Al-Masjid Al-Haram, Congregational mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Al-Masjid al-Haram is a congregational mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, that surrounds the central sanctuary of Islam and features a rectangular courtyard with multilevel prayer areas. The complex spans several floors and accommodates hundreds of thousands of people at once, with covered galleries and open spaces encircling the center.
The first construction took place in 638 under Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, when the growing community needed a larger space for prayers. Over the centuries, many expansions and renovations followed under different rulers, each adding to the capacity and infrastructure.
Worshippers from every continent gather here to perform the ritual walk around the central structure, often moving in large groups while reciting prayers aloud. The rhythm of the crowd follows an ancient pattern, with moments of intense focus alternating with quiet devotion.
Access is through more than 200 gates distributed across different levels and connected by escalators. Air conditioning maintains comfortable conditions year-round, even during large gatherings at prayer times.
The circular zone around the central structure is constantly walked by thousands performing the sevenfold circuit, creating a dense but orderly flow of people. This area is used on multiple levels when needed, allowing the circuit to happen simultaneously at different heights.
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