Al-Masjid al-Haram: Difference between revisions

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Al-Masjid al-Haram has long been a sacred and respectful place for people of [[Hijaz]]. It is not historically known when it found such a prestige. According to religious and local accounts, the place was venerated since the genesis of the Earth. And according to [[hadith]]s, al-Masjid al-Haram is the most venerable place on the Earth.<ref>Ibn Ḍīyāʾ, ''Tārīkh Makka'', vol. 1, p. 3.</ref>

Some hadiths take [[Adam (a)]] to be the one who built or rebuilt the Ka'ba.<ref>Azraqī, ''Akhbār Makka'', vol. 1, p. 36.</ref> After that, [[Ibrahim (a)]] and [[Isma'il (a)]] reconstructed the building.<ref>Azraqī, ''Akhbār Makka'', vol. 1, p. 59.</ref> 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.<ref>Ibn Ḍīyāʾ, ''Tārīkh Makka'', vol. 1, p. 3.</ref>

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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna'', p. 75.</ref>

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 three hundred thousands worshippers. The doors of al-Masjid al-Haram was increased to sixty four ones.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna'', p. 77.</ref>

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 eighty nine-meter high minarets were built in this area. Three large domes were built in the middle, each resting on four pillars. Currently the number of al-Masjid al-Haram's minarets is nine.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna'', p. 78.</ref>

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 [[Muslim]]s and their most important place of worship. It is [[wajib|obligatory]] for Muslims to [[ziyarah|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]] (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.

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 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]] [[faqih|jurists]], and by an appeal to reliable [[hadith]]s, Hijr Isma'il is not part of the Ka'ba, but also it is not a part of al-Mataf, so it is not permissible to perform tawaf through it.

* ''Ishara al-targhib wa l-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).

* ''Al-'Iqd al-thamin'' by Taqi al-Din al-Fasi (d. [[832]]/1428-9) which is one of the most important source concerning the history of [[Mecca]] and al-Masjid al-Haram.