Holy Places (Islamic) – The holy places of Islam are Makkah, Madinah and Jerusalem, in that order. In Makkah, the Sacred Mosque, al-Masjid al-Haram in Arabic, contains the Kaaba, the black cubic building which is the direction (qibla) Muslims pray to five days a day. In Madinah, it is the Prophet Muhammad’s Mosque, al-Masjid al-Nabawi in Arabic, where the founder of Islam is buried. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter Makkah or Madinah. In Jerusalem, it is the Al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Haram Sharif, where Prophet Muhammad is believed by Muslims to have ascended to Heaven. Jews call al-Haram Sharif the Temple Mount.
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Reuters: The holy places of Islam are Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, in that order. In Mecca the great mosque containing the Kaaba is venerated especially in the annual haj, or pilgrimage. In Medina it is the Prophet Mohammad’s mosque where the founder of the Islamic religion is buried. Nonbelievers are not allowed to enter Mecca or Medina. In Jerusalem it is al-Haram al-Sharif, which Jews call the Temple Mount.
