Masjid al-Haram (Mecca)
AbrahamicIslamicmosqueHejaz2000 BCE - present
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Location
Modern Name
Mecca (Makkah al-Mukarramah)
Country
Saudi Arabia
Region
Hejaz
Coordinates
21.4225, 39.8262
Era
2000 BCE - present
Site Type
Mosque
About
The holiest city in Islam, home to Masjid al-Haram and the Kaaba — the cubic structure Muslims face in prayer worldwide. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city.
Significance
Birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and site of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam; the Kaaba is considered the 'House of God' (Bayt Allah).
History & Historical Arc
Tradition holds Abraham and Ishmael built the original Kaaba; Muhammad conquered Mecca in 630 CE and purified the sanctu…
Archaeological Notes
Access restrictions limit formal archaeology; pre-Islamic structures and inscriptions have been largely replaced by succ…
Key Features & Structures
- Kaaba
- Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad)
Visitor Information
Open to Muslims only; site of Hajj (Dhu al-Hijjah 8–13) and Umrah year-round.
Related Figures
Ibrahim (Abraham)Ismail (Ishmael)Hajar (Hagar)Muhammad
In the Bible
Source References
- Quran 2:125-127
- Quran 3:96-97
- Sahih Bukhari 1:1:3