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Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
, image = Al-Haram mosque - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg , image_upright = 1.25 , caption = Aerial view of the Great Mosque of Mecca , map_type = Saudi Arabia#Asia#Earth , coordinates = , map_size = 250 , map_caption = Location in Saudi Arabia , location =
Mecca Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red ...
,
Hejaz The Hejaz (, also ; ar, ٱلْحِجَاز, al-Ḥijāz, lit=the Barrier, ) is a region in the west of Saudi Arabia. It includes the cities of Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Tabuk, Yanbu, Taif, and Baljurashi. It is also known as the "Western Provin ...
(present-day
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
) , tradition = Muslims , administration =
Saudi Arabian government The politics of Saudi Arabia takes place in the context of a unitary absolute monarchy along Islamic lines, where the King is both the head of state and government. Decisions are, to a large extent, made on the basis of consultation among the Ki ...
, leadership = Yasser Al-Dosari (Imam)
Abdur Rahman As-Sudais (Imam)
Saud Al-Shuraim Saud ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Shuraim (Arabic: سعود بن ابراهيم بن محمد الشريم; born 19 January 1964), is one of the prayer leaders and Friday preachers at the Grand Mosque Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. A Quranic reciter, ...
(Imam)
Abdullah Awad Al Juhany (Imam)
Maher Al Mueaqly (Imam)
Salih bin Abdullah al Humaid Ṣāliḥ ibn ʻAbd Allāh Ibn Ḥumayd ( ar, صالح بن عبد الله ابن حميد, Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid; born 1949), is a Saudi Arabian Imam and politician. He is currently one of the nine Imams of Grand Mosque of Mecca. He i ...
(Imam)
Faisal Ghazawi (Imam)
Bandar Baleela Bandar or Bunder may refer to: Places * Bandar, Afghanistan * Bandar, Narayanganj, Bangladesh * Bandar, Isfahan, Iran * Bandar, Kermanshah, Iran * Bandar, Yazd, Iran * Banda Aceh, Indonesia * Bandar Lampung, Indonesia * Bandar Seri Begawan, ...
(Imam)
Ali Ahmed Mullah (Chief Mu'azzin) , architecture_type = mosque , capacity = 2.5 million , site_area = 356,000 square metres (88 acres) , minaret_quantity = 9 , minaret_height = Masjid al-Haram ( ar, , translit=al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, lit=The Inviolable Mosque), also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, is a
mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...
that surrounds the
Kaaba The Kaaba (, ), also spelled Ka'bah or Kabah, sometimes referred to as al-Kaʿbah al-Musharrafah ( ar, ٱلْكَعْبَة ٱلْمُشَرَّفَة, lit=Honored Ka'bah, links=no, translit=al-Kaʿbah al-Musharrafah), is a building at the c ...
in
Mecca Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red ...
, in the Mecca Province of
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
. It is a site of pilgrimage in the
Hajj The Hajj (; ar, حَجّ '; sometimes also spelled Hadj, Hadji or Haj in English) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried ...
, which every
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
must do at least once in their lives if able, and is also the main phase for the ʿ
Umrah The ʿUmrah ( ar, عُمْرَة, lit=to visit a populated place) is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca (the holiest city for Muslims, located in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia) that can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the ...
, the lesser pilgrimage that can be undertaken any time of the year. The rites of both pilgrimages include circumambulating the Kaaba within the mosque. The Great Mosque includes other important significant sites, including the
Black Stone The Black Stone ( ar, ٱلْحَجَرُ ٱلْأَسْوَد, ', 'Black Stone') is a rock set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba, the ancient building in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is revered by Muslims as an ...
, the
Zamzam Well The Zamzam Well ( ar, بئر زمزم, translit=Biʾru Zamzam ) is a well located within the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is located east of the Kaʿba, the holiest place in Islam. According to Islamic narratives, the well is a mir ...
,
Maqam Ibrahim The ''Maqām Ibrāhīm'' ( ar, مَقَام إِبْرَاهِيْم, lit=Station of Abraham) is a small square stone associated with Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael) and their building of the ''Kaaba'' in what is now the Great Mosque of Mecca ...
, and the hills of
Safa and Marwa Safa and Marwa ( ar, ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَة, Aṣ-Ṣafā wal-Marwah) are two small hills, connected to the larger Abu Qubais and Qaiqan mountains, respectively, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, now made part of the Masjid al-Haram. Mus ...
. the Great Mosque is the largest mosque in the world. It has undergone major renovations and expansions through the years. It has passed through the control of various
caliphs A caliphate or khilāfah ( ar, خِلَافَة, ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph (; ar, خَلِيفَة , ), a person considered a political-religious successor to th ...
, sultans and kings, and is now under the control of the
King of Saudi Arabia The king of Saudi Arabia is the monarchial head of state and ruler of Saudi Arabia who holds absolute power. He is the head of the Saudi Arabian royal family, the House of Saud. The king is called the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" (), a ...
who is titled the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (abbreviation ''CTHM''; ar, خَادِمُ ٱلْحَرَمَيْنِ ٱلشَّرِيفَيْنِ, '), Servant of the Two Noble Sanctuaries or Protector of the Two Holy Cities, is a royal style that has been u ...
.


