Private Makkah City Holy Places Tour / Ziyarats

The Kaaba, pre-Islamic monument, rededicated by Muhammad in 631-32 C.E., multiple renovations, granite masonry, covered with silk curtain and calligraphy in gold and silver-wrapped thread (Mecca, Saudi Arabia) Image credit: The Kaaba in the Masjid el Haram, 2010 Tab59, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Pilgrimage to a holy site is a core principle of almost all faiths. The Kaaba, meaning cube in Arabic, is a square building elegantly draped in a silk and cotton veil. Located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is the holiest shrine in Islam.

All Muslims aspire to undertake the hajj, or the annual pilgrimage, to the Kaaba once in their lives if they are able. Prayer five times a day and the hajj are two of the five pillars of Islam, the most fundamental principles of the faith.

Jabal-ur-Rehman (Mountain of Mercy) on the plain of Arafat. Standing at Arafat is the fundamental requirement of Hajj and pilgrims come here on the 9th Dhul Hijjah (second day of Hajj).
The common meaning of the word Arafat is ‘to know’. After being taken out of Jannah and placed on Earth, it was here that Adam (upon him be peace) and Hawa (upon her be peace) met up.
Standing on Arafat is an essential part of the Hajj; whoever misses the standing on Arafat has missed Hajj, because the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Hajj is Arafat.” [al-Hakim]

Mount Thawr (or Jabal Thawr) is the mountain that contains the cave in which the Prophet (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) sought refuge for three days and nights from the Quraysh, as they left Makkah and emigrated to Madinah. After Jabal Thawar our Last Attraction will be Canal Sakeena.

The Al-Rajhi Mosque in Makkah, also known as Aisha Al-Rajhi Mosque, was inaugurated in 2013. It is a modern architectural masterpiece built by Sheikh Sulaiman Al-Rajhi in the Al-Naseem neighborhood and can accommodate up to 48,000 worshippers. The mosque features a modern design incorporating Mamluk-inspired elements, with large domes, minarets, and advanced electronic systems, and includes facilities like a library and a meeting hall.

Ummul Qura University began as the College of Sharia in 1949 and was renamed Umm Al-Qura University in 1981 after becoming the first higher education institution in Saudi Arabia. The university is located in Mecca and has grown significantly, adding new colleges and campuses to offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in both Islamic studies and scientific fields.

Masjid al-Khaif in Mina is a historic mosque believed to be where Prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son, Prophet Ismail. It is also known as the "Mosque of the Prophets" because numerous prophets, including Prophet Muhammad, are said to have performed prayers there. The mosque is a significant site during Hajj and has been rebuilt and expanded over the centuries, with recent renovations adding modern amenities

Muzdalifah ( مُزْدَلِفَة‎) is an open, level area near Mecca in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia that is associated with the Ḥajj ("Pilgrimage"). It lies just southeast of Mina, on the route between Mina and Arafat.
The stay at Muzdalifah is preceded by a day at Arafat, consisting of glorifying Allāh repeating the Dua, repentance to Allah, and asking Him for forgiveness. At Arafat, Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr prayers are performed in a combined and abbreviated form during the time of Zuhr. After sunset on the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dhūl-Ḥijjah, Muslim pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah, sometimes arriving at night because of over-crowding. After arriving at Muzdalifah, pilgrims pray the Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ prayers jointly, whereas the Isha prayer is shortened to 2 rakats.

The masjid above is Masjid Nimrah and is located on the plain of Arafat. When the Prophet (ﷺ) was at Arafat on his farewell Hajj on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah 10 AH (632 CE) he camped here. After midday, he delivered his famous sermon (reproduced below) at Waadi Urana nearby while seated on his camel, after which he led the salah. More than 100,000 Sahabah accompanied him on this Hajj.

Mina, seven kilometers east of the Masjid al-Haram is where Hajj pilgrims sleep overnight on the 8th, 11th, 12th (and some even on the 13th) of Dhul Hijjah. It contains the Jamarat, the three stone pillars which are pelted by pilgrims as part of the rituals of Hajj.

Masjid Mashair Ul Haram is located in Muzdalifah, Mecca, and is significant because Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) prayed there during the Farewell Pilgrimage. Its history includes modest beginnings in the 9th century CE, followed by numerous renovations and expansions by various rulers, including Mamluk Emirs and Sultans, and the Ottomans. In modern times, the mosque was reconstructed and expanded during the Saudi era in 1975 CE.

Also known as Jabal-Ar-Rahmah or the Mount of Mercy, Mount Arafat is a hill in the valley of Arafat outside Makkah where Prophet (pbuh) gave his last sermon after completing Hajj. It is mandatory for pilgrims to leave Mina and reach Mount Arafat on 9th Dhu’al Hijjah and spend the day praying, doing Dhik’r and asking for forgiveness from Allah (SWT). Standing in Arafat is an essential part of Hajj and it is considered invalid if a pilgrim fails to reach here.

Mount Hira (Jabal Hira), which lies about two miles from the Ka’bah. Near the top is a small cave, a little less than 4 meters in length and a little more than one and a half meters in width. It was here that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) received the first revelations of the Holy Quran during the month of Ramadhan in 610 CE. The mountain is also known as Jabal Noor (the Mountain of Light).

The history of the Cave of Hira is the history of Prophet Muhammad's spiritual retreat and the location of the first Quranic revelation. Before Islam, Prophet Muhammad would retreat to the cave on Jabal al-Nour mountain to meditate and seek solitude. It was in 610 CE, at about age 40, that the Angel Gabriel appeared to him in the cave, delivering the first verses of the Holy Quran.

Masjid Jinn, also known as Masjid Haras, is built on the place where the Prophet (ﷺ) drew a line for Abdullah bin Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) who had accompanied him after he had been commanded to recite the Qur’an to the Jinn.
After Masjid Jinn our guide will go towards Masjid-e- Shajar, Masjid-e-Qamar, Jannat-al-Moulla.

There is no record of an Al-Fateh Mosque in Makkah; however, there is a historic Al-Fateh Mosque in Madinah (not Makkah) that is one of the Seven Mosques. It was named "Al-Fatah" (victory) because the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) prayed there and the Surah Al-Fath was revealed during the Battle of the Trench. The mosque was rebuilt and has been renovated multiple times, most recently as part of the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques.