The Haramayn (Arabic: الحرمين, dual form of haram, meaning "The Two Sanctuaries"), also spelled Haramain, is the traditional Islamic appellation of the two holy cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina. Historically the cities of Jerusalem and Hebron have also been referred to as the Haramain during the Mamluk and Ottoman eras, echoing their status as holy sites for Palestinian Muslims
In it's strictest sense the term Haramain may also refer to the two holy mosques in the cities of Mecca and Medina. The Haramayn, the two cities of Mecca and Medina are the most sacred cities to the Mulsims world around due to the presence of the two holy mosques. The importance of the first city of Islam, Mecca, stems from the fact that the Bait ul-Allah (House of Allah, the Kabah) is there as part of the Great Mosque of Mecca and that it was the birth place of prophet Muhammad. And the importance of Medina stems from the fact that it was the Dar al-Hijrah (house of migration) towards which prophet Muhammad migrated and made it his second home.
circa 630 CE
Masjid al-Haram
Aerial view of the Masjid al-Haram complex, as in 2013. One of the Five Pillars of Islam requires every Muslim to perform the Ḥajj, one of the largest annual gatherings of people in the world, at least once in their lifetime when able to do so, including circumambulating the Kaaba. The Grand Mosque includes other important significant sites, including the Black Stone, the Zamzam Well, Maqam Ibrahim, and the hills Safa and Marwa. It is always open, regardless of date or time.
circa 622 CE
Masjid al-Nabawi
Horizon view of the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi), with the Green Dome far in the background. It is the second-holiest site in Islam, after the Great Mosque in Mecca. It is always open, regardless of date or time. The site was originally adjacent to Muhammad's house; the original mosque was an open-air building and served as a community center, a court, and a school as well.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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