The land of piety and faith is a city that is steeped with beautiful history. The charming lanes of Makkah gravitate towards the Sacred Mosque where thousands of pilgrims visit daily to circumambulate the House of Almighty Allah. However, there are more places for pilgrims to visit in this beautiful city. Enrich your pilgrimage with these historical and religious sites.
Makkah holds an esteemed position in the hearts of the millions of Muslims worldwide for being the birthplace of Blessed Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Every year, people from around the world visit Makkah for religious purposes namely Umrah and Hajj.
Visitors to the holy lands of Makkah and Madinah make sure to visit other places of religious importance once they are done with the pilgrimage. These visits are termed in the local jargon as “Ziyarah”. Tourists visit these places honoring the lives and struggles of the Blessed Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and his companions.
Here are a few places that should not be missed when in Makkah.
Masjid Taneem or Masjid Aisha
The historical significance of this place is that the Prophet Mohammed’s wife, Aisha, made her intention of Umrah from this particular mosque. It is 12 minutes away from Masjid Haram and is located at the boundary of Haram. It provides amenities for bath, ablution, and for changing into the ihram.
Jabal Al Nour (Mountain of Light)
This mountain houses the Cave of Hira where the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) received his first revelation of the Holy Quran. The verse, “Read! In the name of your Lord.” was brought down to him by the Archangel Jibreel (Gabriel). This cave was the meditation spot of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) from before prophethood. It is located 5 km away from Masjid Haram and the mountain is quite distinct due to its hump-shaped peak. The peak provides magnanimous views of the city of Makkah.
About 5-6 people can pray or meditate at a time. According to most pilgrims, it takes about 20 minutes to reach the top. It’s preferable to visit at dawn to avoid the rush. The cave is open all day long.
Jabal Thawr (Mount Thawr)
The cave at Jabal Thawr was the hiding place of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and his beloved companion, Abu Bakr, against the Quraysh, when they were migrating to Madinah. This incident has been mentioned in the Holy Quran and is of great importance to the Muslim world as it signifies the beginning of the Hijri calendar. It is located 8 km away from the city of Makkah.
Abraj Al Bait
It is a fabulous shopping and hotel complex that houses the Makkah clock tower, the largest clock face in the world. Located meters away from Masjid Haram, it is a prime spot for shopping, dining, and hospitality. The Makkah Fairmont is located in the clock tower. The Abraj Al Bait complex comes under the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project which aims to modernize the city in order to cater to the needs of the pilgrims. It’s a 5-storey structure that also houses an Islamic art museum, prayer space for 10,000 people, and an observatory to sight the moon.
Shop Timings: 9:30 AM to 12.00 PM and 4:30 PM to 11:00 PM
King Abdul Aziz Complex for the Ka’bah’s Kiswa (The Kiswa Factory)
The Kiswa is the covering of the Holy Ka’bah (the House of Allah). It’s a beautiful piece of black silk cloth that’s embroidered with pure gold threads and perfumed. The Kiswah is changed yearly on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah (the last month of the Hijri calendar). It comprises a curtain and a belt. The Quranic verses are embossed and embroidered on the components of the covering and here is where the Kiswah factory comes into the picture. Every year, a multitude of artisans work on the dying, weaving, detailing in a government owned factory that is located 17 km west of Makkah.
Visitors can visit in groups of 20 to 100 on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. Registration can be done on an online portal: https://eservice.gph.gov.sa/visit/Home.aspx
Timings: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Jabal Rahmah (Mount of Mercy)
This is a small mountain located in Arafat, 20 km south-east of Makkah. The Prophet Mohammed gave his farewell sermon on 9th Dhul Hijjah, 10 AH (during Hajj) from Jabal Rahmah. It’s a place that holds great importance for all Muslims worldwide. On the Day of Arafat, the religion of Islam was perfected.
Muslims not performing Hajj keep a fast on this great day. If one happens to visit this place, they can also perform prayers at Masjid Nimrah which was built at the spot that the blessed Prophet (PBUH) gave his sermon from.
Most of the aforementioned places are open 24 hours and don’t require admission tickets. Private tour operators are available in most hotels in Makkah for guided tours. If you’re a lone ranger, Google could easily take you around too! Enjoy and bask in the experiences in the holy city and its surrounding areas.
