Holiest sites in Islam
All branches and schools of Islam agree on three holiest sites being, in descending order: Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Beyond this shared consensus, different branches place varying degrees of importance on other sites.
In Sunni Islam, sites associated with the founders of their schools, as well as some historically significant mosques, are regarded with high religious significance. In Shia Islam, sites associated with the Imamate hold an extremely high level of significance, including Najaf, Karbala, Mashhad, Kadhimiya, Samarra, and Qom. Shrines of some Shia Imams—such as Ali, Husayn, and Reza—are also revered by many Sunnis, primarily due to their close familial connection to Muhammad and their broader importance in Islamic history.
In Ibadi Islam, there is no formal doctrine of other sacred sites. Distinct orientations place different significance on other sites: in Sufism, the burial places of Sufi saints are widely revered; in the Ahmadiyya movement, additional importance is given to sites central to their history; and in Quranism, no sites beyond the three holiest mosques are considered sacred.
Hejaz
The Hejaz region in Saudi Arabia is where Mecca and Medina are located. It is where Muhammad was born and raised. The area also includes Jabal al-Nour, which holds tremendous significance for Muslims throughout the world, as it is here where Muhammad received his first revelation of the Quran, which consisted of the first five ayat of Surah Al-Alaq from Gabriel.The two holiest cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina, are traditionally known as the Ḥaramayn, which is the dual form of ḥaram, thus meaning "The Two Sanctuaries". They should not be confused with Jerusalem and Hebron, which were also called Haramain during the Mamluk period.
Mecca
Masjid al-Haram
Mecca is the holiest city in Islam, as it is the birthplace of Islam, the birthplace Muhammad, and home to Islam's holiest site, Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram. Only Muslims are allowed to enter the city. It is the qibla of the Muslims, contains the Maqam Ibrahim, Hateem, and the Al-Hajar-ul-Aswad which belonged in Paradise to Adam and Eve. According to Islam, the Kaaba was built by the first prophet Adam, then after Noah's Flood by Nūḥ. It was then rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael. It has been rebuilt several times. The rites of both pilgrimages include circumambulating the Kaaba seven times. The Great Mosque contains other important sites, such as the Black Stone, the Zamzam Well, and the hills of Safa and Marwa.Muhammad played a central role in the restoration of the Kaaba as a monotheistic sanctuary. Prior to his prophethood, he was involved in the rebuilding of the Kaaba following flood damage around 605 CE, during which he helped resolve a dispute among Quraysh clans by proposing that the Black Stone be placed on a cloth and lifted collectively, with Muhammad himself setting it in position. After the conquest of Mecca, Muhammad entered the Kaaba and ordered the removal of its idols, dedicating the sanctuary exclusively to the worship of God. He reaffirmed Kaaba's association with Abraham and Ishmael in Islamic tradition. From that point onward, the Kaaba became the central religious focal point of Islam and the destination of the Hajj pilgrimage. The area of Mecca, which includes Mount Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah, is important for the Ḥajj. As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, every Muslim who is capable must perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime. Hajj is one of the largest annual Muslim gatherings in the world, second only to pilgrimages to the Shia Shrines.
Mount Arafat
Mount Arafat is a granodiorite hill about 20 km southeast of Mecca, where Muhammad stood and delivered the Farewell Sermon to his companions who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life.Some Muslims also believe that Mount Arafat is the place where Adam and Eve reunited on Earth after falling from Heaven, believing the mountain to be the place where they were forgiven. A pillar is erected on top of the mountain to show where this event is believed to have taken place.
The mountain is especially important during the Hajj, with the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, also known as the Day of 'Arafah after the mountain itself, being the day when Hajj pilgrims leave Mina for Arafat; this day is considered to be the most important day of the Hajj. The khuṭbah is delivered and ẓuhr and ʿaṣr prayers are prayed together in the valley. The pilgrims spend the whole day on the mountain invoking God to forgive their sins.File:Masjid Nabawi The Prophet's Mosque, Madina.jpg|thumb|248x248px|The Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, is the second holiest site in Islam. Muhammad himself was involved in the mosque's construction, and its Green Dome is where his tomb is located.
