Masjid al-Haram

Masjid al-Haram is the largest mosque in the world and the most sacred site in Islam. The original structure was built in the 7th century CE, though the sacred precinct around the Kaaba has been a place of worship since the time of Ibrahim (AS). Following successive expansions, the mosque now covers an area of approximately 400,000 square metres and can hold up to 4 million worshippers during the Hajj season. At its heart is the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure draped in black cloth (the Kiswah) which Muslims around the world face in prayer.