What is Masjid al-Haram?

The name and the place

"Masjid" means mosque and "al-Haram" means sacred or protected. The mosque surrounds the Kaaba, the cube-shaped building in its central courtyard. Muslims believe the Kaaba was raised by Abraham and his son Ishmael as a house for the worship of the One God. Today the mosque is huge, with several floors and courtyards that can hold well over a million worshippers in peak seasons.

Why it matters so much

• It is the qibla. Wherever you are, you turn toward the Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram when you pray (Quran 2:144). See What is the qibla?
• It is the first mosque. The Prophet ﷺ said it was the first mosque set up on earth, followed by Al-Aqsa (Sahih al-Bukhari 3366).
• Prayer there is multiplied. The Prophet ﷺ said a prayer in Masjid al-Haram is better than a hundred thousand prayers elsewhere (Sunan Ibn Majah 1406).
• It is the heart of pilgrimage. The tawaf (walking around the Kaaba) and the walk between Safa and Marwah both happen inside it.

What you will see inside

Around the Kaaba is the open floor called the mataf, where people walk in circles counterclockwise. You'll also see the Black Stone in one corner, the Station of Abraham (Maqam Ibrahim), and the long gallery between the hills of Safa and Marwah. Zamzam water is offered free from coolers all over the mosque. People pray here day and night, and the call to prayer is broadcast around the world.

Can anyone visit?

Only Muslims may enter Mecca and Masjid al-Haram, based on Quran 9:28, and Saudi Arabia enforces this. As a convert, you simply need to be Muslim; some visa routes ask for a letter from a mosque or a shahada certificate. Women of any age can now perform Umrah, and many travel in organised groups. See Can I visit Mecca as a new Muslim? and What is the difference between Hajj and Umrah?