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6 Facts about Masjid al Haram to Know Before Umrah

The house of Allah (Kaaba) in Masjid al Haram, located in the holy city of Makkah, is the most sacred site for Muslims. For almost 1400 years, Muslims have been visiting this place and performing Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages to get Allah’s blessings.

Other than the fact that this place is the center of both pilgrimages, there is a lot more to know about it. In this guide, we will explain some interesting and informative facts about Masjid al Haram that will make your time there more immersive and wholesome.

6 Masjid al Haram Facts Every Muslim Should Know

1. Names of the Mosque

There are many names for this mosque but Masjid al Haram is the most commonly used. Let’s check out all of them.

· Masjid al Haram

As already mentioned, this is the most popular name and explains the sacredness of the mosque.

· The Sacred Mosque

It is the English translation of “Masjid al Haram” and is often used in communication and literature.

· The Grand Mosque

This name explains the majestic nature and grandness of the mosque. It is often used for Masjid e Nabwi as well.

· The Great Mosque of Makkah

Along with the greatness of the mosque, this name also mentions the city.

· Haram

The word “Haram” means sanctuary and it implies that Allah’s home is a safe place for everyone. Locals often refer to Masjid e Nabvi in Madinah as Haram too.

· Bayt Allah

It means the House of Allah. The name is often associated with Kaaba.

· Bayt Allah al Haram

This one is an extension of the name above and it means the Sacred House of Allah.

2. The Kaaba Cloth

The Kaaba, the house of Allah, is the most important structure for every Muslim in the world. It is covered with a black cloth which is also known as Kiswa. The Kiswa is adorned with various Quranic verses that signify the importance of Allah as the most powerful entity in the entire world.

This cloth is changed every year on the 1st of Muharram, which is the first day of the Islamic New Year. This year, the Kiswa weighed around 125 kg and costed 125 million SAR, which is equal to 33.3 million USD and 25 million GBP.

The Kiswa that is removed from the Kaaba is cut into small pieces and given to important religious and political figures in the Islamic world as a gift. Some portions are also sold to collectors and museums to recover the costs.

The cloth is prepared at a factory located inside Madinah. You can visit this factory by getting an appointment.

3. The Black Stone

It is the wish of every pilgrim to kiss or touch the Black Stone or Hajar e Aswad. It is said about this stone that it belongs to heaven and was white in color but turned black due to the sins of the people. Many scientists and geologists have studied this rock and tried to find out about its origin but they couldn’t come to a common conclusion. This has made it more mystical.

Pilgrims try to kiss or touch this stone because the Holy Prophet (PBUH) did it. However, many are unable to do it because of the crowds. So in such a situation, you can use a stick to touch it or even wave your hand towards it.

4. The World’s Tallest Clock

One of the recent additions around the mosque is the Makkah Royal Clock Tower. It is home to the world’s largest and tallest clock. The tower is part of the Abraj al Bait Complex and is home to countless hotels and shopping centers. If you book a room in one of these hotels, you can even view the Kaaba from the window. The clock is located 600 meters above the ground level and is 43 meters in diameter. Its huge size makes it visible from a long distance.

5. The ZamZam Well

The ziraculous water of ZamZam comes from a well, which is located inside the mosque. The well sprung up out of nowhere when Hazrat Hajra, mother of Hazrat Ismael, ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa (they are inside the mosque as well now) to search for wood and water. The well is nothing less than a miracle and a sign for everyone that Allah is powerful over everything in the world and can produce water from the desert as well.

The well is managed by the Saudi government, and thousands of pilgrims drink water from it every day. Plus, every foreign pilgrim takes a bottle back home as well. Muslims believe that Zamzam water has a lot of healing properties and this is why it is considered the most valuable gift after someone comes back from pilgrimage.

6. The Largest Religious Gathering

If you calculate the total number of pilgrims visiting a mosque or a religious place in a year, you will find Masjid al Haram’s name at the top. The mosque is open year-round for pilgrims, but the most crowds are witnessed during Hajj and Ramadan. In 2025, around 1.7 million performed Hajj and 16.56 million people went for Umrah in Ramadan alone.

To accommodate such a large number of pilgrims, the authorities expand the size of the mosque regularly. Masjid al Haram is not only a mosque but a central connection for the global Muslim community. It acts like a strong link between the Muslims and when they are here, they are all considered equal in the eyes of Allah.

Final Words

The atmosphere inside the mosque is truly electric and revitalizing for a Muslim’s soul and mind. If you live in the UK and want to go for Umrah, reach out to Muslims Holy Travel right now. They offer amazing deals for all the cities such as Umrah packages Manchester, London, and Birmingham.

Yaqoub Khan

Yaqoub Khan is the founder and lead editor of Heightmag.com, a content platform covering celebrity biographies, lifestyle, entertainment news, and digital culture. He is known for creating clear, easy-to-read articles that answer common questions about public figures, trends, and pop culture moments. With a strong focus on accuracy and readability, Yaqoub continues to grow his blog as a trusted source for informative and engaging content.

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