Medina
The Prophet's Mosque
The Prophet's Mosque is located in Medina, making the city the second holiest site in Islam, after Mecca. The mosque is the resting place of Muhammad, and where his qabr is located. Muhammad himself was involved in the construction of the mosque.At the time, the mosque's land belonged to two young orphans, Sahl and Suhayl, and when they learned that Muhammad wished to acquire their land to build a mosque, they went to Muhammad and offered the land to him as a gift; Muhammad insisted on paying a price for the land because they were orphaned children.
The price agreed upon was paid by Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, who thus became the endower or donor of the mosque, on behalf of Muhammad. One of the most notable features of the site is the Green Dome in the south-east corner of the mosque, originally Aisha's house, where the tomb of Muhammad is located. Many pilgrims who perform the Hajj also go to Medina to visit the Green Dome.File:Quba Mosque Full Picture.jpg|thumb|240x240px|The Quba Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, was the first mosque built by Muhammad, established on the first day of his hijra. Muhammad himself laid its first stone, and the structure was completed by his companions.
The Quba Mosque
The Quba Mosque, located on the outskirts of Medina, Saudi Arabia, holds the distinction of being the first mosque. It was founded in 622 CE by Muhammad upon his arrival in the vicinity of Medina during the hijra. He is reported to have personally participated in laying its foundations, giving the mosque exceptional religious importance.The mosque is frequently mentioned in Islamic tradition due to its association with piety and ritual purity. Several hadiths state that performing prayer in Quba Mosque carries special merit, and the Quran makes reference to a mosque “founded on righteousness from the first day,” which many classical commentators associate with Quba.
Masjid al-Qiblatayn
Masjid al-Qiblatayn is located in Medina, Saudi Arabia, and is renowned for its association with a pivotal moment in Islam.The mosque is traditionally identified as the place where Muhammad received the revelation instructing Muslims to change the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to Mecca. The event occurred approximately 16–17 months after the Hijra.
The mosque symbolized the transition of Islam from its early phase toward a distinct religious community with Mecca as its spiritual center. For this reason, Masjid al-Qiblatayn occupies a special place in Islamic memory.
Levant
Jerusalem
Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, also known as the Haram al-Sharif or the Temple Mount, is where according to Islam, Muhammad ascended bodily into heaven. It is the third-holiest site in Islam, held in esteem by all Muslims due to its history as a place of worship by many prophets such as Abraham, David, Solomon, Elijah and Jesus.In early history, Muslims faced in the general direction of Al-Aqsa Mosque as the initial qibla before changing the direction to face the Kaaba; a result of a Quranic verse revelation to Muhammad. It is believed that expressions without a subject in verses 1–18 of Surāh an-Najm and some verses of the 17th chapter of the Quran, commonly called Surāh al-’Isrā’, allude to the night journey.
In 610 CE, over the night of the Isra' and Mi'raj, Muhammad was taken from the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque, where he led the prayer among the prophets, and was then taken to the heavens from the Foundation Stone. The "Furthest Mosque" has been mentioned in the Quran once, in verse 1 of Surat al-Isra'.
File:Syria, Damascus, The Umayyad Mosque.jpg|thumb|240x240px|The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, where Muslims and Christians alike consider it a holy site. According to Islam, Prophet Isa will appear close to the Day of Judgment at the mosque. Prayers in the Umayyad Mosque are considered to be equal to those offered in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Damascus
The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, capital city of Syria, is another holy site in Islam. The head of John the Baptist, revered in Islam as the prophet Yahya, is believed to be inside the mosque, which also houses one of only four original copies of the Quran.The Mosque is also the place where Muslims believe the prophet Isa will return at the end of times, atop the "Minaret of Isa" of the mosque, during the time of a Fajr prayer. It is believed that prayers in the Umayyad mosque are considered to be equal to those offered in Al-Aqsa Mosque. Muslims and Christians alike consider it a holy place. File:Ibrahimi Mosque.jpg|thumb|The Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, Palestine, the city which according to Islam, was where Abraham settled. Muslims believe that Muhammad visited Hebron on his night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem. There is also a left footprint in the mosque, believed to be from Muhammad.|240x240px
The mosque also holds a special importance in Shia Islam since it contains shrines commemorating Husayn, whose martyrdom is frequently compared to that of John the Baptist. There is a location in the mosque where Husayn's head was kept. Furthermore, the surviving members of his family were imprisoned in the mosque for 60 days.