History

The great Mosque contends with the Mosque of the Companions in the
Eritrea Eritrea ( ; ti, ኤርትራ, Ertra, ; ar, إرتريا, ʾIritriyā), officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, with its capital and largest city at Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopia ...
n city of Massawa and
Quba Mosque , location = Madinah, Saudi Arabia , geo = , religious_affiliation = Islam , region = Hejaz , province = Al Madinah , website = , architect = Abdel-Wahed ...
in
Medina Medina,, ', "the radiant city"; or , ', (), "the city" officially Al Madinah Al Munawwarah (, , Turkish: Medine-i Münevvere) and also commonly simplified as Madīnah or Madinah (, ), is the Holiest sites in Islam, second-holiest city in Islam, ...
as the oldest mosque. According to Islamic tradition, Islam as a religion precedes Muhammad,Esposito (2002b), pp. 4–5. representing previous
prophets In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the s ...
such as
Abraham Abraham, ; ar, , , name=, group= (originally Abram) is the common Hebrew patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father of the special relationship between the Jew ...
. Abraham is credited by Muslims with having built the ''Kaaba'' in
Mecca Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red ...
, and consequently its sanctuary, which according to the Muslim view is seen as the first mosque that ever existed. According to other scholars, Islam started during the lifetime of
Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد;  570 – 8 June 632 Common Era, CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Muhammad in Islam, Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet Divine inspiration, di ...
in the 7th century CE, and so did architectural components such as the mosque. In that case, either the Mosque of the Companions or Quba Mosque would be the first mosque that was built in the history of Islam.


Era of Abraham and Ishmael

According to Islamic doctrine in the
Quran The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Classical Arabic, Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation in Islam, revelation from God in Islam, ...
,
Abraham Abraham, ; ar, , , name=, group= (originally Abram) is the common Hebrew patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father of the special relationship between the Jew ...
together with his son
Ishmael Ishmael ''Ismaḗl''; Classical/Qur'anic Arabic: إِسْمَٰعِيْل; Modern Standard Arabic: إِسْمَاعِيْل ''ʾIsmāʿīl''; la, Ismael was the first son of Abraham, the common patriarch of the Abrahamic religions; and is cons ...
raised the foundations of a house, which has been identified by commentators as the ''Kaaba''. God showed Abraham the exact site which was previously built by
Adam Adam; el, Ἀδάμ, Adám; la, Adam is the name given in Genesis 1-5 to the first human. Beyond its use as the name of the first man, ''adam'' is also used in the Bible as a pronoun, individually as "a human" and in a collective sense as " ...
, very near to what is now the Well of Zamzam, where Abraham and Ishmael began work on the construction of the ''Kaaba''. After Abraham had built the ''Kaaba'', an angel brought to him the
Black Stone The Black Stone ( ar, ٱلْحَجَرُ ٱلْأَسْوَد, ', 'Black Stone') is a rock set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba, the ancient building in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is revered by Muslims as an ...
, a celestial stone that, according to tradition, had fallen from Heaven on the nearby hill Abu Qubays. The Black Stone is believed by Islamic scholars to be the only remnant of the original structure made by Abraham. After placing the Black Stone in the Eastern corner of the Kaaba, Abraham received a revelation, in which God told the aged prophet that he should now go and proclaim the pilgrimage to mankind, so that men may come both from Arabia and from lands far away, on camel and on foot.


