The holy mosques : World three holiest mosques of the world for Muslims, which are – Masjid Al-Haram located in Makkah Saudi Arabia, Masjid Al-Nabawi Located in Madinah Saudi Arabia and Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem Palestine. As per Islamic teachings, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) explained that the journey to these three mosques is the only one that Muslims must plan for. Considered as the most sacred sites on Earth, t One can make plans for this tour while deciding to perform Umrah.
01 Masjid Al Haram
The Great Mosque contends with the Mosque of the Companions in the Eritrean city of Massawa and Quba Mosque in Medina as the oldest mosque. According to some scholars, that reference Islamic tradition and the Quran, explain that Islamic perspective claims that Islam as a religion preceded Muhammad (PBUH), representing previous prophets such as Ibrahim Alaihis Salam (PBUH) is credited by Muslims with having built Kaaba in Mecca, & consequently its sanctuary, which according to the Muslim view is seen as the first mosque that ever existed. According to scholars in Islam started during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the 7th century CE, and so did architectural components such as the mosque. In that case, either the Mosque of the Companions or Quba Mosque would be the first mosque that was built in the history of Islam.
Era of IBRAHIN ALAIHIS SALAM & ISMAIL ALAIHIS SALAM (PBUH).
According to Islamic Scholars in the Quran, Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) together with his son Prophet Ismail (PBUH) raised the foundations of a house of Kaba, which has been identified by commentators as the Kaaba. God showed Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) the exact site which was previously built by First Prophet Adam Alaihis Salam (PBUH), very near to what is now the Well of Zamzam, where Prophet IBrahim PBUH) and Prophet Ismail (PBUH) began work on the construction of the Kaaba. After the Construction of the Kaaba, an angel brought to him the Black Stone, a celestial stone that, according to tradition, had fallen from Heaven on the nearby hill Abu Qubays.[citation needed] The Black Stone is believed by Islamic scholars,is The Stone of Heaven.
After placing the Black Stone in the Eastern corner of the Kaaba, Prophet Ibrahim received a revelation, in which Allah told prophet that he should now go and proclaim the pilgrimage to mankind, so that men may come both from Arabia and from lands far away.
Era of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Upon Prophet Muhammad’s PBUH) victorious return to Mecca in 630 CE, he broke the idols in and around the Kaaba, similar to what, according to the Quran, Prophet Ibrahim did in his homeland. Thus ended polytheistic use of the Kaaba, and began monotheistic rule over it and its sanctuary.
Umayyad era.
The first major renovation to the mosque took place in 692 on the orders of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan.Before this renovation, which included the mosque’s outer walls being raised and decoration added to the ceiling, the mosque was a small open area with the Kaaba at the center. By the end of the 8th century, the mosque’s old wooden columns had been replaced with marble columns and the wings of the prayer hall had been extended on both sides along with the addition of a minaret on the orders of Al-Walid I. The spread of Islam in the Middle East and the influx of pilgrims required an almost complete rebuilding of the site which included adding more marble and three more minarets.[citation needed]
Ottoman era.
In 1570, Sultan Selim II commissioned the chief architect Mimar Sinan to renovate the mosque. This renovation resulted in the replacement of the flat roof with domes decorated with calligraphy internally, and the placement of new support columns which are acknowledged as the earliest architectural features of the present mosque. These features are the oldest surviving parts of the building.
During heavy rains and flash floods in 1621 and 1629, the walls of the Kaaba and the mosque suffered extensive damage.[31] In 1629, during the reign of Sultan Murad IV, the mosque was renovated. In the renovation of the mosque, a new stone arcade was added, three more minarets (bringing the total to seven) were built, and the marble flooring was retiled. This was the unaltered state of the mosque for nearly three centuries.
02. Masjid an-Nabawi – Second mosque of the 3 Holy mosques tour.
Mosque Situated in Madina Saudi Arabia, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is also known as the Mosque of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). This is the second holiest & largest mosque in the world. It is the third mosque built in the history of Islam and now serves as the final resting place of Allah’s peaceful messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Foundation of the original mosque was laid down by the Prophet (PBUH) himself. adjacent to the house where he lived after his migration to the holy city of Madinah in 622 AD. At that time, it was an open air structure that had an elevated dais for the Quran reading sessions. The mosque acted as a religious educational institution, court, & community center.
Apart from the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), this Mosque also houses the final resting place for the Rashidun caliphs, Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb and Hazrat Abu Bakr (second Rashidun caliph.) The southeast corner of the mosque has special importance. The Green Dome, which was actually the house of Bibi Aisha, now serves as the tomb area of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
3. Al-Aqsa – Final site of the 3 mosques holy tour (First Qiblah)
This Mosque is Situated in the Old City of Jerusalem Palestine, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is also known as the Temple Mount. The place is not only sacred for Muslims but for Jews and Christians too. As per Islamic teachings, Al-Aqsa is the second mosque built right after the Masjid al-Ḥarām located in Makkah. Al-Haram Al-Sharif, also referred to as the Noble Sanctuary, is a 3-acre compound area that houses the Al-Aqsa. Here, pilgrims also pay homage at the Dome of the Rock. As per Islamic traditions, this is the structure where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is believed to have stepped into Heaven. It is also a source of major conflict between Israel and Palestine.
During the 3 holy mosques tour, the mosques can be visited in any order, depending upon where you are starting from. Since two of these mosques are in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, pilgrims Performs Umrah & Haj spend more time in Makkah and Madinah. Flights to these cities are available from all parts of the world. Pilgrims must have valid visas for both Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Due to Covid 19 Pandemic, Saudi Government didn’t allow Pilgrims to Perform Umrah & Haj for few Months i/e starting from Feb 27 2020 and 02 Years Did not allow foreign visitors to Perform Haj 2019 & Haj 2021, Hopefully there is a possibility for allowing Haj 2022 for foreign nationals as they partially initiated and made easy for Performing Umrah Seasons for 2011 and upcoming umrah seasons 2022 for all muslim passengers around the world. and resumes Umrah & Haj for the upcoming seasons 2021 & 2022.
FAQs regarding 3 Holy Mosques Tour.
Which are the holiest cities as per Islam?
According to Islamic Teaching, the holiest cities include Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem, and Damascus. One can find both Makkah and Madina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Palestine Jerusalem the Al-Aqsa, while Damascus has the Umayyad Mosque.
How to prepare for the 3 holy mosques tour?
Prepare for the 3 holy mosques tour, one can must book Visa, Flight Tickets,accommodations beforehand, make a packing checklist, form a list of duas, get necessary vaccinations, research the history of the sites, pack relevant clothes as per religious significance& weather, and make peace with others before leaving – forgive and seek forgiveness.
When was Masjid Al Aqsa built and by whom?
Originally a prayer house, Al Aqsa was built by Umar, who was the Rashidun Caliphate’s second caliph. It was later expanded and rebuilt by Abd al-Malik and then completed in 705 by al-Walid, son of Abd al-Malik.