Holiest sites in Islam

There are numerous sites in Islam that are considered holiest to the religion. The cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem are home to the three holiest sites in Islam, unanimous among all sects.

Mecca is considered the holiest city in Islam, as it is home to the Kaaba and Masjid al-Haram. Only Muslims are allowed to enter Mecca. As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, every adult Muslim who is capable must perform the Hajj - a pilgrimage to Mecca - at least once in their lifetime. This obligation is only fulfilled if it is done on the eighth to twelfth day of the last month of the Islamic calendar.

Hajj is one of the largest annual Muslim gatherings in the world, only second to pilgrimages to the shrine of Hussain in Karbala, with attendance reaching 3 million in 2012. If, in a given year, an adult Muslim is in good health and his life and wealth is safe, they must perform the Hajj in the same year; delaying it is considered sinful unless the delay is caused by reasons beyond his/her control.

Masjid an-Nabawi located in Medina is the second-holiest site in Islam, after Mecca. It is the resting place of prophet Muhammad.

Al Masjid Al Aqsa, the third holiest site in Islam, which is located in Jerusalem has a very special place in the hearts of the entire Muslim community due to its unique and rich history as a place of worship that is so closely intertwined with the lives of many of the Prophets of Islam, as well as for its special status. It is a special and blessed Masjid of vast size comprising 144,000 square metres in size (covering approximately 1/6th of the entire area of the Old City of Jerusalem) and with capacity to accommodate in the region of 500,000 worshippers.

Mentioned in the Quran as being “blessed” and “holy”, on numerous occasions, below is the Quranic reference from Surah Isra:

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