Al-Masjid Al-Haram
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Al-Masjid Al-Haram (Arabic: المسجد الحرام,"The Sacred Mosque") is the largest mosque in the world. Located in the city of Mecca, it surrounds The Kaaba, the place which Muslims worldwide turn towards while performing daily prayers and is Islam's holiest place. The mosque is also known as the Grand Mosque.
The current structure covers an area of 400,800 square metres including the outdoor and indoor praying spaces and can accommodate up to four million Muslim worshipers during the Hajj period, one of the largest annual gatherings of people in the world. |
History of Construction,Restoration and Expansion of the Mosque
Map of Masjid Al-Haram
Islamic tradition holds that the Mosque and Holy Kaaba was first built by the angels before the creation of mankind, when God ordained a place of worship on Earth to reflect the house in heaven called Al-Baytu l-Ma'mur (Arabic: البيت المعمور,"The Worship Place of Angels"). From time to time, the Mosque was damaged by a storm and was rebuilt anew.It was rebuilt by Ibrahim (Peace On Him), with the help of his son Ismail (Peace On Him). They were ordered by ALLAH to build the mosque, and the Kaaba. The Kaaba is the direction for all the Muslims to pray across the globe thus signifying unity among all. After the Hijra, upon Mohammed's (Peace Be Upon Him) victorious return to Mecca, Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) with the help of his cousin Ali ibn-e-Abi Taalib (ALLAH Bless With Him) removed all the idols in and around the Kaaba and cleansed it. During the era of the Messenger of ALLAH (Peace Be Upon Him) there is no wall around Masjid Al-Haram and its area is 2000 square meter.
Expansion by Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (ALLAH Bless With Him)
During the era of the Second Caliph Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (ALLAH Bless With Him), more nationalities embraced Islam prompting him to expand the Holy Mosque. He bought the houses surrounding the mosque, demolished them and added their areas to that of the mosque. Umar (ALLAH Bless With Him) built a perimeter wall with several gates and ordered lanterns to be placed on top of the wall at night. Thus, he was the first to light the Holy Mosque and equip it with gates. The successive Muslim caliphs, kings and emirs continued to give attention to the House of ALLAH making some expansions or renovations. The expansion made by Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (ALLAH Bless With Him) in 17 Hijri and its area reached at 2500 square meter.
Expansion by Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan (ALLAH Bless With Him)
During the reign of his successor Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan (ALLAH Bless With Him), the prayer space was enlarged and was covered with a roof carried on wooden columns and arches.The expansion made by Uthman Ibn Affan (ALLAH Bless With Him) in 26 Hijri and its area reached at 4200 square meter.
Expansion by Caliph Abdullah Ibn Al-Zubair (ALLAH Bless With Him)
The expansion made in 65 Hijra year by Abdullah Ibn Al-Zubair (ALLAH Bless With Him), who had renewed the construction of the Holy Ka’ba two years earlier.Its area reached at 7500 square meter.
Renovation by Caliph Abdul Malik Bin Marwan
In 692, after Caliph Abdul Malik Bin Marwan conquered Mecca from Ibn Zubayr, The guardian of the holy site, the outer walls of the mosque were raised, the ceiling was covered with teak and the column capitals were painted in gold.
Renovation by Caliph Al-Walid
In 91 Hijri,the son of Caliph Abdul Malik Bin Marwan, Al-Walid contributed to the Mosque of Al-Haram by replacing the wooden columns with marble ones and by decorating its arches with mosaics.
Expansion by Abbasid Caliph Abu Ja'far Al-Mansur
In 137 Hijri,Abbasid Caliph Abu Ja'far Al-Mansur added mosaics to the columns. He also doubled the size of the northern and western wings of the prayer hall and erected the minaret of Bab Al-Umra on the northwest corner. Its area reached at 12800 square meter.
Expansion by Abbasid Caliph Al-Mahdi
In 777 A.D., due to the growing number of pilgrims, Abbasid Caliph Al-Mahdi ordered the rebuilding of the mosque, demolishing more houses around the Ka'ba. The new mosque enclosure centered on the Ka'ba, measured 196 meters by 142 meters. It was built on a grid plan, with marble columns from Egypt and Syria, decorated with gilt teak wooden inlay. Al-Mahdi also built three minarets crowned with crenellations and placed above Bab Al-Salam, Bab Ali and Bab Al-Wadi of the mosque.Its area reached at 27800 square meter.
