Mar 24, 2025 · Mosque, any house or open area of prayer in Islam, from the Arabic word masjid meaning ‘a place of prostration.’ The building is largely an open space that typically includes certain features such as a niche for the leader of prayer, an elevated spot for preaching, and a minaret for the call to prayer.

Jul 3, 2019 · A mosque (masjid in Arabic) is a place of worship in Islam. Although prayers can be said privately, either indoors or outdoors, nearly every community of Muslims dedicates a space or building for congregational prayer.

One of the most visible aspects of mosque architecture is the minaret, a tower adjacent or attached to a mosque, from which the call to prayer is announced. Minarets take many different forms—from the famous spiral minaret of Samarra, to the tall, pencil minarets of Ottoman Turkey.

Usually opposite the entrance to the prayer hall is the qibla wall (the direction of Mecca, and thus the direction towards which Muslims should face for prayer), the visually emphasized area inside the prayer hall.

Masjid al-Haram, the grand mosque in Makkah, has 210 gates, 5 of which are the most famous. All the gates are named after significant people, places, or historical incidents. We have also given the map of Masjid al-haram below.

The Bab 'Abdullah (باب عبد الله), literally meaning the gate of 'Abdullah, is the central entrance gate to the King 'Abdullah Extension, situated towards the north-western end of the mosque's newly covered area.

Bab Al-Hijlah is a vital gateway in Masjid Al-Haram and serves as a passage for pilgrims on the northern side. This entrance is crucial for those changing into pilgrimage attire in the Hijlah area, just beyond the Haram boundary.

These gates are not merely entrances; they are symbolic thresholds that carry historical narratives, cultural richness, and spiritual significance. Each gate, with its unique characteristics and stories, contributes to the holistic experience of those who enter the sacred precincts of Masjid Al Haram.

It is the entrance to Mecca, the birthplace of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and signifies the boundary of the haram area of the city of Mecca, where non-Muslims are prohibited to enter.