The most significant mosques in the Muslim world. The three largest mosques in the world

1. Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) in Mecca

4. Independence Mosque (Masjid Istiqlal) in Jakarta

Indonesian Independence Mosque or Istiqlal Mosque is the largest mosque in South-East Asia. In 1949, Indonesia gained independence, and in order to perpetuate this event, it was decided to build such a large religious building in the capital of the state. Construction of the mosque began in 1961. The temple accommodates about 120 thousand worshipers.

5. Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

Located in the largest Moroccan city of Casablanca, the Hassan II Mosque amazes not only with its enormous size, but also with its beauty. Directly from the huge glass hall of the building there is a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean. Let us note that the mosque can accommodate 105 thousand people. The area of ​​the temple is about 9 hectares. Interesting fact: all 800 million dollars spent on the construction of the mosque were voluntary donations.

6. Badshahi Mosque in Lahore

The Badshahi Mosque was built in the mid-17th century in the Pakistani city of Lahore by order of the last ruler of the Mughal dynasty. The mosque was built on high platform, which towers over the old town. The dimensions of the mosque's courtyard are 159 × 527 m. The mosque has eight minarets: four in the corners of the prayer hall and the same number in the corners of the wall surrounding the mosque. The height of the external minarets is 62 meters. The main entrance opens into a vast brick-paved courtyard that can accommodate up to 60,000 worshipers

7. Al-Saleh Mosque in Sana'a

Al-Saleh Mosque is the main and largest mosque in the capital of Yemen - Sana'a. The temple was erected by order of the first president of the country, Ali Abdullah Saleh, mostly with his personal money (about 60 million dollars), and bears his name. The mosque is incredibly beautiful - six minarets visible from all over the city, each 100 meters high, richly decorated domes, a combination different types stones, including black basalt and red, white and black limestone, decorated with stained glass windows. The official opening of the religious building took place in 2008. The mosque consists of a complex of buildings, the largest of which, for prayers, occupies more than 27 thousand square meters. meters. main hall can accommodate up to 44 thousand worshipers.

8. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is famous not only for its size, but also for its stunning beauty. It is one of the main decorations of the capital of the United Arab Emirates - the city of Abu Dhabi. The mosque amazes with its interior decoration: colored marble and semi-precious stones were used to decorate the buildings. In addition, it houses the largest and most luxurious chandelier in the world. Square

Today, thousands of mosques have been built in the world, and it is difficult to name the most beautiful one. The mosque is one of the main symbols of religion of all Muslims. All Muslims pray here 5 times a day. The first mosque in history appeared on the Arabian Peninsula. From that time until today, the construction of these magnificent Muslim temples has continued throughout the world. And this article will help you find out which are the most famous mosques in the world and the largest mosques today.

Kaaba

The most famous black square in the world is a dream, the main destination of pilgrimage for all Muslims. When Adam and Eve sinned and came to repent of it to Allah, He forgave them and sent them a small stone white, which over time, having absorbed all the sins of humanity, turned black. Keep this clean sacred place Prophet Muhammad appointed one family, and to this day it honors and follows his instructions.

Adam and Eve built the first mosque around this stone, but, unable to withstand the global flood, it did not survive. Later, on its ruins, the prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail were able to build a new one.

Ask any Muslim what the largest mosque in the world is, where it is located and what the Kaaba is, and he will answer your question without hesitation. And for those who don’t know, we’ll provide a little information.

• Country: Saudi Arabia.
• City: Mecca.
• Built by: Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).
• Size: 11.3x12.26 m.
• Height: 13.1 m.

But the Kaaba is not the largest mosque in the world. This is a sacred relic and place of pilgrimage for all Muslims, where every Friday their number exceeds 700 thousand people. And the largest mosque in the world is called Al-Masjid al-Haram.

Sermons

Thanks to simultaneous translators, all sermons are translated into 2 languages: Urdu and English. Pilgrims who don't understand Arabic, before the prayer begins, they receive headphones where the translation sounds. Unfortunately, the largest mosque in the world cannot accommodate everyone in its courtyard who wants to purify their souls, so many of them pray on the balconies and roof of Al-Masjid al-Haram. There are also air conditioners and an escalator, and there are ablution facilities, which are divided into men's and women's.

