Set within the immediate precincts, this five star luxurious property at the holy city of Makkah with magnificent views of Al Masjid Al Haram in the new Jabal KaвЂ™aba district, we are only a few steps from every heartвЂ™s desire. Like the great houses of before, we are honoured for you to step through our doors.The peaceful Al Kawthar Lounge is the perfect place to unwind with a cup of coffee and a sweet treat as you admire wonderful views of the Haram.

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. This article needs additional citations for verification.Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Of shops and local markets just outside the door, and close to holy sites.

According to Islamic belief it was built by Ibrahim (Abraham), with the help of his son Ishmael. From time to time, the Mosque was damaged by a storm (flood) and was rebuilt anew. The current structure covers an area of 400,800В square metres (99.0 acres) including the outdoor and indoor praying spaces and can accommodate up to four million worshippers during the Hajj period, one of the largest annual gatherings of people in the world.Islamic tradition holds that the Mosque was first built by the angels before the creation of mankind, when God ordained a place of worship on Earth to reflect the house in heaven called al-Baytu l-Ma'mur (Arabic: Ш§Щ„ШЁЩЉШЄ Ш§Щ„Щ…Ш№Щ…Щ€Ш±, 'The Worship Place of Angels'). The mosque is also known as the Grand Mosque. Located in the city of Mecca, it surrounds the Kaaba, the place which Muslims turn towards while offering daily prayers and is Islam's holiest place.

The Kaaba is the direction for all the Muslims to pray across the globe thus signifying unity among all. Some believe it to be the only remnant of the original structure made by Abraham. The Black Stone is situated near the eastern corner of the Kaaba.

The spread of Islam in the Middle East and the influx of pilgrims required an almost complete rebuilding of the site which came to include more marble and three further minarets.In 1399, the Mosque caught fire and what was not destroyed in the fire (very little) was damaged by unseasonable heavy rain. By the end of the 700s, 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. Before this renovation, which included the mosque's outer walls been risen and decoration to the ceiling, the Mosque was a small open area with the Kaaba at the centre. This began the Islamic rule over the Kaaba, and the building of a mosque around it.The first major renovation to the Mosque took place in 692. In the story, Hagar runs between the hills of Safa and Marwah looking for water for her son, until God eventually reveals to her the Zamzam Well, from where water continues to flow non-stop to this day.After the Hijra, upon Muhammed's victorious return to Mecca, the people of Mecca themselves removed all the idols in and around the Kaaba and cleansed it.

This was the unaltered state of the Mosque for nearly three centuries.Pilgrims around Kaaba at Masjid Al Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.The most significant architectural and structural changes came, and continue to come, from the Saudi status of Guardian of the Holy Places and the honorific title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (the other being the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina) been afforded to King Abdul Aziz. The Saudi government acknowledges 1570 as the earliest date for architectural features of the present Mosque.Following further damaging rain in the 1620s, the Mosque was renovated yet again: a new stone arcade was added, three more minarets were built and the marble flooring was retiled. These features (still present at the Mosque) are the oldest surviving parts of the building and in fact older than the Kaaba itself (discounting the black stone itself) which is currently in its fourth incarnation made in 1629. When the mosque was renovated again in 1570 by Sultan Selim II's private architect it resulted in the replacement of the flat roof with domes decorated with calligraphy internally and the placement of new support columns.

These developments have taken place simultaneously with those in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah. This extension is considered to have been from 1982-1988.The third Saudi extension (1988-2005) saw the building of further minarets, the erecting of a King's residence overlooking the Mosque and further prayer area in and around the mosque itself. The new wing which is also for prayers is accessed through the King Fahd Gate. Also during this first Saudi renovation four minarets were added.The second Saudi renovations, this time under King Fahd, added a new wing and an outdoor prayer area to the Mosque. The Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, an important part of both Hajj and Umrah, came to be included in the Mosque itself during this time via roofing and enclosement. In their place came artificial stone and marble, the ceiling was refurnished and the floor was replaced.

According to another interpretation, it means independent and liberating. Al-Bait ul Ateeq which, according to one interpretation, means the earliest and ancient. The word Kaaba may also be derivative of a word meaning a cube. It not only serves as the common direction towards which Muslims pray, but is also the main location for pilgrimages.Literally, Kaaba in Arabic means square house. King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz plans to increase the capacity of the mosque by 35% from its current maximum capacity of 800,000 with 1,120,000 outside the Mosque itself.The importance of the mosque is twofold. Other modern developments include the addition of heated floors, air conditioning, escalators and a drainage system.The death of King Fahd means that the Mosque is now undergoing a fourth extension which began in 2007 and is projected to last until 2020.

