The Significance of the Great Mosque of Mecca
Origin of the Great Mosque of Mecca
The Great Mosque of Mecca in Saudi Arabia which is also known as Masjid al- Haram, has its origin to the sanctuary that was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael. The Mosque is built to enclose the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in Islam. It is one among important destinations of the hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, the site receives millions of pilgrims each year. The mosque has been expanded and renovated several times mostly in the 8th and 14th centuries.
According to the Holy Book of Quran, Allah showed Abraham the site where to build the Kaaba, which was near the Well of Zamzam. The Kaaba, which is the most holiest shrine in Islam, was originally a simple, unroofed rectangular structure. The shrine is considered the first place of worship for humanity. The Black Stone, which is regarded as the only remaining part of Abraham’s original structure, was placed in the Kaaba by an angel for humanity.
The Spiritual and Cultural Significance of the Great Mosque of Mecca
The Great Mosque of Mecca is a symbol of Islamic faith and the most holiest mosque in Islam. The Mosque is the focal point for Islamic rituals and the most important destination for the hajj and Umrah pilgrimages for all pilgrims from all over the world.
Spiritual Significance
The Great Mosque of Mecca houses the Kaaba, which is a cube-like shaped structure and is the most holiest shrine in Islam. Muslims everywhere in the world face the Kaaba during prayer five times per day. Most pious Muslims practice the ritual faithfully to the point of postponing their other activities when the time for prayer arrives.
Hajj, Tawaf and Zamzam water
Moreover, the significance of the Great Mosque in Mecca is observed through the hajj, which is the most important pilgrimage that every Muslim with financial means should go for the pilgrimage in Mecca at least once in their life time. The goal of this pilgrimage is to prostrate toward the Kaaba five times a day equivalent to the five times that Muslims leave aside their work and dedicate their time and attention to prayers.
The Tawaf is one of the greatest Islamic rituals that pilgrims practice it when they are in Mecca; it is about circling the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in Islam. Additionally, the pilgrims at the Great Mosque in Mecca have a sacred experience of drinking from the water from the Zamzam Well.
Cultural Significance of the Great Mosque in Mecca
In Islam, Mecca in Saudi Arabia is the most holiest city. It was in Mecca that the archangel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and dictated to him the Holy Koran. Moreover, the Great Mosque in Mecca is a great symbol of the Islamic faith; it is the fundamental destination for Muslims from all corners of the world.
Pilgrims Attractions
The city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia attracts lots of visitors to the city. The visitors are attracted by a number of reasons such as religious devotion, historical significance and tourism. The city of Mecca is one among the holiest cities in Islam.
Most of the visitors attracted to the city of Mecca are mainly pilgrims. They are attracted by religious devotion, religious activities; mostly Hajj, Umrah, the Kaaba, the Great Mosque in Mecca, love to The Prophet Muhammad.
Hajj and Umrah
A pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars in Islam. The spiritual experience is so important to Muslims as it brings them closer to God and removes their sins. Hajj is a necessary pilgrimage for Muslims who have financial ability and are in good health to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least one in their life time. The pilgrimage takes place between the 8th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah, which is the last month in the Islamic calendar. Some activities taking place during the pilgrimage include standing at Arafat and stoning the devil. The pilgrimage lasts for about five to six days.
Umrah
Umrah different from Hajj is a voluntary Islamic pilgrimage that a Muslim can perform multiple times in their lives. The pilgrimage can be performed at any time of the year except during the Hajj season. The pilgrimage can be performed in one day or during several hours.
The Kaaba and Home of the Prophet
During the pilgrimage in the Great Mosque in Mecca the pilgrims have the opportunity to walk around the Kaaba. Pilgrims walk around this Holy shrine seven times in a sacred ritual known as Tawaf. Moreover, Muslims pilgrims travel to Mecca to express their respect and love to the Prophet Muhammad who in 570 AD was born in the city.
Services to pilgrims in the Great Mosque in Mecca
The Great Mosque of Mecca offers numerous important services to the pilgrims. The services available include but not limited to the following: translation and interpretation services, wheelchair service and information about the Qur’an.
Translation and interpretation services
Given the fact that the Great Mosque in Mecca receives millions of visitors both pilgrims and tourists coming from all corners of the world then necessarily, there is need of having translation services. The Manarat Al-Haramain Digital Platform provides live audio translations of the Friday sermon in international languages: French, Malay, English, Urdu and Persia.
Wheelchair Services
The Hajj pilgrimage pulls together pilgrims from all corners of the world. From millions of people it is obvious that some pilgrims have body impairment and, thus the wheelchairs service is useful to facilitate their movement while at the Great Mosque. There are both electric and manual chairs to render the needed service to those who need them. Moreover, there is free transportation for pilgrims, the elderly, and to people with special needs through baggy car services.
Information service
The Hajj pilgrimage brings together, as said already, faithful from all over the world. In a large gathering like the Hajj, information is necessary. Thus in the Great Mosque in Mecca phones for answering pilgrims’ questions are located throughout the Mosque to answer questions from pilgrims and faithful.
Economic benefits to the local population
The Great Mosque in Mecca has many economic benefits to the city of Mecca and in the whole country of Saudi Arabia through Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The economic benefits come through pilgrimage revenues, job opportunities creation, real estate investment, tourism, hotel construction, infrastructure development, and investment opportunities.
Pilgrimage revenues
The Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages attract millions of pilgrims to the Great Mosque in Mecca. These two pilgrimages are sources of revenue for the city and the country through the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2018, Saudi Arabia projected that over the next five years, the country would generate about $150.
Real Estate Investment
The two pilgrimages bring millions of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and particularly in Mecca. These people have needs for accommodation. Therefore, the real estate investment in Mecca is an option that is indeed lucrative and thus leading to economic development.
Hotel Construction
The pilgrimage bring people from all corners of the world. The pilgrims have their needs which need to be met and fulfilled in the same city of Mecca. The available hotels have been accommodating pilgrims for many years. The available hotels are not sufficient nowadays and, thus giving room to construction of more hotels. The government has constructed luxury and ordinary hotels to accommodate the ever growing number of pilgrims each year.
Infrastructure development
As the number of pilgrims increases each year, the government of Saudi Arabia has improved infrastructures that are linked to the Great Mosque in Mecca. The Great Mosque in Mecca has been expanded to accommodate escalators, pedestrian tunnel and air conditioning to make the weather more friendly to the pilgrims and thus facilitating the spiritual renewal in the pilgrimage.
Conclusion on the Great Mosque in Mecca
I hope the article on the Great Mosque in Mecca has highlighted important issues about this holy place of prayer. The Mosque is the destination of the holy pilgrimage of the Hajj, it also accommodates the holiest shrine of Kaaba. The Great Mosque in Mecca is such an important holy mosque in the whole world in the Islamic faith. In the Great Mosque the most important religious activities in Islam are done at that holy site. Therefore, I advice you to set time and funds to visit the holy place for you to earn the blessings that come up with the pilgrimage to the Great Mosque in Mecca.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Great Mosque in Mecca
The subject is a subject of faith. It is a message dear to many believers; that being the case it attracts many readers. Over the internet there are many readers that are interested about the questions as they want to know more about the subject. Here are some of the questions asked by online readers:
- The Great Mosque of Mecca cost?
- Which is the Makkah Masjid in which country?
- Where is the Great Mosque of Mecca located?
- What is the Masjid al-haram capacity?
- What are the Masjid al-haram area in acres?
- What the Masjid al Haram capacity 2024?
- Who built masjid al-haram?
- Who were the Imams of Masjid Al Haram 2024?