Restoration by Mamluk Sultan Nasir Faraj Bin Barquq
In 1399 A.D., the northern part of Masjid Al-Haram caught on fire, which damaged over a hundred marble columns and consumed the ceiling. The remaining sections suffered from water damage in a flood. The mosque was subsequently rebuilt by Mamluk Sultan Nasir Faraj Bin Barquq.The damaged marble columns were replaced with stone columns quarried from the nearby mountains of the Hijaz region and the roof was patched with local wood from the Ta'if Mountains.
Renovation by Sultan Selim II
The Ottomans sultans made their own contributions to Masjid Al-Haram. In 1571 A.D. , the Sultan Selim II ordered court architect Sinan to renovate the mosque. Sinan replaced the flat roof of the prayer hall with domes decorated with gilded calligraphy on the inside. New columns brought from the nearby Shams Mountains, were placed among the old columns to support the new roof.
Expansion by Sultan Murad IV
Due to the damaging rains of 1611 A.D., Sultan Murad IV (1623-1640) ordered the restoration of the mosque and the rebuilding of the Ka'ba in 1629 A.D. The mosque was composed of a new stone arcade supported on thin columns, with inscriptive medallions between the arches. The floor tiles around the Ka'ba were replaced with new colored marble tiles and the mosque was equipped with seven minarets. By the end of the Ottoman rule in Hijaz during World War I, the external enclosure of the mosque measured 192 by 132 meters.
First Saudi Extension
The Saudi Kings in their turn contributed also to the Mosque of Al-Haram. Between 1955 and 1973, the first Saudi extension was sponsored by King Abdul Aziz (1932-1953). The new structure required extensive demolitions around the Ottoman mosque to a two-storey arcade made of artificial stone columns and covered with carved marble panels from Wadi Fatimah. The ceiling of these arcades was coffered and decorated with molded plaster and the floor was tiled with stone and marble. During this first Saudi extension, the Masa (The gallery connecting the Rock of Al-Safa with Al-Marwah) was extended to reach the mosque. The extension was built on two floors, with a structure of reinforced concrete arches clad in carved marble and artificial stone. This gallery communicates with the street and the mosque through eleven doors. Bab Al-Salam and Bab Al-Umra were also renovated at this time to match the style of the newly built Bab King Abdul Aziz on the southern facade. Four minarets were erected near Bab Al-Umra and Bab Al-Salam and the three older ones were refashioned. As such, they stood eighty-nine meters tall on square bases. Each had two octagonal balconies decorated with colonettes; the first located at the height of the mosque roof while the second was at the top end of the shaft.It area became 152000 square meter.
Second Saudi Extension
The second extension sponsored by King Fahd (1982-2005), consisted of a new wing and an outdoor praying area, both situated to the south east of the existing mosque. The new prayer hall is accessed through the monumental Fahd Gate at the southeast that leads to the Ka'ba. It is composed of two floors separated in some sections by a mezzanine that houses mechanical services; air conditioning circulates below the tiled floors and is supplied through ventilation grids located at the base of each column. The praying space is built on a five-meter grid. Its arcade is roofed with square coffers decorated with plaster molding. The columns are clad with marble panels, whereas the arches are covered with artificial stone and plaster moldings. Along the axis linking the Fahd Gate to the Ka'ba, three grid modules are covered with domes decorated with muqarnas squinches molded with plaster, that carry drums perforated by thirty-two arched windows. The dome space is illuminated with colored glass chandeliers and a backlit stained glass panel at the apex. The interior walls of the prayer hall are clad with a marble dado of 2.5 meters high. This decorative element was used to conceal loud speakers and electrical wiring.
The rooftop of the new extension is linked to the roof of the entire complex, which is designed to accommodate overflow. The prayer area also extends also to numerous plazas outside the mosque. The outdoor plaza at the southeast corner outside of Fahd Gate slopes slightly downward, emphasizing the direction of prayer. Parallel to the northeastern and the southwestern walls of the new extension, two rectangular projections were built to conceal the escalators connecting the basements and parking facilities below ground to the public plaza and the prayer halls above.
