Historical Places in Makkah (Mecca): Best Ancient Sites to Explore in Saudi Arabia

The city of Makkah carries the holiest place in the hearts of pilgrims with its powerful aura. The believers visit Makkah regularly to perform pilgrimage as it is the epitome of their culture and spirituality. The Holy Kaaba, the most well-known site on Earth, is situated in Makkah. Muslims pray there five times a day while facing the Kaaba as their primary place of worship. Mecca, a mountain hamlet in the high desert plateau of western Arabia, is where Muhammad was born in the year 570. Because of it’s cultural significance, tourists can explore the historical places in Makkah which are related to Prophet Muhammad himself.

Historical Places in Makkah (Mecca): Top Landmarks Related to the Prophet Muhammad

Prophet Ibrahim's period can be used to trace the origins of Makkah. The believers consider the opportunity to visit this place as the ultimate blessing of the Almighty Himself. One of the five pillars of the faith is the yearly Hajj pilgrimage to the city, although the shorter Umrah pilgrimage is also performed by millions of people every year. But if you have time to spare after completing Umrah, the ancient city has a lot to offer to enhance your knowledge of the area and the faith itself, including museums and historical places in Makkah, mentioned below, that served as the backdrop to some of the most important events in Islam's early history.

• Masjid-Al Haram
• Jannat Al Mualla (Al Muallaa Cemetery)
• Mount Arafat (Hajj)
• Masjid Al-Taneem (Masjid e Aisha)
• Maktaba Makkah-al-Mukarramah (Birthplace of Muhammad)
• Masjid Nimrah
• Masjid Al-Hudaibiyah
• The Cave of Hira (Jabal Al-Hira)

1. Masjid-Al Haram (Kaaba)

The Greater Mosque of Makkah or Al- Masjid-Al Haram, also known as the holy Mosque or Haram Mosque is the holiest shrine in Islam. Masjid-Al Haram is the main attraction in the city for visitors. The massive Grand Mosque, which can hold up to 4 million worshippers, lies at the center of Makkah. The Kaaba, a cube covered in black silk with gold calligraphy in the middle is the center of belief. The pilgrims offer their prayers to God, facing the holy Kaaba. It is one of the holiest places to visit in Makkah during Umrah for Muslims. A key rite performed at this pilgrimage is circumambulating the Kaaba, one of the most spiritual things to do during Umrah.

Location: Al Haram, Mecca 24231, Saudi Arabia

Timings: 24 hours

2. Jannat Al Mualla (Al Muallaa Cemetery)

Based on Islamic history, it is believed that Jannat Al Mualla was revered even before Prophet Muhammad’s birth and so remains to this day. Many of the Prophet Muhammad's forefathers and relatives are supposed to be buried in Jannat-al-Mu'alla, one of the most important cemeteries for Muslims. It is roughly a kilometer north of Al-Masjid Al-Haram, and it can be reached on foot in 15 minutes. The majority of visitors to this cemetery come to pay their respects to the departed. Because of the destruction 1925 of Saudi King Ibn Saud, and several Islamic landmarks, including the cemetery, we see no tombs, gravestones, or domes in Jannatul Mualla but only small rocks as symbols of graveyards.

Location: 8464 Al Masjid Al Haram Rd, 4558, As Sulaymaniyyah, Mecca 24231, Saudi Arabia

Timings: Everyday- 8 AM to 10 PM

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3. Mount Arafat (Hajj)

The annual Hajj pilgrimage takes place over five days in the month of Dhul Hijjah at the Grand Mosque and at various locations surrounding Makkah. It is often suggested to do this tour with guides to walk you through the whole schedule of rituals and prayers. However, the majority of the sites have deserted the rest of the year, so it's definitely worth renting a car to get you to some of these important locations without any crowds: the plains of Arafat, the valley of Muzdalifah, and the Jamarat, where the Hajj's last rite is performed are the best places to visit in Saudi Arabia. It is believed that Adam and Eve reunited at mount Arafat after they were cast out of heaven so it is also called Jabal al-Rahmah or the Mount of Mercy.

Location: Near Mecca City, Makkah Province, the Hejaz Saudi Arabia

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4. Masjid Al-Taneem (Masjid e Aisha)

Masjid al- Taneem is the second largest mosque in Mecca after Masjid al-Haram and a must-visit place that accommodates around 50000 worshipers at a time. It is the place from where the pilgrims living in Mecca assume Ihram for their Umrah. It is the oldest mosque in Makkah dedicated to the wife of the Prophet and a must historical place to visit in Makkah. This mosque is also known as Masjid Aishah since Aisha bint Abu Bakr, wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, had put on her Ihram from this place once. Nowadays it is the nearest and most convenient location to enter the Ihram for those residing within the boundaries of Haram. This is quite a big mosque with facilities for baths, ablution, and changing, available for pilgrims and those who come to offer regular prayers.

