Holy Sites of Makkah
Discover the holy sites of Makkah and experience the sanctity, history, and spirituality of the city, from the majestic Masjid al-Haram and the Kaaba to its historic landmarks of deep significance in Islamic history.
It is one of the significant historical mosques in Makkah, located near the Masjid-al Haram. It is named after the place where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) met the jinn at night, and where Surah Al-Jinn was revealed. It is also known as the Mosque of the Guard because it was the last point on the northeastern side of the Haram where the guards maintaining security in Makkah would meet and gather. It is also called the Mosque of the Pledge because the jinn pledged allegiance to the Prophet at this location.
Allah says: “Say, ‘It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened [to the Quran] and said, ‘Indeed, we have heard a wondrous recitation’.” [Surah Al-Jinn, 72:1]
Not far from the Grand Mosque, Jannat al-Mu’alla is the second most famous cemetery in the Islamic world, holding the graves of many of the relatives of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) including his wife Ummul Mu’mineen Khadija (may allah be pleased with her), grandfather Abdul Muttalib, and uncle Abu Talib.
One of the famous mountains in Islamic history. This mountain includes the Cave of Hira, where the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to worship before the Prophethood.
It is the place where the first verses of the Quran were revealed, with the words: “Read! In the name of your Lord Who creates. [He] creates man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Bounteous. It is He Who teaches by the pen. [He] teaches man that which he does not know.” [Surah Al-Alaq: 1]
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companion Abu Bakr al-Siddiq took refuge in the Cave of Thawr on Jabal Thawr for three nights during their migration to Madinah. The disbelievers of Quraysh followed their trail to the entrance of the cave but were unable to find them.
In the Quran, Allah says: “If you do not aid him (the Prophet), Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved drove him out as one of two when they were in the cave. When he said to his companion, Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.” [Surah At-Tawbah: 40]
Located west of Makkah, and is 7 km/4.3 miles from the Grand Mosque. It is one of the places from which residents of Makkah and others enter into Ihram for Umrah. The place gained its fame because Aisha bint Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) entered into Ihram for Umrah from there, after the Farewell Pilgrimage. Therefore, it is named the Mosque of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her).
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “O Messenger of Allah, your companions return with the reward of Hajj and Umrah, but I did not perform more than Hajj.” He replied: “Go, and let Abdur Rahman accompany you.” So, Abdur Rahman was instructed to perform Umrah with her from Taneem, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) waited for her at the top of Makkah until she arrived.
Masjid al-Ji’rranah is situated approx. 24km north-east of Masjid al-Haram and is one of the Miqat places where pilgrims enter into the state of Ihram for the performance of Umrah. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed Umrah from this location after the Battle of Ta’if. He also stayed here after returning from the Battles of Hunayn and Autas in the eighth year of Hijra, where he distributed the spoils of war.
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked: “How many times did the Prophet (peace be upon him) perform Hajj?” He replied: “Once. And he performed Umrah four times: Umrah in Dhul-Qi’dah, Umrah at Hudaybiyyah, Umrah with his Hajj, and Umrah of Ji’ranah, where he distributed the spoils of Hunayn.
Located in the Mina area, near the small Jamarah, this mosque is named after the “Khayf of Banu Kinana.” The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stayed at this location during the Farewell Pilgrimage. It is also referred to as the Mina Mosque due to its location within the Mina area. Earlier prophets, (may peace be upon them), stopped and prayed in the site of this mosque. It was narrated that “seventy prophets prayed in Al-Khayf Mosque.”
It is located in the holy site of Muzdalifah, between Nimrah Mosque in Arafat and al-Khayf Mosque in Mina. The mosque opens its doors on the night of Eid al-Adha, the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah, to welcome the pilgrims of the Grand Mosque of Allah for the Maghrib and Isha prayers, and for spending the night in Muzdalifah, after standing on the plain of Arafat.
Its location is mentioned in the Holy Quran, Allah says: “And when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at al-Mash’ar al-Haram (the Sacred Monument at Muzdalifah). And remember Him for having guided you, for surely before this ˹guidance˺ you were astray.”[Surah Al-Baqarah:198]
Namirah Mosque is one of the most important landmarks in Arafah. On the day of Arafah, thousands of pilgrims who come from all over the world pray in this mosque. The Pilgrims pray the midday (Dhuhr) and afternoon (Asr) prayers combined and advanced at this site, following the example of the Prophet who moved from Mina to Arafat to stay in a tent at Namirah on the Day of Arafat, the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. After the sun passed its zenith, the prophet moved to the valley of Uranah where he delivered a sermon and prayed with the people.