Era of Muhammad

Upon Muhammad's victorious return to Mecca in 630 CE, he broke the idols in and around the Kaaba, similar to what, according to the Quran, Abraham did in his homeland. Thus ended polytheistic use of the Kaaba, and began monotheistic rule over it and its sanctuary.''Mecca: From Before Genesis Until Now'', M. Lings, pg. 39, Archetype''Concise Encyclopedia of Islam'', C. Glasse, ''Kaaba'', Suhail Academy


Umayyad era

The first major renovation to the mosque took place in 692 on the orders of
Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ibn al-Hakam ( ar, عبد الملك ابن مروان ابن الحكم, ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam; July/August 644 or June/July 647 – 9 October 705) was the fifth Umayyad caliph, ruling from April 685 ...
. Before this renovation, which included the mosque's outer walls being raised and decoration added to the ceiling, the mosque was a small open area with the Kaaba at the center. By the end of the 8th century, the mosque's old wooden columns had been replaced with marble columns and the wings of the prayer hall had been extended on both sides along with the addition of a
minaret A minaret (; ar, منارة, translit=manāra, or ar, مِئْذَنة, translit=miʾḏana, links=no; tr, minare; fa, گل‌دسته, translit=goldaste) is a type of tower typically built into or adjacent to mosques. Minarets are generall ...
on the orders of
Al-Walid I Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ( ar, الوليد بن عبد الملك بن مروان, al-Walīd ibn ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān; ), commonly known as al-Walid I ( ar, الوليد الأول), was the sixth Umayyad Caliphate, Umayyad ca ...
. The
spread of Islam The spread of Islam spans about 1,400 years. Muslim conquests following Muhammad's death led to the creation of the caliphates, occupying a vast geographical area; conversion to Islam was boosted by Arab Muslim forces conquering vast territorie ...
in the Middle East and the influx of pilgrims required an almost complete rebuilding of the site which included adding more marble and three more minarets.


Ottoman era

In 1570,
Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
Selim II commissioned the chief architect
Mimar Sinan Mimar Sinan ( ota, معمار سينان, translit=Mi'mâr Sinân, , ) ( 1488–1490 – 17 July 1588) also known as Koca Mi'mâr Sinân Âğâ, ("Sinan Agha (title), Agha the Grand Architect" or "Grand Sinan") was the chief Ottoman Empir ...
to renovate the mosque. This renovation resulted in the replacement of the flat roof with domes decorated with
calligraphy Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...
internally, and the placement of new support columns which are acknowledged as the earliest architectural features of the present mosque. These features are the oldest surviving parts of the building. During heavy rains and flash floods in 1621 and 1629, the walls of the Kaaba and the mosque suffered extensive damage. In 1629, during the reign of Sultan
Murad IV Murad IV ( ota, مراد رابع, ''Murād-ı Rābiʿ''; tr, IV. Murad, was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1623 to 1640, known both for restoring the authority of the state and for the brutality of his methods. Murad IV was born in Cons ...
, the mosque was renovated. In the renovation of the mosque, a new stone arcade was added, three more minarets (bringing the total to seven) were built, and the marble flooring was retiled. This was the unaltered state of the mosque for nearly three centuries.


Saudi era


First Saudi expansion

The first major renovation under the Saudi kings was done between 1955 and 1973. In this renovation, four more minarets were added, the ceiling was refurnished, and the floor was replaced with artificial stone and marble. The Mas'a gallery (As-Safa and Al-Marwah) is included in the Mosque, via roofing and enclosures. During this renovation many of the historical features built by the Ottomans, particularly the support columns, were
demolished Demolition (also known as razing, cartage, and wrecking) is the science and engineering in safely and efficiently tearing down of buildings and other artificial structures. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a ...
. On 20 November 1979, the Great Mosque was seized by extremist insurgents who called for the overthrow of the Saudi dynasty. They took hostages and in the ensuing siege hundreds were killed. These events came as a shock to the Islamic world, as violence is strictly forbidden within the mosque.


