The Great Mosque of Mecca
The Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Holy Mosque or the Sacred Mosque, is located in the center of Mecca and is the largest mosque in the world and the eighth largest building in the world. Surrounding the most important and mysterious holy site in Islam, the Kaaba, the mosque is also a pilgrimage site for Muslims and is extremely important to them. It attracts millions of Muslims and tourists from around the world to visit and participate in religious activities. The Masjid al-Haram holds significant religious and cultural importance for the Islamic world, Saudi Arabia, and the global community.
Mount Arafat
Mount Arafat is located about 20 kilometers southeast of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is one of the important holy sites of Islam. In Arabic, it is also known as Jabal Arafat or Jabalar-Rahmah, meaning "Mount of Mercy." During the annual pilgrimage season, thousands of Muslims will travel to this small mountain to complete one of the most important religious rituals in Islam. According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad once made his final public speech on this mountain and gained his first follower. This speech is considered in Islam to be a summary of the Prophet Muhammad's teachings and guidance. In addition to its religious significance, Mount Arafat is also known for its beautiful scenery. From the top of the mountain, Mecca can be seen overlooking the surrounding desert, and the Red Sea can be seen in the distance. During the annual pilgrimage season, this small mountain becomes the focus of tens of thousands of visitors, both Muslim pilgrims and ordinary tourists, who come to explore the history and beauty of this small mountain.
Mina Tent City
Mina is a city known for its important role during the Hajj pilgrimage, located about 8 kilometers east of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. During the pilgrimage season, the city is crowded with about 3 million pilgrims, but at other times it is empty.
Looking around the valley, there are tents everywhere. Mina is known as the world's largest tent city, providing a camping ground for pilgrims. Since the 1990s, to accommodate more pilgrims and ensure they have suitable camping facilities, the Saudi government has installed permanent tents made of cotton. These tents are divided into different camps, equipped with kitchens, bathrooms and shower stations for the convenience of pilgrims.
Jamarat Bridge
The construction of this bridge began in the early 2000s and is approximately 950 meters long. Initially, it only had a ground level and one bridge level. As the number of pilgrims increased, the bridge underwent several expansions, including the construction of bottlenecks, ramps, and tunnels, to facilitate the movement of people. During the pilgrimage season, Muslims use this bridge to perform a ritual from the 10th day to the 13th day of the "Hajj month" (Dhu Al-Hijjah) before sunset. In this ritual, pilgrims must throw small pebbles containing words of rebuke (called Jamarah) at three stone pillars to express their outrage against the devil. These three pillars represent Satan's attempt in Islamic mythology to tempt the Prophet Ibrahim and his family to disobey Allah's commands.
Mount Guangming
In the northeast of Mecca, about 4 kilometers away from the Grand Mosque, stands a mountain peak known as "Jabal Al Nour" (translated as "Mountain of Light" or "Mountain of Enlightenment"). This mountain peak is of great significance to Muslims, and is one of the main pilgrimage sites for those who come for Hajj and Umrah throughout the year. According to Muslim tradition, this mountain peak is the place where the Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation in early 610 AD, which is considered the origin of Islam. In search of spirituality and guidance, millions of Muslims challenge their physical and mental strength each year by climbing this mountain peak. At the top of the mountain, they can visit the ancient caves of Hira and Thawr, which are believed to have been the refuge where the founder of Islam, Muhammad, meditated and contemplated on the mountain.
