Holy places of Makkah and Madinah, with maps

Short, sourced guides to the places pilgrims visit: what each one is, its history, the authentic hadith on its virtue, and how to visit with good manners.

Masjid al-Haram

The Grand Mosque of Makkah around the Kaaba: history, the 100,000 prayers hadith and etiquette.

Masjid an-Nabawi

The Prophet's Mosque in Madinah: its history, the green dome, and how to give salam.

The Rawdah

Riyad al-Jannah, the garden of Paradise between the Prophet's ﷺ house and minbar.

Cave Hira and Jabal al-Nour

Where the first verses of the Quran were revealed, and what scholars say about visiting.

Quba Mosque

The first mosque in Islam. A prayer there carries the reward of an Umrah.

Makkah map

The Kaaba, the gates, Safa and Marwah, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat, with Hajj day by day.

Madinah map

The Prophet's Mosque, the Rawdah, al-Baqi, Quba, Qiblatayn and Uhud.

Umrah checklist

A packing list that saves on your phone and prints, with Hajj extras.

The talbiyah

Labbaik Allahumma labbaik in Arabic, its meaning, and when to say it.

Guide

The holy places, in brief

Islam has three mosques to which a journey for worship is made: Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, and Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem (Sahih al-Bukhari 1189). Makkah and Madinah also hold places tied to the life of the Prophet ﷺ: Cave Hira, where the revelation began, Quba, the first mosque, and the Rawdah, which he called a garden of Paradise.

Only some of these are part of worship. Umrah is done in Masjid al-Haram, and Hajj adds Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. Visiting the Prophet's Mosque is a great virtue but not part of Hajj. Places such as Cave Hira and Jabal Thawr are visited as history, with no special rite. Each guide here says which is which, gives the hadith with its grading, and links to its spot on our maps.

What each guide covers

What it is, in plain words, with its Arabic name.
Its history, from the Quran, the hadith and the early historians of Makkah and Madinah.
The hadith on its virtue, in Arabic with the collection, the number and the grading. Where a popular report is weak, the guide says so.
Etiquette and practical notes that do not change from year to year. Visas, permits and booking rules change often, so check them with your group or the official Saudi services.
Its place on the map: each guide opens the right spot on the Makkah map or the Madinah map.

Manners in the holy places

Keep your voice low, be patient in the crowds, and give way to the old and the weak. Do not push to touch the Black Stone or to enter the Rawdah: the reward of the place does not depend on it, and hurting others is a sin. Pray and make dua facing the qibla, and keep your phone for finding your group, not for filming people at prayer.

لَا تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلَّا إِلَى ثَلَاثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ: الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ، وَمَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ ﷺ، وَمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى

“Do not set out on a journey except to three mosques: al-Masjid al-Haram, the mosque of the Messenger ﷺ, and al-Masjid al-Aqsa.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 1189; Sahih Muslim 1397, from Abu Hurayrah.

Questions

Good to know

What are the holy places in Makkah?

Masjid al-Haram with the Kaaba, Safa and Marwah, and the Hajj sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. Jabal al-Nour (Cave Hira) and Jabal Thawr are places of history.

What are the holy places in Madinah?

Masjid an-Nabawi with the Rawdah and the Prophet's ﷺ grave, Quba Mosque, al-Baqi, Masjid al-Qiblatayn and Uhud.

Which places are part of Hajj?

Masjid al-Haram, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. Madinah, Cave Hira and the other sites are visited outside the rites.