Great Mosque Importance

Muslims have clear knowledge, and understanding of the importance of the Great Mosque, or the Grand Mosque in Makkah in their religion. Even though other mosques are often referred to as The Great Mosque too, the one in Makkah is called Al-Masjid al-Haram, and it is where the most holy of holiest shrines is seated – the Ka’aba. Over the years, the mosque has been developed and expanded around the Ka’aba – the reason for the mosque, in the first place, was to contain the holy shrine. The mosque was built on the place where the prophet received his holy message (the Revelation). It is also the place from where Islam spread and as said, it was built to contain the holy Ka’aba (Al-Munajjid, 1999, n.p.). In reverence then, the pilgrims now return

One can see that this would often be the best time for most Muslims to fulfill, and complete the Fifth, and final Pillar of their faith.

• The last one is relevant here, as it deals with what was discussed already – the Hajj – Pilgrimage to Makkah.

The building has been constructed to allow all visitors to fulfill all their pillars. As said before, the Saudi administration believes that, if they open up the center square (the court yard), more people would be able to see the Ka’aba, and, have a shorter stay, and would give more the opportunity to visit. In light of the discussion above, it would also be safer for visitors in terms of there being less density. Once they have circled around seven times, and have seen the shrine, they are done, and have completed the five pillar requirements (Macaulay-Lewis, n. d., n. p.). One of the pillars mentioned, Salat, means daily prayers that needs to happen five times a day, facing Makkah, which means the Ka’aba in particular. The other areas that needs to be visited are also the walls where Satan as to be thrown with stones. This is also, where the density of people caused problems

It was a religious sanctuary even before the Muslim religion made it the focal point of their religion. The rulers of Makkah – the Quraysh tribe – re-built the structure in c. 608 CE. Muhammad again rebuilt the Ka’aba in 629/30 CE, and it then became the focal point for all Muslims around the world. As with the Great Mosque, the Ka’aba were also renovated and restructured throughout its existence (Macaulay-Lewis, n. d., n. p). This was because of natural, or man-initiated disasters. The latter has always been caused by wars in the area. The Ka’aba may seem to be just a simple cube structure, but it has enormous dimensions, and always has a black shroud even though the cornerstone is black stone. Some of the reconstruction on the Ka’aba was to replace some of the stones, strengthening the foundation, as well as replacing the roof (“Ten Things You Didn’t Know About The Kaaba,” 2012,