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The Kaaba or Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, is the most sacred holy place of Islam and a Qibla of the Muslims, contains al-Bayt ul-Ma'mur spiritually above the Kaaba, contains the Maqam Ibrahim, Hateem, and the Al-Hajar-ul-Aswad which belonged in Jannah to Adam and Eve (Adam and Hawa).
Kaʿbah or Kaʿba. Kaaba, shrine located near the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and considered by Muslims everywhere to be the most sacred spot on Earth.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Where Is It and What Is The Meaning Behind The Name?
- Why Is The Site So Important?
- What Are Some of The Main Landmarks at Al-Aqsa?
- How Has The Site Become A Symbol of Palestinian Resistance?
- History of Tensions at Al-Aqsa
Located in the southeast corner of the Old City of Jerusalem, al-Aqsa's Dome of the Rock is visible from across the city. The entire complex contained within the outer walls includes an area of 144,000 square metres, and has mosques, prayer rooms, courtyards and religious landmarks. In Arabic, al-Aqsa has two meanings: "the furthest," which refers ...
Besides its religious importance, al-Aqsa is a symbol of the culture and nationhood of the Palestinian people. The glistening golden Dome of the Rock is recognisable to Muslims from around the world, and to pray at the site is considered to be a great privilege. In the years before modern borders, pilgrimages to the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and ...
Al-Aqsa is home to several landmarks associated with the city of Jerusalem and features some of the best-preserved historic architecture from the early Islamic period. Besides the religious buildings and structures, there are 32 water sources on the site, including wells used for ablutions. Several mimbars, or pulpits, and historic schools can also...
For Palestinians, al-Aqsa serves more than a religious function and is the centre of the cultural life, where they go to celebrate, congregate and mourn. Many Palestinians who frequent the mosque have been visiting since they were young, and, for them, al-Aqsa is the most widely recognised symbol of their country. Many also break their fasts at the...
The al-Aqsa mosque, along with the rest of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, was captured by the Israelis during the 1967 war. After the conquest and subsequent occupation, Israeli authorities allowed Jews to perform prayers at the Western Wall but not inside al-Aqsa. As a result of those restrictions, Jews and foreign tourists can enter the site o...
Mosque, any house or open area of prayer in Islam, from the Arabic word masjid meaning ‘a place of prostration.’ The building is largely an open space that typically includes certain features such as a niche for the leader of prayer, an elevated spot for preaching, and a minaret for the call to prayer.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Of course, Mecca tops the list. This most holy city was the birthplace of Muhammad, around A.D. 570, but it was sacred even before he came along.
- Medina, Saudi Arabia. As the burial place of Muhammad and the city where the Prophet and his followers fled from attacks in Mecca, Medina—about 200 miles north of Mecca—is the second holiest site in Islam.
- Great Mosque of Kairouan, Kairouan, Tunisia. The Great Mosque has stood at the heart of Arab-Muslim worship for more than a thousand years. A popular saying is that if you cannot go to Mecca, seven pilgrimages to Kairouan might save your soul.
- Harem al-Sharif, Jerusalem, Israel. Jews and Muslims both hold sacred the flat, elevated plaza atop Mount Moriah in the heart of Old Jerusalem. Consider the holiest site in Judaism, the Temple Mount is the the site of the demolished First and Second Temples that in biblical times served as a central place of worship for Israelites and Jews; only the Western Wall survives the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 B.C.
Both Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims agree on the three Holiest sites in Islam being, respectively, the Masjid al-Haram (including the Kaaba), in Mecca; the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, in Medina; and Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, in Jerusalem. Both the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron have been considered the fourth holiest site in Islam.
The Kaaba or Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, is the most sacred holy place of Islam and a Qibla of the Muslims, contains al-Bayt ul-Ma'mur spiritually above the Kaaba, contains the Maqam Ibrahim, Hateem, and the Al-Hajar-ul-Aswad which belonged in Jannah to Adam and Eve (Adam and Hawa).