Second Saudi expansion

The second Saudi renovations under
King Fahd Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ( ar, فهد بن عبد العزيز آل سعود ''Fahd ibn ʿAbd al ʿAzīz Āl Suʿūd'', ; 1920, 1921 or 1923 – 1 August 2005) was a Saudi Arabian politician who was King and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia fro ...
, added a new wing and an outdoor prayer area to the mosque. The new wing, which is also for prayers, is reached through the King Fahd Gate. This extension was performed between 1982 and 1988. 1987 to 2005 saw the building of more minarets, the erecting of a King's residence overlooking the mosque and more prayer area in and around the mosque itself. These developments took place simultaneously with those in Arafat, Mina and
Muzdalifah Muzdalifah ( ar, مُزْدَلِفَة) is an open and level area near Mecca in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia that is associated with the ("Pilgrimage"). It lies just southeast of Mina, on the route between Mina and Arafat. Pilgrimage ...
. This extension also added 18 more gates, three domes corresponding in position to each gate and the installation of nearly 500 marble columns. Other modern developments added heated floors, air conditioning, escalators and a drainage system.


Third Saudi expansion

In 2008, the Saudi government under King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz announced an expansion of the mosque, involving the
expropriation Nationalization (nationalisation in British English) is the process of transforming privately-owned assets into public assets by bringing them under the public ownership of a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to pri ...
of land to the north and northwest of the mosque covering . At that time, the mosque covered an area of including indoor and outdoor praying spaces. 40 billion riyals (US$10.6 billion) was allocated for the expansion project. In August 2011, the government under King Abdullah announced further details of the expansion. It would cover an area of and accommodate 1.2 million worshippers, including a multi-level extension on the north side of the complex, new stairways and tunnels, a gate named after King Abdullah, and two minarets, bringing the total number of minarets to eleven. The circumambulation areas (Mataf) around the Kaaba would be expanded and all closed spaces receive air conditioning. After completion, it would raise the mosque's capacity from 770,000 to over 2.5 million worshippers. His successor,
King Salman Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ( ar, سلمان بن عبد العزیز آل سعود, , ; born 31 December 1935) is King of Saudi Arabia, reigning since 2015, and served as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia from 2015 to 2022. The 25th son of Kin ...
launched five megaprojects as part of the overall King Abdullah Expansion Project in July 2015, covering an area of . The project was carried out by the
Saudi Binladin Group Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) is a Saudi construction company headquartered in Jeddah, Hejaz. It is the largest construction company of the Middle East. The company is owned primarily by the Bin Laden family. Founded by Muhammad Binladin in 1931, ...
. In 2012, the
Abraj Al Bait The Clock Towers ( ar, أبراج الساعة, ʾAbrāǧ alsaa'a "Towers of the Clock") is a government-owned complex of seven skyscraper hotels in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. These towers are a part of the King Abdulaziz Endowment Project that ai ...
complex was completed along with the 601 meter tall Makkah Royal Clock Tower. On 11 September 2015, at least 111 people died and 394 were injured when a crane collapsed onto the mosque. Construction work was suspended after the incident, and remained on hold due to financial issues during the 2010s oil glut. Development was eventually restarted two years later in September 2017. On 5 March 2020, during the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, the mosque began to be closed at night and the Umrah pilgrimage was suspended to limit attendance. The resumption of Umrah service began on 4 October 2020 with the first phase of a gradual resumption that was limited to Saudi citizens and expatriates from within the Kingdom at a rate of 30 per cent. Only 10,000 people were given Hajj visas in 2020 while 60,000 people were given visas in 2021.