Tragedy

The largest mosque in the world in the last century was captured by militants who put forward 3 demands to the Saudi Arabian government:

Do not sell US oil;
- do not squander the abundance of the state;
- overthrow the Saudi dynasty.

During the assault on the mosque, 450 people died, including 200 terrorists and 250 pilgrims.

Today, the area where the largest mosque in the world is located has the most expensive real estate on earth. Approximate price of 1 sq. m - $100,000.

Top 3 large mosques in the world

In addition to Al-Masjid al-Haram, there are 2 more mosques in the world that are slightly smaller in size.

The Masjid Al-Nabawi Mosque is also located in Saudi Arabia and is the second most important shrine of all Muslims. It is located in the city of Medina (Yathrib).

After the Prophet Muhammad began to call on the Arabs to abandon polytheism and convert to true faith, they united against him. The opposition was too great for the Prophet and he was forced to flee to the city of Yathrib (Medina). It was here that the Masjid Al-Nabawi mosque was erected by the hands of the Prophet Muhammad. It was rebuilt and expanded several times, and since the prophet died in this city, it is his burial place. The tomb of the Prophet Muhammad is located under 1 dome (there are 12 domes in total in the mosque). 700,000 Muslims can pray at Masjid Al-Nabawi at the same time.

The three largest mosques in the world include the Mausoleum of Imam Reza located in the city of Mashhad (Iran). It is also considered a holy site for Muslims, which is an amazing complex. There is a library, other mosques and the tomb of the imam himself. The bodies of other imams are also buried here and the magnificent Govarshad Mosque, built in the 15th century, is located here. This mosque and the tombs of the imams formed a ring around the tomb of Imam Revza. The recently built minarets formed a second ring, and the construction of the third will soon be completed. Every year this place receives about 200 million Muslim pilgrims from all countries. After the explosion in 1994, all pilgrims are subject to security screening.

Top 10 largest mosques in the world

We found out where the largest mosque in the world is and what 2 other holy places are, slightly smaller in size. But besides them, there are 7 more temples sacred to Muslims in the world, which are located in different parts Sveta:

1. Faisal Mosque is located in Pakistan, Islamabad. It has an interesting design (no domes) and looks more like a huge Bedouin tent. The building has 4 minarets.
2. Taj-ul-Masjid is located in the city of Bhopal. Its construction began in 1800 and lasted for 100 years. The reason for such a long construction period is the unstable situation in the political arena and lack of money.
3. Istaklal Mosque was built in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia. The country's independence was declared in 1945, and as a sign of this event, the main dome of the mosque has a 45-meter diameter.
4. Hassan Mosque - Casablanca, Morocco. It is famous for the world's largest minaret (210 meters) and a beautiful garden with 42 fountains.
5. The Badshah Mosque, built in Pakistan, combines Islamic character, Persian culture and Indian style.
6. Jama Masjid is another structure built in India. He keeps the relic in the form of a sacred book, the Koran, written on deer skin.
7. And the list ends with the Saleh Mosque in Yemen. This is not only a landmark of the country, but also its largest structure. The mosque has a library, parking and air conditioning.

The most beautiful in the world

Of all the existing masjids, it is impossible to choose the most beautiful one. But travelers have ranked the 10 most beautiful mosques in the world. It is they who differ from the rest with their unusual and rich interior and magnificent design.

1. Sultan Omar Saifuddin Mosque.
2. Hassan II Mosque.
3. Sheikh Zayed Mosque.
4. Masjid al-Nabawi.
5. Al-Masjid al-Haram.
6. Djenne Mosque.
7. Umayyad Mosque.
8. Faisal.
9. Sultanahmet.
10. Al-Aqsa.

2 mosques, which amaze with their wealth and majestic appearance, deserve special attention.

