Al-Masjid Al-Haram “The Grand Mosque”
The Grand Mosque, or Al-Masjid Al-Haram, is the heart of Makkah and the epicenter of the Muslim world. At its center lies the Ka’bah, the holiest site in Islam, which Muslims around the world face during their prayers. The mosque is vast, accommodating millions of worshippers during Hajj, and is surrounded by various other significant Islamic landmarks. These include the Hejr Ismail, an area adjacent to the Ka’bah where it is believed that Ismail (peace be upon him) and his mother Hagar (peace be upon her) are buried; the Zamzam well, a source of water that sprang up miraculously for Hagar and Ismail; the Station of Ibrahim (Maqam Ibrahim), where Abraham (peace be upon him) stood while constructing the Ka’bah; and the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwa, which pilgrims traverse in imitation of Hagar’s search for water. The Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad), set into the corner of the Ka’bah, is another revered element, believed to have come from Paradise.