The kiswa is usually of black brocade with the Shahada outlined in the weave of the fabric. The four walls are covered with a curtain ( Kiswah). In the eastern corner is the Hajr-al-Aswad (the Black Stone), at the northern corner lies the Rukn-al-Iraqi ( The Iraqi corner), at the west lies Rukn-al-Shami ( The Syrian corner) and at the south Rukn-al-Yamani ( The Yemeni corner). The four corners roughly face the four points of the compass.

Sheikh Abdullah Awad Al Johany (Arabic:Ш№ШЁШЇШ§Щ„Щ„Щ‡ Ш№Щ€Ш§ШЇ Ш§Щ„Ш¬Щ‡Щ†ЩЉ) (From 2005 during Ramadhan for taraweeh prayers. Saud Al-Shuraim (Arabic:ШіШ№Щ€ШЇ ШЁЩ† ШҐШЁШ±Ш§Щ‡ЩЉЩ… Ш§Щ„ШґШ±ЩЉЩ…)- Judge in Mecca High Court Deputy Chief Of Imams Mecca. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais (Arabic:Ш№ШЁШЇ Ш§Щ„Ш±ШЩ…Щ† Ш§Щ„ШіШЇЩЉШі).Leading imam Chief of imams at Masjid Al Haram

Salih Al-Talib (Arabic:ШµШ§Щ„Ш Ш§Щ„Ш·Ш§Щ„ШЁ) (Judge in Mecca High Court) appointed in 2003. Usaama bin Abdullah al Khayyat (Arabic:ШЈШіШ§Щ…Ш© ШЁЩ† Ш№ШЁШЇШ§Щ„Щ„Щ‡ Ш®ЩЉШ§Ш·). Salih bin Abdullah al Humaid (Arabic:ШµШ§Щ„Ш ШЁЩ† ШЩ…ЩЉШЇ)- Chairman Saudi Majlis al Shura Sheikh Khaled Al Ghamdi (Arabic:Ш®Ш§Щ„ШЇ Ш§Щ„ШєШ§Щ…ШЇЩЉ) (Appointed after Hajj 2008) Sheikh Mahir Al-Muaiqely (Arabic:Щ…Ш§Щ‡Ш± Ш§Щ„Щ…Ш№ЩЉЩ‚Щ„ЩЉ) Appointed in July 2007(Has led taraweeh in Al-Masjid(u) 'n-Nabawiy in Ramadhan 20)

The Late Sheikh Abdullah Al Humaid (Arabic:Ш№ШЁШЇ Ш§Щ„Щ„Щ‡ Ш§Щ„ШЩ…ЩЉШЇ)- Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia. The Late Sheikh Umar Al-Subayyil (Arabic:Ш№Щ…Ш± Ш§Щ„ШіШЁЩЉЩ„) (son of Muhummad Al-Subayyil). The Late Sheikh Ali Bin Abdullah Jabir (Arabic:Ш№Щ„Щ‰ ШЁЩ† Ш№ШЁШЇ Ш§Щ„Щ„Щ‡ Ш¬Ш§ШЁШ±). The Late Sheikh Abdullah Al-Khulaifi (Arabic:Ш№ШЁШЇ Ш§Щ„Щ„Щ‡ Ш§Щ„Ш®Щ„ЩЉЩЃЩЉ). Sheikh Faisal Al Ghazzawi (Arabic:ЩЃЩЉШµЩ„ ШєШІШ§Щ€ЩЉ) (Appointed after Hajj 2008)

In his absence Sheikh Saud Al-Shuraim leads, with back-up duty given to Sheikh Juhany. However, since his appointment as chairman/speaker of the Saudi Parliament, Majlis Shura, he spends most of his time in the capital, Riyadh. Sheikh Adil Kalbani (Led taraweeh 1429 A.H)The imams have a set Rota to decide who leads which prayer in Mecca.Fajr duty is given to Sheikh Salih bin Abdullah al Humaid. Salah Ibn Muhammad Al Budair (Lead Taraweeh in 2005-2006) The Late Great Sheikh Abdullah Khayyat (Arabic:Ш№ШЁШЇШ§Щ„Щ„Щ‡ Ш®ЩЉШ§Ш·).

Masjid Al Haram Official Website