Sultanahmet - the heart of Istanbul

It’s not for nothing that Turkey is called the land of mosques. The most important attraction of the city of Istanbul is the Sultanahmet, or Blue Mosque. Sultan Ahmet wanted to outshine the Hagia Sophia standing opposite and ordered the architect to build golden minarets. But here there was a misunderstanding. In Turkish, the word golden is translated as "altyn". The architect did not hear the last letter in the order and built 6 minarets (6 - “alts”). They did not shower the 6 minarets with gold, but left them as is. The huge mosque can accommodate 100,000 people. And the name “Blue Mosque” appeared thanks to the 20,000 blue tiles that decorate the interior.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

This structure is truly considered a miracle and one of the many amazing structures in the United Arab Emirates. Every brochure, guidebook and every guide starts the tour from this place. The structure, more reminiscent of a palace from the cartoon "Aladdin" or the fairy tale "1001 Nights", is actually more than just a mosque. It represents the respect and tribute of all the people of the Emirates to the ruler Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan. This man created and raised the Emirates from the poor Bedouin population of the country. And what this country is now is the merit of Sheikh Zayed. The largest carpet in the world (627 sq. m), weighing 47 tons, covers the floor of the mosque. Until the summer of 2010, the complex, consisting of 7 chandeliers that adorn the ceiling of the mosque, was considered the largest in the world. Its weight is approximately 12 tons.

The most important difference between the mosque and the rest is free entry for everyone, regardless of their religion. But there are also rules here. Men must enter wearing clothing that completely covers their arms and legs. Women have a stricter dress code. Clothing should cover the arms and legs, not tight to the body, and there should be a scarf on the head that completely covers the hair. Also, smoking, drinking (even mineral water) and there is.

Mosques are not only places to calm the soul and heart of any Muslim, but also architectural monuments of unparalleled beauty. Mosques play a very important role in the life of Muslims: religious, social, cultural. In this article we invite you to see the TOP 10 largest mosques in the world, which amaze the imagination and allow you to discover something new for yourself from the life of the Muslim people.

Capacity 25 thousand people

10th place in our ranking is occupied by the Delhi Cathedral Mosque or Jami Masjid. Jami Masjid is the most important and largest mosque in India. Its construction began in 1650 during the reign of Shah Jahan I, the ruler of the Mughal Empire. The final completion of the work was recorded in 1656. Over 5,000 people worked on the construction of the mosque. The courtyard of the mosque can accommodate up to 25 thousand Muslim believers.

9 Capacity 40 thousand people

In 9th place is the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi (UAE). This is one of the youngest buildings for believers. The construction of the snow-white beauty lasted 11 years. It is known throughout the world not only for its impressive size, but also for its incomparable beauty. The mosque amazes with its uranium: semi-precious stones, multi-colored marble. This mosque is also famous for the fact that it contains the world's largest carpet and the largest and most luxurious chandelier. The territory of the mosque can simultaneously accommodate 40 thousand people.

8 Al Saleh Mosque Capacity 44 thousand people

In 8th place is the “National Miracle” of Yemen - the Al-Saleh Mosque. The opening of the main attraction of Yemen took place in November 2008. Construction of a mosque for the most part was financed by the country's President Ali-Abdul Saleh. On the territory of the mosque there is a modern 3-story building in which there is a school where the Koran is studied and a large library. It is also worth noting that the mosque is equipped modern system air conditioning, sound system, as well as a very sophisticated lighting scheme that allows in a special way illuminate the mosque all night. The capacity of the main hall is 44 thousand believers.

7 Badshahi Mosque Capacity 60 thousand people

In 7th place is the Badshahi Mosque. It is located in Pakistan, in the beautiful city of Lahore. It was erected in the 17th century. And in the 18th century, the mosque was practically destroyed, and in this state it stood until the mid-19th century. During this time, it was used as a defensive structure, as a warehouse, a barracks, and even as a stable. It was only possible to begin the restoration of the once beautiful mosque in 1947, the year when Pakistan was recognized independent state. The territory of the mosque can accommodate up to 60 thousand people.

6 Mausoleum of Imam Reza Capacity 100 thousand people

6th place is occupied by one of the most important shrines - the mausoleum of Imam Reza. It is located in Iran, in the city of Mashhad. On the territory of the shrine there is the tomb of the imam, mosques, minarets, a museum and a library. Iran's main attraction attracts 15-20 million visitors every year. And this is not surprising, because... The mausoleum is a masterpiece of Iranian art. The construction of the complex began in the 14th century, during the reign of the Timurid dynasty. Construction was completed in the 19th century. The area of ​​the complex occupies approximately 331 thousand square meters. meters. The mausoleum can accommodate 100 thousand people.

