FAISAL MASJID

Location Islamabad, Pakistan

Established 1986

Architectural information

Architect(s) Vedat Dalokay

Style Contemporary Islamic

Capacity 74,000 within the main areas,[1] approx. 200,000 in adjoining grounds

Covered area 5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft)

Minaret(s) 4

Minaret height 90 meters (300 ft)

Construction cost 120 million USD

MASJID-E-NABWI

Location Medina, Saudi Arabia

Established c. 622

Branch/tradition Islam

Administration Saudi Arabian government

Leadership Imam(s):

Sheikh Ali Abdur Rahmaan Al Hudhaifiyy

Sheikh Abdul Bari Awwaad Ath Thubayty

Sheikh Hussain Abdul Aziz Aal Sheikh

Sheikh Salaah Muhammad Al Budair

Sheikh Abdul Musin Muhammad Al Qaasim

Architectural information

Style Classical and contemporary Islamic; Ottoman; Mamluk revivalist

Capacity 600,000 (increased to 1,000,000 during the hajj period)

Minaret(s) 10

MASJID AL HARAM

Location Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Established 638

Branch/tradition Islam

Administration Saudi Arabian government

Leadership Imam(s):

Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais

Saud Al-Shuraim

Architectural information

Capacity 900,000 (increased to 4,000,000 during the hajj period)

Minaret(s) 9

Minaret height 89 m (292 ft)

City of Makkah

Makkat Al Mukarramah

Makkat al-Mukarramah or Makkah, is a city in the Makkah province of Saudi Arabia. Islamic tradition attributes the beginning of Mecca to Ishmael's descendants. Mecca is regarded as the holiest city in Islam. Every year more than 13 million Muslims visit Mecca annually, including several million who perform the Hajj (pilgrimage).  As a result, Mecca has become one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the Muslim world. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city. Mecca and Medina are the only two places where the Quran was revealed.

Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage to Mecca attracts millions of Muslims from all over the world. There are two pilgrimages: the Hajj, and the Umrah.

The Hajj, the 'greater' pilgrimage is performed annually. Once a year, the Hajj, the greater pilgrimage, takes place in Mecca and nearby sites. During the Hajj, several million people of varying nationalities worship in unison. Every adult, healthy, sane Muslim who has the financial and physical capacity to travel to Mecca and can make arrangements for the care of his/her dependents during the trip, must perform the Hajj once in a lifetime.

Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, is not obligatory, but is recommended in the Qur'an. Often, they perform the Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, while visiting the Masjid al-Haram.

Medina

Medina

Medina, al-Madīnah l-Munawwarah, is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and it is historically significant for being his home after the Hijrah. Before the advent of Islam, the city was known as Yathrib, but was personally renamed by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).    

Medina is home to the three oldest mosques in Islam, namely; Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (The Prophet's Mosque), Quba Mosque (the first mosque in Islam's history), and Masjid al-Qiblatain (the mosque where the qibla was switched to Mecca).

Because of the Saudi government's religious policy and concern that historic sites could become the focus for idolatry, much of Medina's Islamic physical heritage has been destroyed since the beginning of Saudi rule.