Most 3 Sacred Cities In Islam and Why

There are three sacred cities in Islam according to Islamic traditions which are Makkah, Madinah, and Jerusalem.

Makkah and Madinah are two cities of Saudi Arabia while Jerusalem is a city in Middle Eastern countries (Israel & Palestine).

These 3 cities are considered sacred for various reasons. A most common reason is that Masjid al-Haram is located in Makkah, Masjid al-Nabvi is situated in Madinah, and Masjid al-Aqsa is in Jerusalem on which all sects agree.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“Do not undertake a journey to visit any Mosque, but three: this Mosque of mine, the Mosque of al-Haram and the Mosque of Aqsa”

These are the three main sacred places of Islam.

• Makkah
• Madinah
• Jerusalem

Makkah

It is the holiest city of Islam for Muslims for all Muslims. This city is located 70 km inland from Jeddah, in a narrow valley 909 ft above sea level, 340 km south of Madinah. Our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) was born in Makkah and Islam religion began in this city.

Here are discussed in some holy places in Makkah.

      1. Millions of people visit the Makkah city during the Hajj and Umrah.

(Nowadays, it is easy for Muslims to perform the Hajj and Umrah after getting Hajj Packages and Umrah Packages.)

2. Al-Haram Grand Mosque is situated in Makkah.

3. House of Allah (Kaaba) is situated in Masjid al-haram where Muslims perform the Tawaf ritual.

4. The well of ZamZam water is also placed in this Mosque (Its water is considered purified by the Muslims).

5. There is a Place near the Kaaba building where Muslims offer two rakkat of prayers and it is called Maqaam E Ibrahim.

6. There are two hills Safa and Marwah in this Grand Mosque where Muslims Perform their Sai Rituals during Hajj and Umrah.

7. Jamarat is the three stone Pillars(Jamarat al Wusta, Jamarat al Aqab, Jamarat al Ula), where pilgrims throw the stones on these pillars during Hajj because it is the compulsory ritual.

8. Jannat Ul Mala is a Holy graveyard which is situated in the valley to the east of Al haram mosque.

9. Masjid Ayesha(Masjid e Taneem) is constructed at this a place where Ummul Momineem assumed her Ihram for Umrah.

10. Masjid Al Jin is also located right at this place in Makkah where the holy Prophet (PBUH) drew a line for Abdullah Bin Masood (RA) to protect him.

11. Masjid Shajarah (Masjid of the Tree) is located opposite to the Masjid Al Jin. It is located at this place where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) called upon a tree and it came to him.

12. Cave of Hira lies about two miles from the Kaaba where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received the first revelations of the Holy Quran by Angel (Gabriel).

Madinah

Madinah is a second sacred city in Islam. It is situated in the Hejaz region of Western Saudi Arabia about 340km north of Makkah and 190 km from the Red Sea coast.

Here are discussed in some holy places in Madinah

1. Masjid-e-Nabwi is the first mosque established by the Prophet (PBUH) after his arrival in Madinah. It is the second of the largest mosques in the world.

 The grave of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his two companions- Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) & Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) is in al-Nabavi Mosque.

3. There is another very special area in the mosque which is known as the Riadhul Jannah (Garden of Paradise) and its location is between the Sacred Chamber and the Pulpit.

4. Quba Mosque is one of the must-visit places in Madinah. It is the second-largest mosque in Madinah After the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Mosque.

5. Uhud mount is located in Makkah and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) once said, “Uhud is a mountain that loves us and we love it.”

6. Masjid Al-Ahzaab (Masjid Al-Fath) is located at the western corner of Jabal Sala.

7. Al-Madinah Museum is located on King Abdul Aziz Road in Madinah. This is the first and the oldest museum in Madinah.

8. Wadi e Jin (Al Baida) is located about 41 kilometers from northwest of Madinah.

9.  Masjid Al-Qiblatain is located on the north-west of the city of Madinah, on Khalid bin al-Waleed road. It is famous for its Twins mihrabs and huge Prayer Hall. The verse of the Holy Quran about changing the Qibla direction revealed in this mosque.

10. Jannat-ul-Baqi is the Grave Yard of Madinah. It is located to the southeast of the Prophet's Mosque, which contains the graves of some of Muhammad,s (PBUH) family and friends.

11. It is the place where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) planted three hundred date palms to free Salman Farsi (RA) from slavery. Garden of Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) is located near Masjid Quba.

Jerusalem

There is something special about this city. There are three notable religions, in particular, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, which consider this city sacred. Jerusalem has the Mosque of Al-Aqsa (Arabic name for Jerusalem).

1. Jerusalem was the first Qibla of Muslims to perform their prayers.

2. It is Jerusalem that Muhammad (peace be upon him) visited during his night journey and ascension (called Isra and Miraj)

3. During staying in Jerusalem at night of Miraj, the Prophet met with previous prophets and led them in prayer.

4. The believers of religions Islam, Christian, and Judaism believe that this city was the Center of Monotheism where various Prophets taught that there is one God, and one God only. Therefore this city is holy across the Muslims, Christians, and Jewish.

Abu Darda reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said a prayer in the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca) is worth 100,000 prayers; a prayer in my mosque (in Medina) is worth 10,000 prayers; and prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque is worth 1,000 prayers", more than in any other mosque.