5 Capacity 105 thousand people

5th place belongs to the great mosque of Hassan II. This mosque is located on the shore Atlantic Ocean in the beautiful city of Morocco - Casablanca. Construction of the mosque lasted 13 years. The opening took place in August 1993. About 20,000 thousand people of various fields worked on this structure: from simple artisans to artists, engineers and builders. This is one of the most beautiful and grandiose structures of mankind. The Hassan II Mosque amazes with its beauty, grandeur, wealth, scale, as well as technological innovations. Anyone can enter this temple of beauty and grandeur. Large territory can accommodate more than 105 thousand people. The area of ​​the temple is about 9 hectares.

4 Independence Mosque Capacity 120 thousand people

4th place goes to the Independence Mosque or Istiqlal. This mosque was built in honor of Indonesia's independence from the Netherlands. "Istiqlal" means "dependence" in Arabic. Geographically, it is located in Jakarta, and is the largest in Southeast Asia. Construction of the mosque began in 1961 and lasted until 1978. On this moment Istiqlal Mosque is a central place of spiritual, cultural and scientific life countries where various events, seminars, and conferences are often held. The territory of the temple can accommodate about 120 thousand visitors at a time. The area of ​​the mosque is 10 hectares.

3 Faisal Mosque Capacity 300 thousand people

3rd place belongs to the Faisal Mosque, located in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. This monastery got its name in honor of King Faisal. It was King Faisal who contributed to its construction. The mosque is located in a picturesque area: nearby are the Margolla Hills and the Himalayas. It is worth noting the architecture of the Fesala Mosque, because it does not look like traditional Islamic mosques. Its shape resembles the tent of a Bedouin nomad. Initially, the design solution did not cause delight, and only after construction was completed, people who criticized this object admitted that they were wrong. The territory of the mosque is located on 5,000 square meters and can accommodate approximately 300 thousand people.

2 Prophet's Mosque Capacity 1 million people

Medina takes 2nd place. It is located in Saudi Arabia. This is the mosque of the prophet Muhammad, or Masjid an-Nabawi. Construction of the temple began in 622, and the Prophet Muhammad himself took part in its construction. After his death, he was buried under the Green Dome. Medina plays an important role social role in the life of Muslims. This is a place of public and educational purpose, because it is here that everyday, financial and political problems countries. The territory of the temple numbers 400 thousand square meters and in normal times it accommodates about 600 thousand Muslims, and during the pilgrimage 1 million believers.

1 Capacity 2 million people

So, in first place among the largest mosques in the world is the Forbidden Mosque or Al-Haram Mosque. Just like the Medina Mosque, it is located in Saudi Arabia. This is the very first and most ancient temple, built for believers to serve the Almighty. According to legend, the first builders of this relic were heavenly angels. Since its founding in 638, the mosque has changed its design more than once. appearance, was constantly being completed and rebuilt. At the moment this is the most majestic building that houses main value Muslims - Kaab, minarets, special rooms for prayers and ablutions. In addition to all the listed values ​​of the mosque, various technological amenities are located on its territory, such as escalators, air conditioners, and sophisticated electric lighting. The territory of the religious complex is located on 357 thousand square kilometers and can accommodate more than 700 thousand people. If we also use the surrounding areas of the temple, the capacity of believers will increase to 2 million.

There are three main mosques in the Muslim world: Al-Haram (Forbidden Mosque) in Mecca, Al-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) in Medina and Al-Aqsa (Remote mosque) in Jerusalem.

All these mosques are very important for Muslims, and each of them has its own specific meaning.

Al-Haram Mosque (Forbidden Mosque)

Al-Haram Mosque is the main Muslim temple located in Saudi Arabia, in Mecca. In courtyard This mosque houses the Kaaba.