The second Saudi extension of the Masjid Al-Haram took into consideration the architectural unity of the complex. The facade of the new praying space built by King Fahd blends in with the previous constructions, with its gray marble facing from the nearby Fatimah Mountains, inlaid with carved white marble bands and window frames. The monumental King Fahd Gate, which gives access to the new extension, consists of three arches with black and white voussoirs and carved white marble decoration. The gate is flanked by two minarets matching the older ones. The window modules along the façade of The prayer hall are covered with brass mashrabiyya and framed with carved bands of white marble. The minor gates have green tiled sloped canopies.
The Masjid Al-Haram is the only mosque that has no qibla direction for the worshippers pray facing the Ka'ba, situated in the central open courtyard.The current structure covers an area of 400800 square metres.
Expansion by Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (ALLAH Bless With Him)
During the era of the Second Caliph Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (ALLAH Bless With Him), more nationalities embraced Islam prompting him to expand the Holy Mosque. He bought the houses surrounding the mosque, demolished them and added their areas to that of the mosque. Umar (ALLAH Bless With Him) built a perimeter wall with several gates and ordered lanterns to be placed on top of the wall at night. Thus, he was the first to light the Holy Mosque and equip it with gates. The successive Muslim caliphs, kings and emirs continued to give attention to the House of ALLAH making some expansions or renovations. The expansion made by Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (ALLAH Bless With Him) in 17 Hijri and its area reached at 2500 square meter.
Expansion by Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan (ALLAH Bless With Him)
During the reign of his successor Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan (ALLAH Bless With Him), the prayer space was enlarged and was covered with a roof carried on wooden columns and arches.The expansion made by Uthman Ibn Affan (ALLAH Bless With Him) in 26 Hijri and its area reached at 4200 square meter.
Expansion by Caliph Abdullah Ibn Al-Zubair (ALLAH Bless With Him)
The expansion made in 65 Hijra year by Abdullah Ibn Al-Zubair (ALLAH Bless With Him), who had renewed the construction of the Holy Ka’ba two years earlier.Its area reached at 7500 square meter.
Renovation by Caliph Abdul Malik Bin Marwan
In 692, after Caliph Abdul Malik Bin Marwan conquered Mecca from Ibn Zubayr, The guardian of the holy site, the outer walls of the mosque were raised, the ceiling was covered with teak and the column capitals were painted in gold.
Renovation by Caliph Al-Walid
In 91 Hijri,the son of Caliph Abdul Malik Bin Marwan, Al-Walid contributed to the Mosque of Al-Haram by replacing the wooden columns with marble ones and by decorating its arches with mosaics.
Expansion by Abbasid Caliph Abu Ja'far Al-Mansur
In 137 Hijri,Abbasid Caliph Abu Ja'far Al-Mansur added mosaics to the columns. He also doubled the size of the northern and western wings of the prayer hall and erected the minaret of Bab Al-Umra on the northwest corner. Its area reached at 12800 square meter.
Expansion by Abbasid Caliph Al-Mahdi
In 777 A.D., due to the growing number of pilgrims, Abbasid Caliph Al-Mahdi ordered the rebuilding of the mosque, demolishing more houses around the Ka'ba. The new mosque enclosure centered on the Ka'ba, measured 196 meters by 142 meters. It was built on a grid plan, with marble columns from Egypt and Syria, decorated with gilt teak wooden inlay. Al-Mahdi also built three minarets crowned with crenellations and placed above Bab Al-Salam, Bab Ali and Bab Al-Wadi of the mosque.Its area reached at 27800 square meter.
Restoration by Mamluk Sultan Nasir Faraj Bin Barquq
In 1399 A.D., the northern part of Masjid Al-Haram caught on fire, which damaged over a hundred marble columns and consumed the ceiling. The remaining sections suffered from water damage in a flood. The mosque was subsequently rebuilt by Mamluk Sultan Nasir Faraj Bin Barquq.The damaged marble columns were replaced with stone columns quarried from the nearby mountains of the Hijaz region and the roof was patched with local wood from the Ta'if Mountains.
Renovation by Sultan Selim II
The Ottomans sultans made their own contributions to Masjid Al-Haram. In 1571 A.D. , the Sultan Selim II ordered court architect Sinan to renovate the mosque. Sinan replaced the flat roof of the prayer hall with domes decorated with gilded calligraphy on the inside. New columns brought from the nearby Shams Mountains, were placed among the old columns to support the new roof.
