There are 3 most sacred mosques every Muslim who desires to perform Hajj in the Holy Land wish to visit. One of them is attached to their pilgrimage activities while the remaining two are places of historic significance to Islam which pilgrims love to visit. Praying in these 3 mosques is more multiple of rewarding than praying in other mosques in the universe. The 3 most sacred are Masjid Al Haram in Makkah, Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, and Masjid An-Nabawi in Madinah.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has done well when he classified the 3 mosques by saying that the reward for praying at the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) is equal to the reward for one hundred thousand regular prayers; the reward for praying at the Prophet’s Mosque (in Madinah) is equal to the reward for one thousand regular prayers, and the reward for praying at the Al-’Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem) is equal to the reward for five hundred regular prayers.
AL-MASJIDUL-HARAAM
Al-Masjid al-Haraam (the Sacred Mosque) is situated in Makkah, a city in the Arabian Peninsula 330 meters above sea-level. The history of the mosque goes back to its founding at the time of Ibraaheem (Abraham) and his son Ismaa’eel (Ishmael), peace be upon them both. Makkah is the place where the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was born and where the Revelation began, and from which the light of Islam spread. Al-Masjid al-Haraam is located here. This is the first mosque that was built for people on earth.
The Ka’bah (Arabic: The Cube)– which is the direction of prayer for all Muslims throughout the world – is situated roughly in the middle of al-Masjid al-Haraam. It is a 15-meter high stone structure more or less in the shape of a cube. It was built by Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) on the command of Allaah. The Kaaba is no doubt the most sacred site in Islam. During the Hajj period, the mosque is unable to contain the multitude of pilgrims, who pray on the outlining streets.
Before Islam (in the year in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was born), the Ka’bah was subjected to an attack by the Ethiopian Abrahah, who had built al-Qulays, a church to which he wanted the Arabs to make their pilgrimage. He set out with his army, with whom was the elephant, and when they reached Makkah, Allaah sent flocks of birds against them; each bird was carrying three stones like chickpeas or lentils, one in its beak and two in its claws. Every man who was struck by a stone was killed, so the army was destroyed, by the command of Allaah.
Asides the Ka’bah, Al-Masjid al-Haraam houses other religious monuments in it, such as Maqaam Ibraaheem (the Station of Ibraaheem), which is the rock on which Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) stood whilst he was building the Ka’bah. There is also the Well of Zamzam, which is a spring of water brought forth by Allaah for Haajar and her child Ismaa’eel (peace be upon him) when he got thirsty. We should not forget either the Black Stone or al-Rukn al-Yamaani, which are two of the precious stones of Paradise.
Near the Mosque are the two hills of al-Safa and al-Marwah. One of the unique features of the Mosque is that it is the only mosque in the world to which people come on pilgrimage (Hajj).
AL-MASJID AN-NABAWI
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi which simply means the Mosque of the Prophet is located in the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia. It is the second holiest site in Islam. The Mosque was originally the House of Muhammad; he settled there after his migration to Medina, and later built a mosque on the grounds. He himself shared in the heavy work of construction. The original mosque was an open-air building. The Mosque also served as a community center, a court, and a religious school. There was a raised platform for the people who taught the Quran. The basic plan of the building has been adopted in the building of other mosques throughout the world.
Subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated the mosque. The most important feature of the site is the green dome over the center of the mosque, where the tomb of Muhammad is located. Constructed in 1817 CE and painted green in 1839 CE, it is known as the Dome of the Prophet. Early Muslim leaders Abu Bakr and Umar are buried beside Muhammad.
AL-AQSA MOSQUE
Al-Aqsa Mosque literarily means “the Farthest Mosque”). It is also called the Haram al-Sharif or the Temple Mount. Masjid Al-Aqsa is located in the Old City of Jerusalem, and is widely regarded by Jews as the Temple Mount, the site of the Holy Temple. It includes the Qibli mosque and the Dome of the Rock. It is the third holiest site in Islam. The term Al-Aqsa Mosque was coined in the Quran:
Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose environs We did bless, – in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things).
— Quran, Sura 17 (Al-Isra) ayah 1[8]
Al-Aqsa Mosque is sacred because the first direction Muslims faced for prayers before Allah instructed the Prophet to change direction. The term used for mosque, masjid, literally means “place of prostration”, and includes monotheistic or more specifically Abrahamic places of worship but does not exclusively lend itself to physical structures but a location, as Muhammad stated “The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying…”.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is therefore classified as the third holiest site in Islam. Sahih al-Bukhari quotes Abu Darda as saying: “the Prophet of God, Muhammad said a prayer in the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca) is worth 100,000 prayers; a prayer in my mosque (in Medina) is worth 10,000 prayers; and a prayer in al-Aqsa Mosque is worth 1,000 prayers”, more than in any other mosque.
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