Historical Sites - Mina Holy Site

Mina Holy Site is a valley surrounded by mountains

6 KM2

Far from the Holy Mosque

7.82 KM2

Estimated area of Mina Holy Site

1

The Mina Holy Site is situated to the east of Makkah, with "Jamrat Al Aqaba" marking its northwest boundary and "Wadi Mahasar" to the southeast.

2

It is the place of performing rituals and staying overnight for pilgrims on the day of Tarwiyah, Eid Al-Adha, and Tashriq days.

3

Ibn Abbas said that Mina was named as such (with "i”), because when Gabriel (peace be upon him) was about to part from Adam (peace be upon him), he asked him, "What do you wish for?" Adam replied, "I wish for Paradise.", knowing that the word "wish" is the English equivalent of the Arabic word "yatamanna" from which the name "Mina" is derived. Another explanation, according to different narrations, is that “Mina” was named due to the blood that is shed there on the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm Al-Nahr).

Al-Khayf Mosque:

Al-Khayf, "with an open 'kha' and a silent 'ya'," refers to the area that slopes down from mountain's height and rises above water's path. This is where Al-Khayf Mosque gets its name.

Al-Khayf Mosque was built on the spot where the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) stayed in Mina, and where his tent was pitched on the Day of Tarwiyah.

  • 1. The Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) spent the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm al-Nahr) and the three days of Tashreeq at Al-Khayf.
  • 2. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave a farewell sermon there.
  • 3. It contains several arcades, including the Qibla arcade, the eastern arcade, the northern arcade, and the southern arcade.

Masjid Al-Bayah (Al-Aqabah Pledge Mosque)

  • 1. At Al-Aqabah in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, in June 633 AD, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was pledged allegiance by 73 men and two women from the Ansar.
  • 2. The second pledge at Al-Aqabah was a commitment to fight both Arab and Non-Arab enemies and to obey the Prophet (peace be upon him).
  • 3. The mosque was named "Masjid Al-Bayah" after the place of the pledge and "Al-Aqabah" because of its proximity to Jamrat Al-Aqabah.
  • 4. It is located 4 km from the Holy Mosque and lies at the base of Mina Valley.
  • 5. The mosque is 500 meters away from Jamrat Al-Aqabah
  • 6. and is situated in a ravine of Mount Thabir on the left side of the entrance to Mina area.

Jamarat (Stones)

  • 1. A structure located in Mina that includes the three wells for Jamarat throwing (Stoning of the Devil). It is equipped with entry and exit pathways to enable pilgrims to perform the ritual of throwing the stones and then return to their camps.
  • 2. The three Jamarat are named "Mina" because they are the sites where the stones are thrown. They are the Small Jamrah (Jamrat al-Sughra), the Middle Jamrah (Jamrat al-Wusta), and Jamrat al-Aqabah, also known as the Large Jamrah (Jamrat al-Kubra).
  • 3. Each of the three stones was erected in the place where the devil appeared to Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and he stoned him.
  • 4. The ritual of throwing stones at the three Jamarat has remained a tradition since the time of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and was renewed by our Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

Thabir Mountain

  • 1. A mountain in Mina named after a man from Hudhayl tribe who was buried there. It is located on the left of the road to Arafat.
  • 2. It is the mountain where the ram that was sacrificed in place of Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him) descended.
  • 3. The peak, known as "Dhat Al-Qatada," lies to the east of the Holy Mosque and faces the Cave of Hira.
  • 4. It overlooks Al Ma’abadah area from the east and Mina Holy site from the north.

Majra Al-Kabsh (Path of the Ram)

  • 1. In this location, pilgrims during Hajj annually recall the story of the sacrifice of Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him) and descent of the ram.
  • 2. This story epitomizes the highest levels of devotion and submission to God's command.
  • 3. Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) had a vision in which he was sacrificing his son. After seeing this vision repeatedly, he submitted to will of Allah.
  • 4. When Ismail (peace be upon him) lay down to be sacrificed, Allah's mercy intervened, and a ram was sent down to be sacrificed instead.
  • 5. Some historical sources mention that Lubabah bint Abdullah ibn Abbas built a mosque at the site of this event, known as "Masjid Al-Kabsh" or "Masjid Al-Nahr," though no trace of it remains today.
  • 6. The site between the Large and Middle Jamarat has remained known as "Majra Al-Kabsh" (Path of the Ram).
  • 7. Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that the rock in Mina, located at the base of Thabir Mountain, is where Ibrahim (peace be upon him) sacrificed the ram that descended from Thabir to be offered in place of his son. The ram had distinctive eyes and made the sound of a sheep, and so Ibrahim sacrificed it.