As we know, every country has many sacred places for the followers of different religions. These followers go to this country to visit their holy sites every year. In this way, Saudi Arabia has very sacred destinations for Muslims from all over the world. They travel to this country to visit these places and perform religious rites. In this context, consider this topic for more information, “Most Sacred Places in Saudi Arabia for Muslims.” This article will guide you to the accurate facts about the above-mentioned title.
Saudi Arabia, also known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia on the Arabian Peninsula. This country is home to the two holy cities in Islam, Makkah and Medina.
Today the Saudi government has extended the Umrah visa for 90 days instead of 30 or 60 days. With this extension, a Muslim can travel anywhere in the kingdom. Better than getting separate services throughout the Umrah journey, opting for Umrah packages is cheaper and safer.
Many pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia every year to perform Hajj and Umrah. These two sacred journeys have great importance in the hearts of every Muslim. Many narrations emphasize the significance and reward of both of these spiritual rituals.
Most Sacred destinations in Saudi Arabia for Muslims
There are numerous Islamic sacred sites in Saudi Arabia. Muslims visit them while performing their holy pilgrimage.
The list of these holy sites is as follows:
• Masjid Haram
• Masjid Nabwi
• Kaaba
• Maqam Ibrahim (A.S)
• Mina
• Mount Arafat
• Safa and Marwa
• Al Baqi Cemetery
• Jannat-al-Mu’alla Cemetery
• Jabal-al-Noor
• Masjid Quba
• Masjid Taneem
• Mount Uhud
• Masjid Qiblatayn
• Thawr Mountain
• Badr Plain
Masjid Haram
The Masjid Haram, also known as the Grand Mosque, surrounds the Kaaba in Makkah. It is a significant location for Muslims because they offer their prayers to Allah while facing the Holy Kaaba at the mosque centre. It is the exact location for Hajj and Umrah.
Masjid Nabwi
Masjid Nabwi is also known as the Prophet’s Mosque. It is the second-largest mosque in the world. This Mosque is home to the graves of three Islamic prominent leaders, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Abu Bakr (R.A), and Umar (R.A).
Kaaba
The Holy Kaaba is the most sacred place in Islam. It is located at the centre of Masjid Haram, Makkah. Additionally, it is the sign and direction towards which Muslims perform their five daily prayers.
Maqam Ibrahim (A.S)
Allah sent down a stone from heaven for Ibrahim (peace be upon him) during the construction of the Kaaba. Today this stone is a part of Masjid al-Haram. According to Islamic tradition, Abraham’s feet left their mark on the stone, which can still be seen centuries later.
Mina
Every year, millions of Muslims gather in Mina (a city outside Mecca) for the Hajj. The city comes alive during the Hajj pilgrimage, with a variety of events taking place day and night. Muslims begin and end Hajj here.
Note: Try to get non-shifting Hajj packages for Hajj travel, as these packages holders can perform Hajj more comfortably. These types of packages are a little bit more expensive than shifting Hajj packages but if you find a reliable and approved agency, you will pay a fair price for any package.
Mount Arafat
Mount Arafat, a granite hill, is located on the Arafah plain 20 kilometres southeast of Makkah. It is popularly known as the “Mountain of Mercy.” Because it is the hill where Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) planned to sacrifice his son Ismail (A.S), but Allah Almighty mercifully sent a ram in his place.
Safa and Marwa
Two small hills in Makkah called Safa and Marwa are joined by bigger Abu Qubais and Qaiqan mountains, respectively, and are now a component of the Masjid Haram. The Sa’i ritual of Hajj and Umrah involves Muslims travelling back and forth between them seven times.
Al Baqi Cemetery
Al Baqi is the most significant and famous Islamic cemetery in Medina. It is located in Saudi Arabia’s Hejaz region and is particularly important to Muslims as the final resting place of many of the relatives and companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Jannat-al-Mu’alla Cemetery
Many of the ancestors and relatives of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are supposed to be buried in Al Mu’alla cemetery, one of the most important cemeteries for Muslims. It is roughly a kilometre north of Masjid Haram, and it can be reached on foot in 15 minutes.
Jabal-al-Noor
Jabal-al-Noor, a mountain where the Prophet (PBUH) stayed in his cave, is one of the holiest destinations in Islam. This mountain is also known as “The Mountain of Light.”
Masjid Quba
The Quba Mosque, which is located outside the Medina, is regarded as the first mosque in Islamic history. It is the second-largest mosque in the holy city of Medina. During the sacred month of Ramadan, this religious place is the sight of enormous gatherings.
Masjid Taneem
Masjid Taneem is a mosque in the Makkah neighbourhood of At Taneem, next to Al Hil and about 8 kilometres from the Kaaba. It is also known as Masjid Aishah (R.A) because the wife of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Aishah bint Abu Bakr (R.A), once put on her Ihram from this mosque.
Mount Uhud
Visiting Mount Uhud in Medina is one of the top things to do on the Umrah journey. It is an important location in Islamic culture because it is where the Battle of Uhud took place.
Masjid Qiblatayn
Masjid Qiblatayn is a stunning mosque in the holy city of Medina. This is where Allah commanded the Prophet (peace be upon him) to change the direction of the Qibla from Jerusalem to Makkah.
Thawr Mountain
One of the mountains that encircle the valley in which Makkah is located is called Thawr Mountain. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his companion Abu Bakr (R.A.) spent three days in a cave here to hide from the tribe of Quraysh.
Badr Plain
Badr is a town in the Medina Province of the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia. It is around 130 kilometres away from Medina. It occurred as the location of the Battle of Badr, which took place in 624 CE between the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)-headed Muslims and the polytheists of Makkah.
Religious rituals in Saudi Arabia – Hajj and Umrah
The majority of Muslims consider Hajj to be the most important part of Islam and obligatory religious duty. While Muslims do not need to wait until a specific period of the year to perform Umrah, a short pilgrimage to Makkah. They are free to do it whenever they choose, but it is forbidden during the Hajj days.
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia is very important to Muslims around the world as it is home to two of Islam’s holiest mosques. Every year, many pilgrims go to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj and Umrah. Every Muslim attaches considerable significance to these two pilgrimages. Numerous narrations highlight the importance and benefits of both these spiritual rites.
Saudi Arabia has many sacred destinations for Muslims to visit them. These holiest sites include Masjid Haram and Masjid Nabwi, Mount Arafat, Masjid Quba, Mount Uhud, and Maqam Ibrahim (A.S).
