Mekkah Historical Sites (Part 1): the Two Holy Mosques Architecture

The Museum Building
The Museum Building

Many Islamic historical sites can be visited in Mecca beside the Grand Mosque, such as Arafat, Mina, Jabal Rahmah, Jabal Nur, Jabal Tsur, Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture, Kiswah, etc. However the last two places are not too popular for pilgrimage to visit because you need to make an appointment in advance and will only be approved if you are in a group. Therefore, if your travel agent can organize to the site would be beneficial.

Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture is a museum which stores historical heritage of Islam. Kiswah is a place to make the cover (cloth) of Ka’aba. This article will be divided into two parts. The first part is about Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture, second part is about Kiswah. The two buildings are adjacent, and can be taken for approximately 1 hour drive from Jeddah.

Miniature of the Grand Mosque
Miniature of the Grand Mosque

The exhibition building of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture is divided into 7 rooms i.e. Reception hall, Al Masjed Al Haram hall, the Ka’aba Al Musharaf hall, the Photographic hall, Inscription & Manuscript hall, the Prophet’s Mosque hall, and Zam-Zam well.

In the area of Reception hall there is a miniature replica of the Grand Mosque (Haram). Visitors can see the Haram before and after expansion.

The past staircase
The past staircase

In the area of ​​Al Masjed Al Haram hall there is a unique staircase to the door of the ka’aba made of wood from 1240 H.

Matters relating to the Ka’aba such as various kiswah (ka’aba cloth), antique machines, items that were in the Ka’aba building, or pillar of Ka’aba in the year 65 H can be seen in the Ka’aba Al Musharaf hall.

Maqam Ibrahim AS
Maqam Ibrahim AS

A copy of the Qur’an in the time of Othman bin Affan can be found in the Inscription & Manuscript hall. While items related to the prophets mosque, for instance pulpit door that was built during the period of Othman in 998 H as well as other doors of Haram before expansion in 1370 H can be seen in the Prophet’s Mosque hall.

A Copy of Othmani Qur'an
A Copy of Othmani Qur’an

Another room that is not less interesting is the iron fence that encircled Zam-Zam Well with a bucket to take water, replica of Zam-Zam, assorted cups and bowls used for drinking

Zam-Zam well rail
Zam-Zam well rail

Zam-Zam water, sun clock during the year 1023H to determine prayer times, and the first clock that was placed in the Grand Mosque, can be visited in the area of ​​Zam Zam hall.

Although there is no guide, to tell you the history of these objects one by one, there are brief information is shown in each item. However, if you are fluent in Arabic, they are willing to answer your questions.

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