Al-Haram Mosque (Forbidden Mosque) during Hajj

The Kaaba is the shrine of Islam, which is a cubic stone structure in the courtyard in the center of the Holy Mosque (al-Masjed al-Haram) in Mecca. It is the main sanctuary of Islam, which Muslims call al-Bayit al-Haram, meaning "the sacred house". The name “Kaaba” itself comes from the word “cube”. The height of the building is 15 meters. Length and width are 10 and 12 meters respectively. The corners of the Kaaba are oriented according to the cardinal points, and each of them has its own name: Yemeni (southern), Iraqi (northern), Levantine (western) and stone (eastern). The Kaaba is made of granite and covered with fabric, and inside it there is a room where a door made of pure gold leads, which weighs 286 kilograms.

Almost three hundred kilograms of pure gold were used to decorate the door.

A Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Eswad), bordered by a silver rim, is mounted in the eastern corner of the Kaaba at a level of one and a half meters. It is a hard stone of irregular oval shape, black with a scarlet tint. It has red spots and yellow wavy lines where the broken pieces meet. The diameter of the stone is about thirty centimeters. He, as Muslims are sure, was sent from heaven by Allah. The Black Stone is the most famous sacred meteorite, the nature of which is still unknown. The stone is very fragile, but it floats in water. After the Black Stone was stolen in 930, upon its return to Mecca, its authenticity was established precisely by its property of not drowning in water. The Kaaba burned twice, and in 1626 it was flooded - as a result, the Black Stone split into 15 pieces. Now they are held together with cement mortar and enclosed in a silver frame. The visible surface of the stone is 16 by 20 centimeters. It is believed that Allah sent the Black Stone to Adam and Eve as a sign of forgiveness.

To this day, the seven fragments of the Stone are held in place by a large silver frame that goes around the corner of the Kaaba and hides most of it, leaving only a small hole for pilgrims to kiss and touch.

Governor of Mecca Prince Khaled Al-Faisal at the Black Stone during the traditional washing of the Kaaba

The Kaaba has special significance in Muslim rituals. Muslims all over the world face the direction of the Kaaba during prayer. Muslim believers perform rituals around this structure during the Hajj tawaf- ritual circumambulation of the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise. During this ritual, the Iraqi and Yemeni corners of the Kaaba are worshiped, in which pilgrims touch with their hands, kiss this building and pray near it. According to Muslim tradition, a stone was placed in the Kaaba, which God gave to Adam after the Fall and expulsion from paradise, when the first man realized his sin and repented of it. Another legend tells that the stone is the guardian angel of Adam, who was turned into stone because he overlooked and allowed the fall of the first person entrusted to his protection. According to Arab legend, after being expelled from paradise, Adam and Eve (Hawa) were separated - Adam ended up in Sri Lanka (the island of Ceylon), and Eve - not far from Mecca, on the shores of the Red Sea, in the place where the port of Jeddah is now located. On the outskirts of this city, Khava’s grave is supposedly still located. They met with Adam only two hundred years later, and this happened in the Mecca area. After a long separation, they got to know each other on Mount Arafat, which is also sacred to the Arabs. Adam, however, even after meeting his wife, missed the temple in which he prayed in paradise. Then God lowered a copy of that temple from heaven for him. According to legend, when the Black Stone was lowered from the sky, it was dazzling white and shone so much that it could be seen four days' journey to Mecca. But over time, from the touch of numerous sinners, the stone began to darken until it became black. The time of construction of the Kaaba and its builders are unknown. According to legend, the Kaaba was built by the first man - Adam, but it was destroyed Flood, and even the place where she stood was forgotten. The shrine was restored by Patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ismail, the ancestor of the local peoples. Abraham built the Kaaba using one miraculous device. It was a flat stone on which the forefather Abraham stood, and this stone could fly above the ground and rise to any height, serving as a mobile scaffolding. It has been preserved, is located a few meters from the Kaaba and is called Makam Ibrahim (place of standing of Ibrahim) and, despite the fact that it has long lost its flying properties, it is also a Muslim shrine. The imprint of Abraham-Ibrahim's foot remained on it. Over time, a dome was erected over this stone. Ibrahim was helped in the restoration of the Kaaba by the Archangel Gabriel (Jabrail). From him Ibrahim and Ismail learned that the temple they had built was an exact copy the temple in which Adam prayed. For the peoples and tribes of the Arabian Peninsula, the Kaaba has traditionally been a sacred building long before the rise of Islam. The Kaaba was the main sanctuary of the Hijaz, a historical region in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. Since ancient times, the Arabs believed that the Kaaba was the house of God and made pilgrimages to it.

