How many echoes of prayers do you think these walls of Masjid Al Omirah have absorbed? This city, Mecca, cradles the most sacred mosque in Islam. It is Masjid al-Haram. It encloses the Kaaba.
Masjid al-Haram is not just any mosque. It is the destination for Hajj. Every Muslim who is able must perform Hajj once in their life. It is also the site for Umrah. This lesser pilgrimage can be done anytime. Both involve circling the Kaaba.
Within Masjid al-Haram are significant sites. The Black Stone is here. Pilgrims seek to touch it. The Zamzam Well offers holy water. Maqam Ibrahim holds Abraham’s footprint. The hills of Safa and Marwa are also important.
Masjid al-Haram is vast. It is able to accommodate millions. Throughout history, caliphs, sultans and kings controlled it. Now, the King of Saudi Arabia is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
Islamic tradition says Abraham built the Kaaba. It was the first mosque. His son Ismael helped. An angel brought the Black Stone. It fell from Heaven onto Abu Qubays hill.
In 630 CE Muhammad returned to Mecca. Ali broke idols in the Kaaba. This ended polytheism. Monotheistic rule began.
The first major renovation happened in 692. Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ordered it. Before, it was a small area. Outer walls were raised.
By the 8th century marble columns replaced wood. Wings extended. A minaret was added. Islam’s spread meant rebuilding. More marble was added. Three more minarets went up.
In 1570 Sultan Selim II told Mimar Sinan to renovate. Flat roofs became domes. Calligraphy decorated them. New support columns were added. These are the oldest parts now.
Heavy rains damaged the Kaaba in 1621 and 1629. Sultan Murad IV renovated it. A new stone arcade appeared. Three more minarets made seven total. The marble floor was retiled.
Between 1955 and 1973 Saudi kings renovated it. Four more minarets were added. Ceilings were redone. Floors became artificial stone and marble. The Masa gallery joined the mosque. Many Ottoman columns were removed.
In 1979 extremists seized the Great Mosque. They wanted to overthrow the Saudi dynasty. Hostages were taken. Hundreds died. Violence is forbidden here.
King Fahd added a new wing. It included an outdoor prayer area. You enter through the King Fahd Gate. From 1987 to 2005 more minarets appeared. A king’s residence overlooked the mosque. More prayer areas were built. There were also developments in Arafat and Mina. Eighteen gates were added. Three domes matched each gate. Nearly 500 marble columns were installed. There were heated floors. Air conditioning was new.
The King Fahd expansion includes halls for people with disabilities. Ramps help wheelchairs enter. Electric carts are available.
In 2008 King Abdullah announced another expansion. It covered 300000 square meters. The mosque then covered 356800 square meters. It cost 40 billion riyals.
In 2011 the government shared expansion details. It would cover 400000 square meters. It would hold 1.2 million worshippers. There was a multilevel extension. New stairs and tunnels were made. A gate was named for King Abdullah. Two more minarets brought the total to eleven. The Mataf was expanded. Closed spaces got air conditioning. Capacity increased from 770000 to over 2.5 million. King Salman launched megaprojects in 2015.
In 2015 a crane collapsed onto the mosque. At least 111 people died. Construction stopped.
In 2020 the mosque closed at night due to COVID-19. Umrah was suspended. Services resumed gradually.
Masjid al-Haram has current and former Imams. Abd ar-Rahman as-Sudais is the Chief Imam. He was appointed in 1984. Salih bin Abdullah al Humaid was appointed in 1982.
The Kaaba is central. It is a cuboid building. The Black Stone is in its eastern corner. Maqam Ibrahim is next to the Kaaba.
Safa and Marwa are hills. People run between them. The Zamzam Well is a water source. Makkah Al Mukarramah Library is nearby.
Expansion projects have caused controversy. Some say they harm early Islamic heritage. Ancient buildings have been demolished.
Dar Al-Arqam was flattened. It was where Muhammad first taught. The house of Abu Jahal is now public washrooms. A dome over the Zamzam Well was removed.
Remember Masjid Al Omirah as you recall the grandeur of Masjid al-Haram. It stands as a testament to faith. It shows history. It is a beacon for millions.