List of former and current Imams and Muezzins


Former Imams

Imams Imam (; ar, إمام '; plural: ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, serve ...
: * Abdullah Al-Khulaifi ( ar, عَبْد ٱلله ٱلْخُلَيْفِي), appointed Imam and Khateeb from 1953 till his death in 1993. *
Ahmad Khatib Shaikh Ahmad Khatib al-Minangkabawi (1860 – 1916) was a Minangkabau Islamic teacher. He was born in Koto Tuo, Dutch East Indies on 6 Dzulhijjah 1276 H (1860 M) and died in Mecca, Ottoman Empire on 8 Jumadil Awal 1334 H (1916 M). He served as the ...
( ar, ), Islamic Scholar from
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
* Ali bin Abdullah Jaber ( ar, ), Imam from 1981 to 1983, guest Imam for Ramadhan 1986–1989 * Umar Al-Subayyil ( ar, ), Imam and Khateeb from 1993 until 2002, died in 2002 * Muhammad Al-Subayyil ( ar, ), died in 2013 * Abdullah Al-Harazi ( ar, ), former Chairman of Saudi Majlis al-Shura * Ali bin Abdur-Rahman Al-Huthaify ( ar, ), guest Imam for Ramadhan 1981, 1985–1986, 1988–1991, now Chief Imam of The Prophet's Mosque, * Salah ibn Muhammad Al-Budair ( ar, ), led Taraweeh in Ramadan 1426 (2005) and 1427 (2006), now Deputy Chief Imam of the Prophet's Mosque *
Adil al-Kalbani Adil al-Kalbani () is a Saudi Arabian Muslim cleric of Afro-Saudi background who served as the Imam of the Great Mosque of Mecca. Biography Early years and studies Adil al-Kalbani was born in Riyadh on April 4, 1958 to poor emigrants from Ras ...
( ar, ) * Saleh Al-Talib (suspended) * Khalid al Ghamdi (suspended)


Current Imams

*
Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz al-Sudais ( ar, عَبْدُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلسُّدَيْسِ, ʻAbd ar-Raḥman ibn ʻAbd al-ʻAziz as-Sudais), better known as Al-Sudais, is one of the nine i ...
, appointed as Imam and Khateeb in 1404 (1984). *
Saud Al-Shuraim Saud ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Shuraim (Arabic: سعود بن ابراهيم بن محمد الشريم; born 19 January 1964), is one of the prayer leaders and Friday preachers at the Grand Mosque Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. A Quranic reciter, ...
, appointed as Imam and Khateeb in 1412 (1992). *
Salih bin Abdullah al Humaid Ṣāliḥ ibn ʻAbd Allāh Ibn Ḥumayd ( ar, صالح بن عبد الله ابن حميد, Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid; born 1949), is a Saudi Arabian Imam and politician. He is currently one of the nine Imams of Grand Mosque of Mecca. He i ...
, appointed as Imam and Khateeb in 1404 (1984). * Usama Abdul Aziz Al-Khayyat, appointed as Imam and Khateeb in 1418 (1998). * Abdullah Awad Al Juhany, appointed as Imam in 1428 (2007) and Khateeb in 1441 (2019). * Mahir Al-Muayqali, appointed as Imam in 1428 (2007), and Khateeb in 1437 (2016). * Yasser Al-Dosari, appointed as Imam in 1441. * Bandar Baleelah, appointed as Imam in 1434 (2013), and Khateeb in 1441 (2019). * Faisal Jameel Ghazzawi, appointed as Imam and Khateeb in 1429 (2008).


Former Muezzins

*
Al-Bazzi Abu al-Hasan Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdillah Ibn al-Qasim Ibn Nafi'i Ibn Abi Bazzah (Arabic: أحمد بن محمد بن عبدالله بن القاسم بن نافع بن أبي بزَّة), better known simply as al-Bazzi (170–250AH) (7 ...
, died in 864 CE * Sheikh Abdullah Asad Al-Rayes * Sheikh Idris Kanu * Sheikh Muhammad Khalil Ramal * Sheikh Saleh Fayda * Sheikh Ibrahim Abbas * Sheikh Abdullah Sabaak * Sheikh Abdullah Basnawi * Sheikh Hassan Rashad Zabeedi


