With nearly two billion followers, Islam originated in Arabia and spread throughout the world, becoming the world’s second largest religion after Christianity. While Mecca is its holiest site, there are other major Muslim sites—gilded mosques, mosaic-embedded shrines, and holy cities—that not only are architectural gems but provide intriguing insights into Islam’s history and culture. Here’s a look at five of Islam’s most important sites, each one a stunning icon of the faith.
1. Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Of course, Mecca tops the list. This most holy city was the birthplace of Muhammad, around A.D. 570, but it was sacred even before he came along. Adam and Abraham, potent figures from the Abrahamic traditions, have strong links to the city.
Abraham’s life, in particular, was a series of trials of his faith in God, and these inspire some of the ceremonies that Muslims perform during the hajj (pilgrimage), such as sacrificing an animal and sharing the meat with the poor.
The city’s centerpiece is an ancient granite cube, the Kaaba, standing within the Holy Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) and covered by the kiswa, a black cloth woven with verses from the Quran. Muslims across the globe bow in prayer toward the Kaaba five times daily, a ritual set by Muhammad in 624.
Muslims with the means and ability are expected to visit Mecca once in a lifetime for the hajj, known as the fifth pillar of Islam. They begin and end the hajj by walking around the Kaaba seven times.