Thanks to this shrine, Mecca became famous - now it is the holy city of Islam, located seventy kilometers from the Red Sea coast, in a very dry and unsuitable area for agriculture. The only factor that made these places attractive for people to settle there was the source fresh water- Zamzam. The location of Mecca on the trade routes of the region also turned out to be successful. The appearance of the source, according to local legend, occurred miraculously- God created it for the sake of the patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ismail, the ancestor of the Arab tribes. It was considered one of the seven holy places by the Sabaeans of Persia and Chaledonia. The rest of their shrines were considered: Mars - the top of the mountain in Isfahan; Mandusan in India; Hay Bahar in Balkh; Ghamdan House in Sana'a; Kausan in Fergana, Khorasan; House in Upper China. Many of the Sabaeans believed that the Kaaba was the House of Saturn, since it was the oldest known structure in that era. The Persians also made pilgrimages to the Kaaba, believing that the spirit Brake lived there. Jews also treated this shrine with respect. They worshiped one God there. Christians also came to the Kaaba with no less respect. However, over time, the Kaaba became an exclusively Muslim shrine. The idols revered by the pagans were destroyed in 630 by the Prophet Muhammad, who was born in Mecca and was, according to the Koran, a descendant of the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim). He left only the images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus that were there. Their images were placed there not by chance: Christians lived in Mecca, and besides them - Jews, as well as Hanifs - righteous followers of the faith in one God, who were not part of any religious community. The Prophet not only did not cancel the pilgrimage to the shrine, but he himself respectfully touched the Kaaba with his staff. In the second year after the Hijra, or according to the calendar more familiar to us - in 623-624 AD, the Prophet Muhammad established that Muslims should pray facing the Kaaba. Before that, they prayed, turning towards Jerusalem. Muslim pilgrims flocked to the Kaaba in Mecca. They believe that the shrine is a prototype of the heavenly Kaaba, around which angels also perform tawaf. Holy place It was also destroyed in 930, when the Qarmatians, Shia Ismaili sectarians from Bahrain, stole the Black Stone, which was returned to its place only 21 years later. After this incident, some doubts arose about its authenticity, but they were dispelled by an investigative experiment: they threw the stone into the water and made sure that it did not sink. But the adventures of the Black Stone did not end there: in 1050, the Caliph of Egypt sent his man to Mecca with the task of destroying the shrine. And then the Kaaba was engulfed in fire twice, and in 1626 - a flood. As a result of all these disasters, the stone broke into 15 pieces. Nowadays they are fastened with cement and inserted into a silver frame. Respect for the Kaaba is also expressed in wrapping the relic with a special blanket - kiswa. It is updated annually. Its upper part is decorated with sayings from the Koran embroidered in gold; 875 square meters of material are used to make a kiswa. The first to cover the Kaaba with canvases decorated with silver embroidery was the tubba (king) of Yemen, Abu Bakr Assad. His successors continued this custom. Used different kinds fabrics. The tradition of covering the Kaaba has undergone significant changes : initially, before the pilgrimage to Mecca of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mahdi in 160 after the Hegira, the coverings on the structure were simply placed on top of each other. After the cover wore out, a new one was placed on top. However, the servants of the Forbidden Mosque expressed their fears to the ruler of the Caliphate that the building simply could not withstand the weight of the blankets piled one on top of the other. The Caliph agreed with their opinion and ordered that the Kaaba be covered with no more than one blanket at a time. Since then, this rule has been strictly observed. The inside of the building is also decorated with curtains. The family of Benny Scheibe monitors all this order. The shrine is open to the public only during the ceremony of washing the Kaaba, and this happens only twice a year: two weeks before the start of the holy month of Ramadan and two weeks after the Hajj. From Abraham's son Ismail, the Kaaba was inherited by the southern Arab tribe of the Jurhumits, who enjoyed the support of the Babylonians. And in the 3rd century AD they were supplanted by another southern Arab tribe, Banu Khuzaa. Out of despair, the Jurhumits, leaving Mecca, destroyed the Kaaba and filled up the Zamzam spring. The Khuzaites restored the Kaaba, and from the middle of the 3rd century BC, the Kaaba became the pantheon of the Arab tribes. The leader of the Khuzaites at that time was Amr ibn Luhey, who became the ruler of Mecca and the patron of the Kaaba. Contrary to the original monotheism of Abraham Ibrahim and his son Ismail, he placed idols in the Kaaba and called on people to worship them. He brought the first idol he erected - Hubal - from Syria. The Quraysh were another Arab tribe that lived in the Mecca area and descended from Adnan, one of the descendants of Ismail, and his wife, the daughter of a Khuzai chieftain, who drove the Khuzaites out of Mecca and gained control of the city and temple around 440-450. The prophet Muhammad, who glorified the Kaaba throughout the world, came from this tribe. Before his preaching, the Kaaba was the center of numerous religious cults. In the center of the Kaaba stood the idol of Hubal, the deity of the Quraish tribe. He was considered the lord of the skies, the lord of thunder and rain. Over time, another 360 idols of pagan gods worshiped by the Arabs were placed there. Near them they made sacrifices and told fortunes. Quarrels and bloodshed were strictly prohibited at this place. It is interesting that among the characters of pagan cults there were images of Abraham (Ibrahim) and Ismail with prophetic arrows in their hands; Isa (Jesus) and Mariam with the baby (Virgin Mary). As we see, everyone found in this place something close to their faith. Pilgrims arrived in Mecca regularly. Twice a year, many people came to the local fair. The Kaaba was known and revered far beyond the Arabian Peninsula. She was revered by the Hindus, according to whose beliefs the spirit of Siwa, the third person of the Trimurti, accompanied by his wife during a visit to the Hijaz, entered the Black Stone.

