Introduction to the Best Sites in Mecca
In this context, Al-Maqam is pleased to provide the service through the website https://almaqamkw.com/ar/religious-places, which is the visitation service.
Mecca is the holiest place on earth, the city honored to be the cradle of Islam and the source of revelation. It is an exceptional destination that combines the fragrance of history and the spirituality of Islam, as it is the qibla of Muslims and their sacred destination. Allah Almighty has honored it with the presence of the Kaaba and the Sacred Mosque. However, it is not limited to being a religious destination only; it is also a tourist destination rich in historical and cultural landmarks that attract millions of visitors from all over the world. It is filled with many sites and tourist attractions that narrate a rich history of Islam. Muslims gather from all corners of the earth to visit these sacred places. What are the most prominent sites in Mecca?
1- The Kaaba
It is the beating heart of Islam and the House of Allah, attracting pilgrims from all corners of the earth. This house was raised by the Friend of Allah, Ibrahim, and his son Ismail - peace be upon them - by the command of Allah - the Exalted - to be the Sacred Mosque.
It is the first house established for people to worship Allah {Indeed, the first house established for mankind was that at Bakkah, blessed and guidance for the worlds} (Al-Imran/96),
The Kaaba includes: the Black Stone, the Yemeni corner, the Multazam ... and others.
The significance of the Kaaba lies in its being the center of the earth, the place of revelation, and the Tawaf around the Kaaba is a pillar of Hajj and Umrah, to which the souls of Muslims around the world yearn.
2- Al-Hajun
It is the mountain that extends from the Riya of Al-Hajun to the east in the north, and its eastern face is Mount Adhakhir, which overlooks the Thaniya of Adhakhir that leads to Al-Khurman (the Khurman wall), which is the path through which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered on the Day of Conquest. Therefore, Mount Al-Hajun is the mountain that contains the Ma'la cemetery,
where the old cemetery of the people of Mecca is located at its southwestern foot, and in this cemetery lies the grave of Lady Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, along with other ancestors and uncles of the Messenger ﷺ from Banu Hashim.
3- Mount of Mercy
Mount Arafat, where the Prophet ﷺ stood, is called the Mount of Mercy because of the great standing of the Muslim pilgrims on that day, where mercy and blessings and forgiveness from Allah, the Exalted, descend upon those standing at Arafat. However, this name has no basis in the noble prophetic tradition,
and it is preferable to call it Mount Arafat. Mount Arafat or Mercy, located in Arafat, is situated to the east of Mecca, approximately 22 kilometers away, and is on the road between Mecca and Taif.
It is one of the most prominent landmarks visited by pilgrims during the Hajj season; standing at Arafat on the Day of Arafat represents a fundamental pillar of Hajj, where Muslims stand in the area of Arafat and pray to Allah and seek His forgiveness.
This mountain also witnessed the Farewell Sermon delivered by our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which serves as a constitution for Muslims in their teachings and morals.
4- Namira Mosque
Namira Mosque is the mosque where the preacher delivers the Hajj sermon on the Day of Arafat. The mosque is located in the sacred area of Arafat and accommodates a large number of pilgrims who come to listen to the sermon and perform the combined and shortened prayers of Dhuhr and Asr.
This mosque reflects the significance of the Day of Arafat and the importance of the sermon that addresses matters of religion, faith, and guidance for the pilgrims. The sermon on the Day of Arafat delivered in Namira Mosque reminds us of the importance of this great day and the significance of standing at Arafat as a pillar of Hajj.
5- Al-Ijabah Mosque
Al-Ijabah Mosque in Mecca is one of the historical mosques in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located in the Al-Ma'abida neighborhood in the city of Mecca in the valley of Banu Kinana. The Prophet ﷺ prayed in it and made supplications at this site, and it is known as Al-Ijabah Mosque as defined by historians.
6- Lady Aisha Mosque
Known as the Mosque of Tan'im, Tan'im is a valley located north of Mecca in the western part, approximately 7 kilometers from the Sacred Mosque. The mosque is named after Lady Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr after descending from the Farewell Pilgrimage to perform Umrah from that location,
because when she arrived in Mecca for Hajj, she was menstruating, so he performed Umrah for her after Hajj. This mosque is the closest place for the people of Mecca to enter into Ihram for Umrah.
7- Al-Shajarah Mosque
Al-Shajarah Mosque is the place where the Prophet ﷺ prayed in Mecca, and it is named Al-Shajarah Mosque because it is the location where a tree came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and greeted him. As for its location, it is situated in the Al-Batha area,
at the foot of the mountain opposite Al-Hajun, near the Mosque of the Jinn at the entrance of the Ma'la cemetery from the Gaza side specifically.
8- The Well of Tuwa
The well is located in the Jirwal neighborhood in the valley of Tuwa, which runs between Al-Hajun and Riya Al-Kahl, passing through Jirwal until it meets the valley of Ibrahim in Al-Masfala. The historical significance of this well is that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered Mecca as a conqueror, he camped near this well, and in the morning he stood by it, drank from it, and bathed,
then he divided the army into two groups, one led by him ﷺ who took the left side along the valley, and the other led by Khalid ibn Al-Walid – may Allah be pleased with him – where the Prophet ﷺ commanded Khalid to take the right side from the place known today as Al-Qubba, to take "Kudi," and enter Mecca from its lower side.
9- Zubaida's Spring
Zubaida's Spring is a historical water project initiated by Lady Zubaida bint Ja'far, wife of the Abbasid Caliph Harun Al-Rashid, to provide water for the pilgrims and residents of Mecca. It is a spring of sweet, abundant water that originates from the valley of Na'man, then passes through Arafat, cutting through the valley of 'Urnah to Al-Khatm, then descends to Mina and Mecca,
and this spring was designed at that time in a sloping manner, and is considered one of the prominent engineering achievements in Islamic history. The governors and rulers have always paid special attention to it, maintaining and working on it, and indeed, it now has a special administration called the Administration of Zubaida and Al-Aziziyah.
10- The Jamarat Bridge
The Jamarat Bridge is one of the projects established by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Mina area in Mecca; to facilitate the pilgrims in throwing the three Jamarat during the Days of Tashreeq (the three days following Eid al-Adha), following the example of the Father of Prophets, Ibrahim - peace be upon him - when he stoned the devil when he tried to tempt him.
The Jamarat Bridge includes the small Jamarah, the middle Jamarah, and the Jamarah of Aqabah (the large Jamarah).
11- Muzdalifah
Muzdalifah comes from the root word meaning to approach, and it is the sacred site among the rites of Hajj, located between Mina and Arafat, where pilgrims spend the night of the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah after leaving Arafat, gathering pebbles from Muzdalifah, until just before dawn, and then proceeding to Mina to throw the Jamarat, passing through the Jamarat Bridge.