The Sacred Precincts of Makkah include the area around Makkah, marked by stones
a meter high, on all roads leading to, or from Makkah.
On the northern side Haram Makkah extends to Tan'im, six kilometers from the Sacred
Mosque, and on the southern side to Adah, twelve kilometers from Makkah. On its
eastern side, sixteen kilometers away, lies al-Ji'ranah, while on its northeastern
border lies the valley of Nakhlah, which is fourteen kilometers from Makkah. On
the western border lies Al-Shmaisi, (This place used to be called Al-Hudaibiya.
It was here that the Prophet (peace be upon him) took the famous pledge - bai 'at
ridwan - from his Companions. The Battle of Al-Hudaibiya is named after it) fifteen
kilometers from Makkah.
Muhibbuddin At-Tabari reported from Az-Zuhari from Obaidullah bin Abdullah bin 'Utba
and said: "Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) put up markers for the Sacred Precincts
as shown to him by Gabriel (peace be upon him)." These markers were undisturbed
until the time of Qusaiy, who renewed them. After that the Prophet (peace be upon
him), in the year of the conquest of Makkah, sent Tamim bin Osaid al-Khozai'i to
refurbish them. Later 'Umar appointed four men from Quraish, Muhrama bin Nawfal,
Sa'id bin Yarbu', Howaiteb bin Abdil-Uzza, and Azhar bin Abd-Auf, to renew these
markers. Subsequently, first Mu'awiyah and then Abdul-Malik refurbished them.
In the Sacred Precincts of Madinah killing a game and cutting its trees is prohibited
as it is in the case of Haram Makkah. Jabir bin Abdullah reported that Allah's Messenger
(peace be upon him) said: "Ibrahim (peace be upon him) made Makkah Haram (sacred),
and I declare Madinah and what lies between its two black tracts Haram. No game
(within this area) is to be killed, nor any adah - a thorny plant - growing therein
is to be cut." (Muslim)
Ali reported that concerning Madinah the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Its
plants must not be cut, its game must not be frightened, articles lost in it must
not be picked up except by someone making announcement to find the owner, nor is
any man to bear arms for fighting in it. Its trees must not be cut, except when
(required for) feeding one's camels." (Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud) Both Bukhari
and Muslim report that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Madinah is Haram (Sacred)
and its Sacred Precincts extend from 'Eer to Thowr." (Eer is a mountain at the miqat
for Madinah, and Thowr is a mountain near Uhud on the north) Another agreed upon
hadith reported from Abu Hurairah says, "The Prophet (peace be upon him) declared
the area between the two black tracts of Madinah as sacred and then extended it
to about twelve miles around Madinah." The Prophet (peace be upon him) permitted
the residents of Madinah to cut trees for making plows, carts and other necessary
tools and equipment. He also permitted them to cut its grass to feed their animals.
Ahmad reported from Jabir bin Abdullah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"The area between two black tracts of Madinah is a Haram (a sanctuary). No tree
must be cut (within this area) except for use as fodder for animals."
Unlike this the residents of Makkah, who have sufficient supply for their animal
feed, are not permitted to cut even the grass to feed their animals. The residents
of Madinah are not self-sufficient and are therefore allowed to use trees and grass
for their animals.
But killing the game or cutting off the trees in the sanctuary of Madinah carries
no penalty nor requires any compensation, although doing so is a sinful act.
Anas reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Madinah is a sanctuary
from such and such a place to such and such a place, and (within this area) its
trees shall not be cut, nor any (unlawful) act committed, and whoso does so on him
shall rest the curse of Allah, His angels and the entire mankind." (Bukhari)
It is permissible to pick up and use branches of a fallen tree within this sanctuary.
Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqas reported that while on his way to his palace at 'Aqiq he found
a slave cutting off a tree or hitting and shaking it for leaves. Sa'ad seized whatever
the slave had gathered. The owners of the slave went to Sa'ad and asked him to return
to them what he had seized from the slave. Sa'ad said, "Allah forbid that I should
return something which Allah's Messenger has given me as a gift." And saying this
he refused to return it to them. (Muslim)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "If you find anyone hunting a wild game within
the sacred bounds of Madinah you may seize it from him." (Abu Dawud, and Al-Hakim,
who considers it a sound hadith) This is reported by Abu Daw'ud, and Al-Hakim, who
considers it a sound hadith.
Ibn Taimiyyah said, "There is no other sanctuary in the whole world besides these
two, not even the Al-Aqsa Mosque of Jerusalem, nor any other, even though some ignorant
people call them Haram al-Maqdis and Haram al-Khalil. By consensus Haram Makkah
is the only Haram (sanctuary). About Madinah there is no such consensus. A majority
of scholars, however, hold that Madinah is also a sanctuary, as mentioned in ahadith
on this subject.
