Places to Visit in Makkah: There are plenty of places for ziyarat in Makkah. It is the holiest city in the world and full of sites that are considered sacred in Islam. It is the best place for Muslims to take a spiritual tour and understand Islam and its history. Each of the ziyarat places in Makkah has an intriguing history and showcases much more than just religion. If you are visiting Makkah, there are a few places that you just cannot miss out on. Here are the 5 most important ones of the many.
5 Sacred Places To Visit In Makkah
There are the top 5 places which are really the most beautiful to explore in Makkah even Makkah is known for these special places.
Masjid Al Haram in Makkah
1. Al-Haram – If you are visiting Makkah, there is no way that you can miss visiting the holiest mosque in the world, Masjid Al-Haram. It is the most important place for ziyarat in Makkah. It is home to the Kaaba – the house of Allah. Every year, Muslims from different continents come here for the holy pilgrimage of Hajj.
Umrah pilgrims come here around the year (except during the months of Hajj) to pray to Allah, the Almighty. It is also known as the Great Mosque of Makkah and has immense religious significance. Within the mosque premises, there are some important structures, including the Kaaba, Maqam-e-Ibrahim, parts of the Safa and Marwa hills, and entrance of the Zamzam well.
Mount Arafat in Makkah
2. Mt Arafat – Also known as Mt Arafah and Jabal ar-Rahmah, this is the sacred mountain where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered the farewell sermon. Witnesses to this sermon were followers who accompanied him to Hajj. The mountain is considered a revered place for Muslims and is visited while they visit Makkah for Hajj. For Umrah pilgrims, it is not obligatory to visit Mt Arafat. Hajj pilgrims, on the other hand, must visit here as it is an important part of the rituals to stand on the Arafat all day.
Some Muslims also believe that it is the place where Adam and Eve reunited after falling from Heaven and were forgiven. Hence the name Jabal e Rahmah, which translates to the mountain of mercy. Atop the mountain is a pillar that marks the spot where they reunited.
Jannat-al-Mu’alla in Makkah
3.Jannat-al-Mu’alla – Jannah al-Muʿallah, which translates to the most exalted Paradise, is an important one among ziyarat places in Makkah. It is the cemetery where ancestors and extended family of the Prophet were buried. It is close to the masjid Al-Haram and is one of the most pious places in the land of Makkah. Visiting here is as important as visiting the mosques and other cities of importance.
Pilgrims and visitors come here to pay their respects to the great souls who laid down their lives for the cause of Islam. Some of the graves here belong to important figures of Islamic history, including Abu Talib ibn Abdul-Muttalib – the uncle of the Prophet and father of Ali, Abd Manaf – the great-great-grandfather of the Prophet, Abdul Mutallib – the grandfather of the Prophetand Khadija – the first wife of the Prophet.
Ayesha Mosque in Makkah
4. Ayesha Mosque – Located five miles away from the Haram, masjid Ayesha is also known as the masjid-e-taneem. It is an important boundary where pilgrims start their Umrah and Hajj journeys. The mosque is quite big with all facilities for bath, ablution, and changing rooms so that pilgrims can comfortably perform the rituals of Ihram. The mosque also has a historic context that makes it an important landmark in Islamic tradition and one of the most sacred places to visit in Makkah. It is here that the Prophet’s wife Aisha assumed Ihram as she was menstruating and could not directly proceed for her pilgrimage. In modern times, it serves as an important miqat.
Jabal Nour in Makkah
5. Jabal Nour – In Arabic, Jabal means mountain and Nour means light. So in essence, Jabal e Nour is the mountain of light or illumination and an important ziyarat in Makkah. In this mountain is the sacred cave of Heera, where Prophet Muhammad meditated. As a reward, he received the first revelation of Allah from angel Jibreel, here. The revelation included five ayats for Surah Al-Alaq. Even though it is a strenuous 3 hours hike, pilgrims climb up the mountain to make dua and offer prayers.
All these places make Makkah the holy city that it is. Visiting them is sure to bring you peace, blessings, and rewards from Allah.
