Abrahamic / Middle Eastern Islam Makkah Visitors Guide Religious and Historical Sites to Visit Share Flipboard Email Print Makkah During Hajj. Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images Islam Important Principles Prayer Salat Prophets of Islam The Quran Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr Hajj and Eid Al Adha By Huda Huda Islam Expert M.Ed., Loyola University–Maryland B.S., Child Development, Oregon State University Huda is an educator, school administrator, and author who has more than two decades of experience researching and writing about Islam online. Learn about our Editorial Process Published on April 04, 2019 Whether you are traveling for a pilgrimage (umrah or hajj), or simply making a stop through, Makkah is a city of significant religious and historical significance to Muslims. Here is a list of must-see sites in and around the city of Makkah. Most of these sites are official stops during pilgrimage, while others may take you off the beaten path. The Grand Mosque Muslim pilgrims pray in Mecca's Grand Mosque near the holy Ka'aba. Muhannad Fala'ah/Getty Images The first stop for many visitors, the Grand Mosque (al-Masjid al-Haram) is located in the heart of downtown Mecca. Prayers are said here around the clock, with space for nearly a million worshippers inside the building itself. During peak visiting periods, worshippers also line up in rows along the courtyards and streets surrounding the mosque. The current structure of the Grand Mosque was built in the 7th century AD, and through various imam's leadership has gone through several renovations and expansions since then. The Ka'aba Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Basil D Soufi via Wikimedia Commons The Ka'aba (literally "the cube" in Arabic) is an ancient stone structure that was built and re-built by prophets as a house of monotheistic worship. It is located in the interior courtyard of the Grand Mosque. The Ka'aba is considered the center of the Muslim world, and is a unifying focal point for Islamic worship. The Hills of Safa and Marwa These hills lie within the structure of the Grand Mosque. Muslim pilgrims visit the hills in remembrance of the plight of Hajar, wife of the Prophet Abraham. Tradition holds that as a test of faith, Abraham was ordered to leave Hajar and their young son in the heat of Mecca with no provisions. Facing thirst, Hajar left the infant in search of water. She reportedly raced to these two hillsides, back and forth, rising up each one to get a better view of the surrounding area. After several trips and on the verge of desperation, Hajar and her son were saved by the miraculous springing of the well of Zamzam. The hills of Safa and Marwa are approximately 1/2 kilometer apart in distance, connected by a long corridor within the confines of the Grand Mosque. Plain of Arafat Muhannad Fala'ah / Getty Images This hillside ("Mount Arafat") and plain is located just outside Mecca. It is a gathering point on the second day of Hajj pilgrimage rituals, known as the Day of Arafat. It was from this site that the Prophet Muhammad gave his famous Farewell Sermon in the final year of his life. Zamzam Spring Water Well Zamzam is the name of a well in Mecca which provides natural spring water to the millions of Muslim pilgrims who visit each year. Traditionally dating back to the time of the Prophet Abraham, the well is located a few meters east of the Ka'aba. Looking for additional sites to visit? Consider Station of Abraham, Mina, and Muzdalifah. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Huda. "Makkah Visitors Guide." Learn Religions, Aug. 28, 2020, learnreligions.com/mecca-visitors-guide-makkah-saudi-arabia-4683936. Huda. (2020, August 28). Makkah Visitors Guide. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/mecca-visitors-guide-makkah-saudi-arabia-4683936 Huda. "Makkah Visitors Guide." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/mecca-visitors-guide-makkah-saudi-arabia-4683936 (accessed June 1, 2023). copy citation