Muslim scholars disagree about a third sanctuary, namely, Wuja, a valley of Al-Ta'if.
Ash-Shafi'i regards it a sanctuary. Ash-Shawkani agrees with him, but the majority
of the scholars disagree and do not consider it a sanctuary."
The majority of scholars believes Makkah has preference over Madinah.
Abdullah bin 'Adi bin Al-Hamra reported that he heard Allah's Messenger (peace be
upon him) saying, "By Allah ! You (O Makkah) are the best of Allah' s land, and
most beloved to Him. Had I not been driven away from you, I would have never departed
(from you)." (Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Tirmizhi) Ibn 'Abbas said: "Allah's Messenger
(peace be upon him) addressed Makkah saying, 'How nice a place you are! You are
the most beloved place to me! If my people had not driven me away from you I would
have never departed (from here) to live somewhere else."(Tirmizhi considers it a
sound hadith)
One may enter Makkah without putting on a garb of ihram if one does not intend to
make Hajj or 'Umrah. One may be a frequent visitor to Makkah as a wood-cutter, a
grass cutter, a water carrier, or a hunter, etc., or not a frequent visitor such
as a merchant or a visitor. Regardless of whether one enters it in a state of security
or fear, all such people may enter Makkah without ihram if they do not intend to
perform Hajj or 'Umrah. This is Ash-Shafi'i's opinion which, of his two views, is
the more accurate one, and is also supported by his companions.
Muslim reported that Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) entered Makkah wearing
a black turban and without an ihram. It is said about Ibn 'Umar that he returned
after travelling part of the way and entered Makkah without ihram.
Both Ibn Shihab and Ibn Hazm hold entering Makkah without the ihram garb permissible.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) set the markers (Mawaqit) around Makkah only for
those who intended to perform Hajj or 'Umrah.
Wearing ihram is not compulsory for those who pass these markers if they do not
intend Hajj or 'Umrah. Allah and His Prophet (peace be upon him) did not forbid
entering Makkah without ihram. To insist on it is obligating people to which they
are not obligated by Shari'ah.
It is desirable for those intending to visit Makkah to do the following:
1. To take a bath. It is reported that Ibn 'Umar used to take a bath before entering
Makkah.
2. To spend the night at Zhi Tuwa, a valley in the direction of Al-Zaher. The Prophet
(peace be upon him) used to spend the night there. Nafi' said: "Ibn 'Umar used to
do the same.'' (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)
3. To enter Makkah from the upper hill called "Koda". The Prophet (peace be upon
him) entered Makkah from the direction of Al-Mu'allah. Whoever is able to follow
this path, should do so, but one commits no sin if one does not do it.
4. To hurry to the Sacred Mosque as soon as one deposits one's belongings in a safe
place. One must enter the Sacred Mosque from the gate known as Bab Bani Shayba -
Bab us-Salam - and say humbly and sincerely: "A'uzhu billahil azeem wa biwajihil
kareem wa sultanihil qadeem , minash shaltanir rajeem. Bismillah allahumma salli
'ala muhammadin wa alihi wa salam, Allahumma ghifirli zunubi waftah li abwaba rahmatika
(I seek refuge with Allah the Supreme, I seek refuge with His Honor and Eternal
Glory, with His Everlasting Authority, from the cursed devil. O Allah, Bless Muhammad
and the family of Muhammad! O Allah! Forgive my sins and open Your doors of mercy
for me)."
5. To raise one's hands on first sight of the Ka'bah and say: "Allahumma zid hazhal
bayti tashrifan wa ta 'zeeman wa takriman wa muhabatan wa zid min sharfihi wa karamihi
mimman hajjahu au 'itamarahu tashrifan wa takriman wa ta'zeeman wa birran (O Allah!
increase this House's honor, dignity, respect and grant all those who come to it
for Hajj or 'Umrah honor, dignity, respect and righteousness.)" And say, "Allahumma
antas salam, wa minkas salam, fahayyina rabbana bis-salam (O Allah! You are the
Peace, from You is the Peace. O Allah! Greet us with the Peace)."
6. Then head to the Black Stone and kiss it quietly. If kissing is not possible,
then one may touch it with a hand and kiss the hand, and if even this is not possible
then one may just point to it with a hand.
7. Then begin tawaf (circumambulation) starting from the Black Stone.
8. One does not have to perform salutation prayer to the Sacred Mosque. because
tawafof Ka'bah is its salutation. If, however, it is time for the prescribed daily
prayers, then one must offer them with the congregation. The Prophet (peace be upon
him) said, "When a prescribed prayer is in progress then no other prayer except
the prescribed prayer is valid." Similarly, if one is afraid to miss a prescribed
prayer then one must offer it first before anything else.
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