Pilgrims usually spend the Day of Tarwiyah (the eighth day of Dhu al-Hijjah) there and return to Mina again to spend Day of Nahr (the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah) and the three days of Tashreeq (the eleventh, the twelfth, and thirteenth days of Dhul-Hijjah). Mina is the first stage of Hajj. It has a historical and religious status. It is famous for archaeological landmarks and historical events, as it is located within the boundaries of the Haram between Makkah and Muzdalifah, 7 km to the northeast of the Holy Mosque. Mina also includes the extension of “Ain Zubaida,” in addition to some old wells.
It is located between Mina and Arafah. The pilgrims stay overnight there after they depart Arafah. They join and shorten Maghrib and Isha prayers and collect pebbles for Jamarat, in Mina. Pilgrims stay there for part of the night or until the dawn of the next day, the day of Eid, to move to Mina.
Located in the Mina area, this bridge was built and developed during the Saudi era to facilitate the process of stoning the Jamarat for pilgrims. It is situated at the location where Shaitan was said to have tried to tempt the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when he intended to sacrifice his son Ismail. It has since become the designated area for pilgrims to perform the stoning ritual at the three Jamarat: the small Jamarah, the middle Jamarah, and the large Jamarah (Jamarat al-Aqabah). At the beginning of the Day of Nahr (Yawm al-Nahr), only the seven pebbles of the biggest Jamrah are thrown. During the days of Tashreeq, each Jamrah is thrown at with seven pebbles, from the Smallest Jamrah, the Middle Jamrah, and finally the Large Jamrah. A pilgrim can throw Jamarat from any floor of the Jamarat Bridge. The Bridge is linked to the pilgrim camps.
It is also called Jabal Arafat. At its summit, there is a modern marker built to serve as a landmark, standing four meters tall. It is located to the north of the plain of Arafat and outside the boundaries of the sacred area. It is a small mountain, no more than thirty meters high, and difficult to ascend; therefore, steps were constructed to reach the top. Arafat as a whole is a place for standing (where pilgrims gather). According to Jabir ibn Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “I have stood here, and all of Arafat is a place for standing.”
It is located in Wadi Na’man on the road between Taif and Makkah. It is named after Abbasid queen Zubaida bint Ja’far, the wife of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, who ordered the delivery of water from the spring to Makkah in the year 174 AH, after observing the hardships faced by pilgrims in fetching water from a place called Al-Uwajr at the base of Jabal Kura on the western side of the sacred area. The project took ten years, and the length of the channels extending to Makkah is 38 km.
It is located at the base of Mount Thubayr overlooking the Jamrat areas in Mina, at the site of the Pledge of Aqabah, where the Ansar pledged allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the presence of his uncle, Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib. This pledge led to the migration of the Prophet to Madinah. Caliph Abu Ja’far al-Mansur built a mosque at the site of the pledge in the year 144 AH.
Located in the valley of Tuwa in Makkah, Al-Shafi’i said that the valley was named Dhi-Tuwa because of a well there that was covered with stones. It is mentioned that the well was dug by Abd Shams ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stayed by the well of Tuwa in the valley of Tuwa on the night of his arrival during the Umrah of Qada and the Farewell Pilgrimage. He also stopped there on the Day of Conquest to organize his army and direct them to enter Makkah.
It is located along the old Jeddah road, about 24 kilometers from the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. The site is famous for The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, known for its agreement between the Prophet and the disbelievers of Quraysh, occurred in the 6th year of the Hijri calendar. Today, Hudaybiyyah is a prosperous town known as Ash-Shumaysi.The virtue of those who attended the treaty is mentioned in the narration by Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him): On the day of Hudaybiyyah, we were 1,400 in number. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to us, [You are the best people on earth today.]
Allah praised them in the Quran: “Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muhammad], they are pledging allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is above their hands. So whoever breaks his pledge, only breaks it to the detriment of himself. And whoever fulfills what he has promised Allah – He will give him a great reward.” [Surah Al-Fath: 10]