Monday, May 9, 2011

Masjid al-Haram-Saudi Arabia


Al-Masjid al-Haram pronounced "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. Expanding over an area in excess of 4,000,000 square metres within the city of Mecca, Masjid al-Haram was built in 638 AD and has the capacity to be able to accommodate up to 4,000,000 people.

The Haram was built in the 7th century and has been modified, rebuilt, and expanded on a regular basis ever since. Major expansions took place in the 1980s and further work is going on today. The beginnings of the Holy Mosque were established under Caliph Omar Ibn al-Khattab. The caliph ordered the demolition of houses surrounding the Kabba in order to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims, then built a 1.5-meter high wall to form an outdoor prayer area around the shrine. During the reign of Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan, the prayer area was enlarged and covered with a simple roof supported by wooden columns and arches.

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