Would you like to know the best sacred places in the holy cities? You must visit those sacred places during your Umrah journey and learn about Islamic history. Umrah, an act of worship and devotion, is significant in the Worldwide Muslim community. Millions of Muslim pilgrims perform Umrah yearly with faith and belief in their hearts. Embracing the opportunity to visit various sacred and revered places during Umrah adds to the spirituality.
During the Umrah pilgrimage, Muslims must perform the following three main rituals:
- Tawaf, an anticlockwise circumambulation of the Holy Kaaba;
- Sa’i, a seven-step forward-and-backward walk between the Marwah and Safa Hills;
- Halq, during which male pilgrims shave or trim their hair;
When pilgrims do these three acts, they leave the state of Ihram, the holy state where all Muslims must perform the Umrah, and complete their journey to Umrah.
A complete Umrah with all necessary rites usually takes a few hours. After that, if you have more time, there are some lovely and sacred places to see in both the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, which are serene and peaceful. Some best-sacred places in both holy cities are given below:
Best Holy Places in the City of Makkah
Numerous places in Makkah are worth seeing. You can comfortably visit those sacred places by choosing the perfect All inclusive Umrah packages. Out of all the places to visit, here are the best and top main attractions that one must see.
- Masjid al-Haram
Masjid al-Haram, also known as the “Great Mosque of Makkah,” was built around the Kaaba in Makkah. It is one of the places Muslims must see during Umrah because they pray to Allah facing the holy Kaaba at the mosque’s centre. This is the starting point for the sacred Umrah pilgrimage. One of the most spiritual rites to perform during Umrah is Circumambulating the Kaaba (Tawaf), an important pilgrimage ritual.
- Jannat ul-Mualla
Jannat-al-Mu’alla is one of the most important cemeteries for Muslims. Many of the relatives and ancestors of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are buried in this graveyard. The location is one kilometre north of Al-Masjid al-Haram; the walk takes approximately fifteen minutes. Most visitors come to this cemetery to honour the departed.
- Maktaba Makkah al-Mukaromah
Maktaba Makkah-al-Mukarramah is the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and is situated in She’eb Banu Hashim in Makkah. A place previously a mountain, now it has been converted into the National Library.
- Mount Arafat
Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal-e-Rehmat or Jabal Arafat. Many Muslims go to Mount Arafat during the Hajj pilgrimage. Here, pilgrims perform serval rituals and offer prayers to Allah.
Jabal al-Nour hosts a cave known as Gar-e-Hira, also called the “Hill of Illumination” or the “Mountain of Light.” Islamic literature states that this is where the angel Gabriel first revealed Allah’s holy words to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Due to this significance, Cave Hira is considered a notable stop on the Umrah route.
Masjid-e-Ayesha, also known as Masjid-e-Taneem, is the Makkah’s second-largest mosque and the oldest building in the city. Therefore, it is an essential stop for pilgrims performing the Umrah. It is near the sacred Kabba. Here, worshippers can enter the holy state of Ihram.
The city of Mina, also called the “City of Tents,” is where the Hajj pilgrims can stay temporarily. It is located near Masjid al-Haram and is easy to visit during the holy journey of Umrah.
Best Holy Places in the City of Makkah
There are many places worth visiting in Madinah during the Umrah pilgrimage. The best time to visit these holy places in comfort is if you are taking the October Umrah packages. There are many places to visit, but the best and top must-sees are here.
- Masjid al-Nabawi
Masjid an-Nabawi is a magnificent mosque in the holy city of Madinah and is among the most sacred sites to behold after the Umrah pilgrimage. This is the place where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was buried along with his two companions Hazrat Abu Bakar (رضي الله عنه) and Hazrat Umar (رضي الله عنه).
Millions of devotees visit this holy mosque yearly—it is also the second-largest mosque in the world. One of the best things to do during Umrah is to pray at this sacred mosque.
- Masjid al-Quba
Quba Mosque is situated on the outskirts of Madinah. It is known to be the first mosque in Islamic history. This mosque is one of the holiest sites to visit during Umrah; many pilgrims visit it yearly. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ built this mosque after the migration from Makkah to Madinah. Moreover, it is the second biggest mosque in the sacred city of Madinah. During the holy month of Ramadan, many people gather here.
- Masjid al-Qiblatayan
It is a stunning mosque in Madinah. Masjid al-Qiblatayn is where Allah commanded the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to change the direction of the Qibla from Jerusalem to Makkah. In the Islamic year 2 A.H. (623 CE), the mosque was built by Sawad ibn, meaning son of Ghanam ibn Ka’ab.
- Mount Uhud
One of the best things to do during the Umrah pilgrimage is to visit Mount Uhud. This mount is situated in Madinah and approximately 10 kilometers far away from Masjid an-Nabawi. The place where the Battle of Uhud took place holds immense cultural and religious importance—cemeteries of fighters close by who gave their lives in this battle.
- Jannat ul-Baqi
Madinah’s first cemetery, Jannatul Baqi, lies in the southeast of the Prophet’s Mosque. This significant Islamic site in the Hejazi region, also known as Baqi al-Gharqad, hosts the resting places of numerous companions and family members of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It is referred to as the Garden of Heaven.
- The Seven Mosques
There are seven mosques, at the Battle of Al-Khandaq (the Trench) site, situated west of Sela Mountain. It is the best example of one of these historical sites. Though there are six mosques, people call them “seven” because they include Al-Qiblatayn Mosque on the list of places to visit.
These mosques align from north to south based on their geographical positions. The mosques are as follows: Al-Fateh Mosque, Salman Al-Farsi Mosque, Abu Bakar Al-Siddiq Mosque, Umar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque, Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque and Fatima Mosque.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the sacred journey of Umrah isn’t just about fulfilling the prescribed rituals. It also provides information about the history of Islam woven into the holy cities of Makkah and Madina. Taking a perfect Umrah package allows you to fulfil your rituals efficiently and visit those sacred places comfortably.
These cities have many holy places, each important to millions of Muslims worldwide. Pilgrims can strengthen their spiritual connection and enlightenment from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to the revered Masjid al-Nabawi in Madinah.