Current Muezzins

*Sheikh Ali Ahmed Mullah (Chief
Muezzin The muezzin ( ar, مُؤَذِّن) is the person who proclaims the call to the daily prayer ( ṣalāt) five times a day ( Fajr prayer, Zuhr prayer, Asr prayer, Maghrib prayer and Isha prayer) at a mosque. The muezzin plays an important r ...
and longest-serving) *Sheikh Farooq Hadrawi *Sheikh Naif Saleh Faidah *Sheikh Muhammad Yusuf Mudhin *Sheikh Muhammad Shakir *Sheikh Ahmed Basnawi *Sheikh Tawfiq Khoj *Sheikh Majid Abbas *Sheikh Ahmed Yunus Khoja *Sheikh Ahmed Nuhaas *Sheikh Esam Khan *Sheikh Saaed Falatta *Sheikh Hameed Dhaghreree *Sheikh Muhammad Magrabi *Sheikh Emad Baqree *Sheikh Hashim Saqqaf *Sheikh Hussain Hassan Shahat *Sheikh Muhammad Basad *Sheikh Samee Raees *Sheikh Suhail AbdulHafiz *Sheikh Ibrahim Madani *Sheikh Abdullah Bafeef *Sheikh Muhammad Amry *Sheikh Turki Hassani *Sheikh Atef bin Ali Ahmed Mulla


Pilgrimage

The Great Mosque is the main setting for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages that occur in the month of
Dhu al-Hijja Dhu al-Hijja ( ar, ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة, translit=Ḏū al-Ḥijja, ), also spelled Zu al-Hijja, is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. It is a very sacred month in the Islamic calendar, one in which the '' Ḥajj'' (Pilgri ...
in the
Islamic calendar The Hijri calendar ( ar, ٱلتَّقْوِيم ٱلْهِجْرِيّ, translit=al-taqwīm al-hijrī), also known in English as the Muslim calendar and Islamic calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or ...
and at any time of the year, respectively. The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the Pillars of Islam, required of all able-bodied Muslims who can afford the trip. In recent times, over 5 million Muslims perform the Hajj every year.


Structures

* The ''
Kaaba The Kaaba (, ), also spelled Ka'bah or Kabah, sometimes referred to as al-Kaʿbah al-Musharrafah ( ar, ٱلْكَعْبَة ٱلْمُشَرَّفَة, lit=Honored Ka'bah, links=no, translit=al-Kaʿbah al-Musharrafah), is a building at the c ...
'' is a
cuboid In geometry, a cuboid is a hexahedron, a six-faced solid. Its faces are quadrilaterals. Cuboid means "like a cube", in the sense that by adjusting the length of the edges or the angles between edges and faces a cuboid can be transformed into a cub ...
-shaped building in the center of the Great Mosque and the most sacred site in Islam.Wensinck, A. J; Ka`ba.
Encyclopaedia of Islam The ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'' (''EI'') is an encyclopaedia of the academic discipline of Islamic studies published by Brill. It is considered to be the standard reference work in the field of Islamic studies. The first edition was published in ...
IV p. 317
It is the focal point for Islamic rituals like prayer and pilgrimage. * The
Black Stone The Black Stone ( ar, ٱلْحَجَرُ ٱلْأَسْوَد, ', 'Black Stone') is a rock set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba, the ancient building in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is revered by Muslims as an ...
is the eastern cornerstone of the Kaaba and plays a role in the pilgrimage. *
Maqam Ibrahim The ''Maqām Ibrāhīm'' ( ar, مَقَام إِبْرَاهِيْم, lit=Station of Abraham) is a small square stone associated with Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael) and their building of the ''Kaaba'' in what is now the Great Mosque of Mecca ...
is a rock that reportedly has an imprint of Abraham's foot and is kept in a crystal dome next to the Kaaba.M.J. Kister, "Maḳām Ibrāhīm," p.105, ''The Encyclopaedia of Islam'' (new ed.), vol. VI (Mahk-Mid), eds. Bosworth et al., Brill: 1991, pp. 104–107. *
Safa and Marwa Safa and Marwa ( ar, ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَة, Aṣ-Ṣafā wal-Marwah) are two small hills, connected to the larger Abu Qubais and Qaiqan mountains, respectively, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, now made part of the Masjid al-Haram. Mus ...
are two hills between which Abraham's wife
Hagar Hagar, of uncertain origin; ar, هَاجَر, Hājar; grc, Ἁγάρ, Hagár; la, Agar is a biblical woman. According to the Book of Genesis, she was an Egyptian slave, a handmaiden of Sarah (then known as ''Sarai''), whom Sarah gave to he ...
ran, looking for water for her infant son
Ishmael Ishmael ''Ismaḗl''; Classical/Qur'anic Arabic: إِسْمَٰعِيْل; Modern Standard Arabic: إِسْمَاعِيْل ''ʾIsmāʿīl''; la, Ismael was the first son of Abraham, the common patriarch of the Abrahamic religions; and is cons ...
, an event which is commemorated in the ritual of the pilgrimage. * The
Zamzam Well The Zamzam Well ( ar, بئر زمزم, translit=Biʾru Zamzam ) is a well located within the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is located east of the Kaʿba, the holiest place in Islam. According to Islamic narratives, the well is a mir ...
is the water source which, according to tradition, sprang miraculously after Hagar was unable to find water between Safa and Marwah. * Nearby is
Makkah Al Mukarramah Library Makkah Al Mukarramah Library is a library near the '' Masjid al-Haram'' in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Since it is believed to stand on the spot where the Islamic prophet Muhammad was born, it is also known as ''Bayt al- Mawlid'' ( ar, بَيْت ٱل ...
(). Since it is believed to stand on the spot where Muhammad was born, it is also known as ''
Bayt al-Mawlid Makkah Al Mukarramah Library is a library near the '' Masjid al-Haram'' in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Since it is believed to stand on the spot where the Islamic prophet Muhammad was born, it is also known as ''Bayt al- Mawlid'' ( ar, بَيْت ٱل ...
''. File:Kaaba Masjid Haraam Makkah.jpg, The Kaaba File:The Blackstone.jpg, The Black Stone File:Maqam Ibrahim, Makkah.jpg, Maqam Ibrahim's crystal dome File:Al-Marwah.JPG, Mount Marwah within the mosque File:Mount Safa Mecca.jpg, Mount Safa File:Zamzamwell2.JPG, The well of Zamzam located beneath the floor (entrance now covered)


