ka'ba]] was located. Thus 6,560 square meters were added to the area of the mosque, porches were built around it, and pillars were made. These pillars are still there with the Al-Mahdi's inscription of on it.

In [[281]]/894-5, upon the suggestion of [[Mecca]]'s ruler, [[al-Mu'tadid al-'Abbasi]] (reign: [[279]]-[[289]]/ 892-902) issued an order to build a place for the residence of [[hajj]] pilgrims.

[[Al-Muqtadir al-'Abbasi]] (reign: [[295]]-[[320]]/ 908-932) added an area to al-Masjid al-Haram on the side where Bab Ibrahim (the gate of Ibrahim) is located.

In the period of [[al-Mustansir Billah al-'Abbasi]] (reign: [[623]]-[[640]]/ 1226-1242) a lot of attempts were made to renew al-Masjid al-Haram. In particular, they reconstructed [[al-mataf]] (the area in which [[hajj]] pilgrims perform tawaf around the [[Ka'ba]]).

In [[1368]]/1948-5, the King 'Abd al-'Aziz Al Saud issued an order to expand al-Masjid al-Haram in all its sides. The expansion began in [[1375]]/1955-6 and the area of the mosque was expanded to 160,861 square meters. The area was intended for a population of over 300,000 worshippers. The doors of al-Masjid al-Haram was increased to 64 ones.

In [[1409]]/1988-9, Malik Fahd started an unprecedented expansion of al-Masjid al-Haram. The studies for the project and the purchase of places around the mosque had started from [[1403]]/1982-3. It was the largest expansion of al-Masjid al-Haram ever in the history. An area of around 76,000 square meters were added to the western side of the mosque. Two monumental 89-meter high minarets were built in this area. Three large domes were built in the middle, each resting on 4 pillars. Currently the number of al-Masjid al-Haram's minarets is 9.

==The most important internal buildings and objects==

===The Ka'ba===

===The Black Stone===

The [[Black Stone]] (al-Hajar al-Aswad) is a sacred stone with an old history and a special place in the Islamic culture and [[hajj]] rituals. It is located in the eastern side of the Ka'ba (also known as al-Rukn al-Aswad, that is, the black side, or al-Rukn al-Hajari, that is, the stone side) 1.5 meters higher than the ground.

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.

[[File:حجر اسماعیل.jpeg|250px|thumbnail|right|Hijr Isma'il]]

[[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.

[[File:Al-Multazam.jpg|250px|thumbnail|right|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.

===Al-Mustajar===

 

===Hatim===

The space between the side of the [[Black Stone]] and the door of the Ka'ba is called Hatim. It is mentioned in the section of [[Hajj]] and [[Li'an]] in issues of [[fiqh]].

===Doors of al-Masjid al-Haram===

There are many written works concerning al-Masjid al-Haram. These works can be classified into two categories: some are directly concerned with al-Masjid al-Haram, and others mainly concern the city of [[Mecca]]. The oldest available work that has described al-Masjid al-Haram in detail is ''Akhbar Makka wa ma ja'a fiha min al-athar'' authored by Abu l-Walid al-Azraqi in the third/ninth century and then ''Akhbar Makka fi qadim al-dahr and hadithihi'' written by Muhammad b. Ishaq b. 'Abbas al-Fakihi al-Makki in the same century.

* ''Ishara al-targhib wa al-tashwiq ila l-masajid al-thalatha wa ila l-bayt al-'atiq'' (encouraging to the three mosques and to the old house [that is, the Ka'ba]) by [[Shams al-Din Muhammad b. Ishaq al-Khwarazmi]] (d. [[827]]/1424).

[[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).