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The Holy Mosque (Masjid Al Haram) in Mecca, is the largest Muslim shrine in the world. The mosque witnesses a footfall of millions every year. The Masjid Al Haram of Mecca was constructed to enshrine the holy black stone, Kaaba. Muslims all over the world, offer their daily prayers facing the Kaaba and hence the Holy Mosque in Mecca. This mosque is a sprawling structure covering an area of over 356,800 square meters. Over 820,000 pilgrims pray here, come Hajj every year. Muslim theology holds that the Holy Mosque (Masjid Al Haram) in Mecca was constructed by angels to replicate the prayer chamber in heaven. Later, prophets such as Adam and Ibrahim (Abraham) reconstructed the shrine. The mosque has since then been destroyed and reconstructed numerous times. Historically it is believed that the Haram Sharif (as the mosque is lovingly known) was built in the 7th century under the supervision of Caliph Omar Ibn al-Khattab. Later monarchs and rulers such as Abbasid Caliph al-Mahdi, King Abdul Aziz and the present King Fahd have commissioned many renovations and extensions to accommodate the ever burgeoning crowd of pilgrims. The Holy Mosque (Masjid Al Haram) in Mecca is the coveted destination that every healthy Muslim wishes to visit, at least once in his or her lifetime. Besides being one of the prime sites of sightseeing in Mecca, the religious importance of this mosque is tremendous. The interiors of the Haram mosque in its current state are beautiful reflections of the piety of those who pray here. The mosque's outdoor prayer ground is a large enclosure. A columned structure enfolds this prayer ground. The interiors of this structure are covered in plaster and carved beautifully. The tiled floors, the stained glass and the radiant ceilings lend it serenity and tranquility. On their visit to their beloved Haram Sharif, the Hajjis also undertake a visit to the Hill of Arafat in Mecca and complete their journey at Mina in Mecca.
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