Destruction of heritage sites

There has been some controversy that the expansion projects of the mosque and Mecca itself are causing harm to early Islamic heritage. Many ancient buildings, some more than a thousand years old, have been demolished to make room for the expansion. Some examples are: * , the Islamic school where Muhammad first taught, was flattened to lay marble tiles. * The house of Abu Jahal has been demolished and replaced by public washrooms. * A dome that served as a canopy over the Well of Zamzam was demolished. * Some Uthmani
portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cult ...
s at the Mosque were demolished.


See also

*
Al-Aqsa Mosque Al-Aqsa Mosque (, ), also known as Jami' Al-Aqsa () or as the Qibli Mosque ( ar, المصلى القبلي, translit=al-Muṣallā al-Qiblī, label=none), and also is a congregational mosque located in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is situate ...
*
Holiest sites in Islam The holiest sites in Islam are predominantly located in Western Asia. While the significance of most places typically varies depending on the Islamic sect, there is a consensus across all mainstream branches of the religion that affirms three c ...
*''
Ḥ-R-M '' Ḥ- R- M'' (Modern he, ח–ר–מ; ar, ح–ر–م) is the triconsonantal root of many Semitic words, and many of those words are used as names. The basic meaning expressed by the root translates as "forbidden". Arabic Names *'' Al-Masj ...
'' **
Haram (site) Haram ( ar, حرم, translit=ḥaram, lit=sanctuary) is one of several similar words originating from the triliteral Semitic root Ḥ-R-M. The word literally means "sanctuary," commonly used by Muslims to refer to the holy sites of Islam an ...
* List of mosques * List of mosques in Saudi Arabia * List of the oldest mosques * Lists of mosques


Further reading

; Online
Great Mosque of Mecca: mosque, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
in ''Encyclopædia Britannica Online'', by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Surabhi Sinha, Noah Tesch, Amy Tikkanen, Grace Young and Adam Zeidan


References


External links


Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Great Mosque of Mecca Islamic holy places Religious buildings and structures converted into mosques Arabic architecture