The building itself was rebuilt many times. For the first time - under the second righteous caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Khattab. During the Umayyad dynasty, Caliph Abd al-Malik restored the building, expanded the boundaries of the Holy Mosque, and installed arches decorated with mosaics, which were specially brought from Syria and Egypt. During the Abbasid period, on the orders of Caliph Abu Jafar al-Mansur, the mosque was further expanded and a gallery was erected along its perimeter. The area around the Kaaba was also thoroughly rebuilt by the Ottoman Sultan Abd al-Majid. And in the recent past, in 1981, the space around the relic was reconstructed by the King of Saudi Arabia, Fahd ibn Abd al-Aziz. Today, the territory of the Mesjed al-Haram mosque with the area around the Kaaba is 193,000 square meters. 130,000 Muslims can visit it at the same time. At the corners of the mosque there are 10 minarets, six of which (together with the crescent-shaped superstructures) reach a height of 105 meters. What the Black Stone embedded in the structure is is still unknown. Some scientists consider it a very large meteorite. This opinion is challenged by a strong argument that the stone cannot be an iron meteorite, based on its cracks, nor can it be a stone meteorite, since it cannot withstand movement and floats in water. Other researchers tend to see the stone as a large piece of unknown volcanic rock: rocky Arabia is rich in extinct volcanoes. It is known that this is not basalt or agate. However, the expressed opinion that the stone is not a meteorite is subject to serious criticism. In 1980, researcher Elizabeth Thomsen suggested that the Black Stone is of impact nature - it is molten sand mixed with meteorite material. It comes from the Wabar crater, located 1,800 kilometers from Mecca, in the Empty Quarter of Saudi Arabia. The rock from this crater is frozen porous glass, it is quite hard and brittle, can float in water and has inclusions of white glass (crystals) and grains of sand (streaks). However, such a harmonious theory has its weak point: the conclusion made by scientists based on the results of several measurements indicates the age of the crater to be only a few centuries. Adding to the confusion are data from other measurements, suggesting that the crater is about 6,400 years old. There are actually three craters in Vabar. They are scattered over an area of ​​about 500 by 1000 meters and have diameters of 116.64 and 11 meters. The Bedouin nomads call this place al-Hadida - iron objects. In an area of ​​half a square kilometer lie many fragments of black glass, white stones made of baked sand and pieces of iron, partially covered with sand. Iron stones from the vicinity of the Wabar craters have a smooth surface covered with a black coating. The largest piece of iron and nickel that scientists found there weighs 2,200 kilograms and is called Camel's Hump. It was discovered by a scientific expedition in 1965 and was later put on display at the Royal University of the Arabian capital Riyadh. The smooth, cone-shaped stone appears to be a piece of a meteorite that fell to the ground and broke into several fragments. The holy book of Muslims - the Koran contains a story about the king of the city of Ubar named Aad. He mocked the prophet of Allah. For their wickedness, the city of Ubar and all its inhabitants were destroyed by a black cloud brought by a hurricane. English researcher Harry Philby became interested in this story. He considered the Empty Quarter to be the most likely location for the lost city. However, instead of ruins - the work of man, he found fragments of a meteorite in that place. Based on the traces left by this event, it was established that the energy released during the fall of the meteorite was equivalent to nuclear explosion with a yield of about 12 kilotons, which is comparable to the explosion in Hiroshima. There are other known places where meteorites fell, causing even more powerful impacts, but the case of Vabar has important feature. The meteorite fell in an open, sandy area that was dry and sufficiently isolated to provide an ideal natural repository. There it was easy to discover both for the nomads of antiquity and for modern scientists. The latter cannot yet give a definitive answer to the riddle of the Black Stone.