Location: FR92+2GR, At Taniem, Mecca 24223, Saudi Arabia

Timings: 24 hours

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5. Maktaba Makkah-al-Mukarramah (Birthplace of Muhammad)

She'eb Banu Hashim in Makkah is the location of Maktaba Makkah-al-Mukarramah, the Prophet Muhammad's birthplace. This location, formerly a mountain in the past, is believed to be the prophet’s house. This place is considered the most sacred place in Makkah. Currently, it is situated on Suq al-Layl Steet, close to Kaaba, the Great Mosque. If you are at the Masjid-Al-Haram and walk about half a kilometer towards mount Safa, you can see the holy house of the prophet. Here you can read the description of the old house as it was 13 meters in length and 12 meters in height with a large living room (birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad), a bedroom, and a storage room. Today, the house has been transformed into a national library.

Location: CRFH+XW8, Al Masjid Al Haram Rd, Al Haram, Mecca 24231, Saudi Arabia

Timings:

• Sunday to Thursday- 8 AM to 2:30 PM
• Friday to Saturday- Closed

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6. Masjid Al Nimrah

Masjid Nimrah is a major Islamic monument that may be found in the Wadi Uranah area of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, near the plains of Arafat. Masjid Nimrah was constructed in the second century of Islam on the site of the final speech and salah (prayer) led by the Prophet Muhammad. Additionally, that portion of Masjid Nimrah lies beyond the bounds of Arafat because Wadi Urana is situated there. Masjid Nimrah features 64 doors, 10 major entrances, 3 domes, and 6 minarets, and it can accommodate 350,000 people. Before giving his farewell speech on the plain of Arafat, the beloved Prophet Muhammad remained in the area that is now known as Masjid Nimrah. Even today, during Hajj, the Imam of Masjid Nimrah is obligated to give the final sermon before the Dhuhr and Asr prayers are said simultaneously since it is one of the most revered Islamic structures and sacred historical places in Makkah and Madina.

Location: 6925 2 - District, Al Mashair, 3270 Infantry Road, Makkah 24256, Saudi Arabia

Timings: 24 hours

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7. Masjid Al-Hudaibiyah

Many historic mosques, each of which has had a significant impact on Islamic history, may be found in the holy city of Makkah. Almost every Muslim is aware of the enormous Masjid Al-Haram, which surrounds the Holy Kaaba, the center of Islam. However, very few people are aware of the existence of Masjid Al-Hudaibiyah, which stands where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Quraysh of Makkah signed the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, a 10-year peace agreement. Today, pilgrims gather in the famous Masjid Al-Hudaibiyah, which is still standing tall and strong. Today, visiting the mosque is among the holy things to do in Saudi Arabia. Hudaibiyah, also known as "Al-Syumaisi," serves as no less than a Miqat for pilgrims (doing the Hajj and Umrah) who wish to enter the state of Ihram. Masjid Al-brand-new Hudaibiyah's building is situated near to the ancient mosque's ruins.

Location: CJRG+Q7X, Old Makkah Jeddah Rd, Al Hamra and Umm Al Joud, Makkah 24316, Saudi Arabia

Timings: 24 hours

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8. The Cave of Hira (Jabal Al-Hira)

The mountain sometimes referred to as Jabal Al-Hira, or the cave of Hira is located close to Makkah in Saudi Arabia, about two miles away from the Holy Kaaba. The cave is situated at the top of the Jabal Al- Nour Mountain at a height of 634 meters, outside Makkah, in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia. The little Hira cave is under 4 meters in length and a little over 1.5 meters in breadth and is located not far from the summit of this mountain. Climbing on the mountain to visit and explore this cave is one of the best things to do in Makkah for pilgrims. Islamic tradition holds that the Prophet Muhammad PBUH found the solitude and quiet he required in the cave of Hira to contemplate his life and the world. Continue reading to discover more about the Hira Cave's significance to Islam.

Location: Makkah Province, Hejaz, Saudi Arabia

The birthplace of the prophet Mohammed serves as the spiritual hub of Islam and is totally off-limits to non-Muslims. Visitors visiting the holy city are blessed with the remission of all their sins in addition to being in close proximity to important religious monuments and historical landmarks. One can visit a huge number of historical places in Makka which are related to Prophet Muhammad and thus are sacred and holy for the believers. Only Muslims have entrance to the city of Makkah. Every year, it witnesses the Hajj pilgrimage, a religious requirement that every competent Muslim must attend at least once throughout their lives. Take part in this religious journey by availing yourself of the best Umrah tour packages.

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