Al-Masjid al-Haram: Difference between revisions

{{Islam-vertical}}

'''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 [[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 [[fiqh|Islamic jurisprudence]], 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 [[wajib|obligatory]] 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 ([[istita'a]]). There are some rituals of hajj that should be done inside 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 [[al-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.

According to local accounts, the mausoleums of 70 [[prophethood|prophet]]s, including [[Hud (a)]], [[Salih (a)]] and [[Isma'il (a)]] are located in al-Masjid al-Haram.

[[Al-Mansur al-'Abbasi]], the second [[Abbasid]] caliph, (reign: [[136]]/753-54 - [[158]]/774-75) doubled the area of al-Masjid al-Haram in [[137]]/754-55, 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 [[1368]]/1948-49, 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]]/1955-56 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]]/1988-89, 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]]/1982-83. 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.

  | infobox =-