Al-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque)

Al-Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet) is the second most important Muslim mosque (after the Forbidden Mosque), located in Saudi Arabia, in Medina. Under the Green Dome of the Al-Nabawi Mosque is the tomb of the prophet and founder of Islam, Muhammad. The first two Muslim caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar, are also buried in the mosque.

Al-Nabawi Mosque (Prophet's Mosque) in Medina

Green Dome (Prophet's Dome)

Tomb of the Prophet Muhammad. Next to it are buried the first two caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar, and on the other side there is another area similar to empty grave. Many Islamic scholars and Qur'anic scholars believe that this grave site is reserved for the prophet Isa (Jesus), who will return to Earth to kill the Dajjal (Antichrist) and then rule the revived Caliphate for 40 years

The first mosque on this site was built during the lifetime of Muhammad, who himself took part in the construction. The layout of this building was adopted for other mosques around the world. When Muhammad was forty years old, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him and called him to serve. Muhammad began his sermons in Mecca, trying to turn the Arabs away from pagan polytheism and convert them to the true faith. In 622, due to strong pressure from the religious leaders of Mecca, Muhammad was forced to flee to the city of Yathrib, located several hundred kilometers away. In Yathrib (which was later renamed Medina) he managed to organize the first Muslim community. Within a few years, the Muslim movement had grown so much that Muhammad was able to create a large army, which in 630 captured Mecca without a fight. Thus the first Muslim state was formed.

Al-Aqsa Mosque (Remote Mosque)

Al-Aqsa Mosque (Arabic: المسجد الاقصى‎‎ - extreme mosque) is a Muslim temple in the Old City of Jerusalem on the Temple Mount. It is the third holiest shrine of Islam after the Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. Islam associates isra (the night movement of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem) and miraj (ascension) with this place. At the site of the al-Aqsa mosque, the Prophet Muhammad prayed as an imam with all the prophets sent before him.

Al-Aqsa Mosque (Remote Mosque) in Jerusalem

Founded in 636 by Caliph Omar on the site of a Jewish temple destroyed by the Romans, Al-Aqsa Mosque was significantly expanded and rebuilt under Caliph Abd Al-Malik in 693. Under Caliph Abd Al-Malik, another mosque was built near Al-Aqsa, called Qubbat As-Sakhra (Dome of the Rock). Nowadays, the Dome of the Rock mosque is often confused with the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Qubbat Al-Sakhra Mosque (Dome of the Rock)

Often the huge golden dome of the nearby Qubbat al-Sahra Mosque ("Dome of the Rock") is confused with the more modest dome of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling the said golden dome of Qubbat al-Sahra the dome of the "Mosque of Omar". But it is Al-Aqsa that has as its second name the name “Mosque of Omar” in honor of its founder Caliph Umar (Omar) and is historical center of the two mosques on the Temple Mount, and not the Qubbat al-Sahra Mosque, which, nevertheless, is the architectural center of the complex.

Temple platform