Expansion of Al-Masjid al-Haraam Over the Ages

The earliest projects to renovate and expand Al-Masjid al-Haraam to accommodate more pilgrims began during the time of ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, when Makkah was hit by a major flood that damaged the Ka’bah and the Maqam of Ibrahim (the Station of Ibrahim).

This spurred ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, to acquire land and houses adjoining the area to accommodate pilgrims, and he added doors and lamps to its buildings.

‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, may Allah be pleased with him, expanded the area further by buying some of the houses surrounding the mosque and demolishing them to increase the area of Al-Masjid Al-Ḥaraam.

He built an arcade under which worshippers could be shaded. This was the first arcade added to Al-Masjid Al-Ḥaraam.

‘Abdullaah ibn Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with them both, rebuilt the Ka‘bah according to its original dimensions after it caught fire after being hit by a catapult.

He increased the height of the Ka‘bah by 10 cubits and made an entrance and an exit at floor level, which corresponded to the description given by the Prophet(PBUH).

Muslim rulers over the years took care to honor the Ka‘bah and its pilgrims.

During the Caliphate of ‘Abd Al-Malik ibn Marwaan and other Umayyad caliphs, workers were appointed to work in the masjid and serve pilgrims.

Al-Masjid Al-Haram Expands Over Time

The Abbasid Caliph Abu Ja‘far Al-Mansoor expanded the mosque, tiled its floors with marble, built a wall around the Zamzam well to protect people from falling in it, and added another arcade to the mosque.

In the period of Al-Mahdi, the houses between the Ka‘bah and the Mas‘a (the area where pilgrims perform Sa’y) were demolished to connect the Ka’bah and the Mas’a, expanding the area of the mosque.

His successor, Al-Waathiq, added copper lantern posts to ease performing Tawaaf at night.

Muslim Rulers Who Served Pilgrims

Pilgrims would gather in the capital cities of Syria, Egypt, and Iraq to go to Makkah in groups and caravans comprising tens of thousands of pilgrims. [8]

The responsibility of providing state patronage for organizing such pilgrimage caravans was given to commanders known as Umara’ al-Hajj, who were in charge of protecting the pilgrims and securing funds and supplies for the journey. [9]

Haaroon Ar-Rasheed, the Caliph who was said to fight in Allah’s cause one year and perform Hajj the next alternately, was a great patron of scholars and erected a shade for scholars on the roof of Al-Masjid al-Haraam.

His wife, Zubaydah bint Ja’far, had a 900-mile road constructed from Koofah to Makkah called Darb Zubaydah (Zubaydah’s Road) in 780 C.E., which was one of the earliest routes created specifically for pilgrims.

Being particularly concerned about poorer pilgrims who traveled on foot, she added nine new rest stations at convenient intervals between existing stations, for a total of fifty-four rest stops.

All the new stations included a pool, some kind of shelter, and sometimes even a small mosque.[10]

Having witnessed the plight of poor pilgrims who had to pay a dirham for a small bottle of water, she had a series of wells and channels dug along the Hajj route from Wadi Nu’man to Makkah.

These wells, called ‘Ayn Zubaydah, were built at an estimated cost of 54 million dirhams, parts of which can be seen even today.

Ibn Jubayr, who traveled from Andalusia to Makkah, recorded:

“The pilgrims poured out the water they had and took of this good water, rejoicing at its abundance.

The people took joy in swimming and bathing in it and washing their garments. It was for them a day of rest upon the journey, a gift bestowed by God.” [11]