Expansion by Sultan Murad IV
Due to the damaging rains of 1611 A.D., Sultan Murad IV (1623-1640) ordered the restoration of the mosque and the rebuilding of the Ka'ba in 1629 A.D. The mosque was composed of a new stone arcade supported on thin columns, with inscriptive medallions between the arches. The floor tiles around the Ka'ba were replaced with new colored marble tiles and the mosque was equipped with seven minarets. By the end of the Ottoman rule in Hijaz during World War I, the external enclosure of the mosque measured 192 by 132 meters.
First Saudi Extension
The Saudi Kings in their turn contributed also to the Mosque of Al-Haram. Between 1955 and 1973, the first Saudi extension was sponsored by King Abdul Aziz (1932-1953). The new structure required extensive demolitions around the Ottoman mosque to a two-storey arcade made of artificial stone columns and covered with carved marble panels from Wadi Fatimah. The ceiling of these arcades was coffered and decorated with molded plaster and the floor was tiled with stone and marble. During this first Saudi extension, the Masa (The gallery connecting the Rock of Al-Safa with Al-Marwah) was extended to reach the mosque. The extension was built on two floors, with a structure of reinforced concrete arches clad in carved marble and artificial stone. This gallery communicates with the street and the mosque through eleven doors. Bab Al-Salam and Bab Al-Umra were also renovated at this time to match the style of the newly built Bab King Abdul Aziz on the southern facade. Four minarets were erected near Bab Al-Umra and Bab Al-Salam and the three older ones were refashioned. As such, they stood eighty-nine meters tall on square bases. Each had two octagonal balconies decorated with colonettes; the first located at the height of the mosque roof while the second was at the top end of the shaft.It area became 152000 square meter.
Second Saudi Extension
The second extension sponsored by King Fahd (1982-2005), consisted of a new wing and an outdoor praying area, both situated to the south east of the existing mosque. The new prayer hall is accessed through the monumental Fahd Gate at the southeast that leads to the Ka'ba. It is composed of two floors separated in some sections by a mezzanine that houses mechanical services; air conditioning circulates below the tiled floors and is supplied through ventilation grids located at the base of each column. The praying space is built on a five-meter grid. Its arcade is roofed with square coffers decorated with plaster molding. The columns are clad with marble panels, whereas the arches are covered with artificial stone and plaster moldings. Along the axis linking the Fahd Gate to the Ka'ba, three grid modules are covered with domes decorated with muqarnas squinches molded with plaster, that carry drums perforated by thirty-two arched windows. The dome space is illuminated with colored glass chandeliers and a backlit stained glass panel at the apex. The interior walls of the prayer hall are clad with a marble dado of 2.5 meters high. This decorative element was used to conceal loud speakers and electrical wiring.
The rooftop of the new extension is linked to the roof of the entire complex, which is designed to accommodate overflow. The prayer area also extends also to numerous plazas outside the mosque. The outdoor plaza at the southeast corner outside of Fahd Gate slopes slightly downward, emphasizing the direction of prayer. Parallel to the northeastern and the southwestern walls of the new extension, two rectangular projections were built to conceal the escalators connecting the basements and parking facilities below ground to the public plaza and the prayer halls above.
The second Saudi extension of the Masjid Al-Haram took into consideration the architectural unity of the complex. The facade of the new praying space built by King Fahd blends in with the previous constructions, with its gray marble facing from the nearby Fatimah Mountains, inlaid with carved white marble bands and window frames. The monumental King Fahd Gate, which gives access to the new extension, consists of three arches with black and white voussoirs and carved white marble decoration. The gate is flanked by two minarets matching the older ones. The window modules along the façade of The prayer hall are covered with brass mashrabiyya and framed with carved bands of white marble. The minor gates have green tiled sloped canopies.
The Masjid Al-Haram is the only mosque that has no qibla direction for the worshippers pray facing the Ka'ba, situated in the central open courtyard.The current structure covers an area of 400800 square metres.
Babs\Gates of Masjid
There are five main entrances into Masjid Al-Haram.Bab As-Salam is located on East,Bab Shah Fahad on West,Bab Umrah and Bab Al-Fath on north and Bab Shah Abdul Aziz on South.
Minarat
Their are nine minars in Masjid Al-Haram.They stood eighty-nine meters tall on square bases. Each had two octagonal balconies.