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Mecca

Muhammad, the last and greatest prophet in Islam was born in Mecca in 570 CE, since then Mecca hasbeen a very important place to Muslims. Mecca It lies in western Saudi Arabia in a dry, barren valley

that is surrounded by desolate hills and mountains. Mecca is so important that all healthy adult

Muslims, both sexes must make the Hajj (the annual pilgrimage to the city of Makkah) at least once in

their lives. The Hajj must take place in month Ramadan, it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. As the

Muslims reach the outskirts of Mecca, they wash and put on special clothes to symbolize the state of

purity. Once they are in Mecca, each of them walks around the Kabah seven times. Each Muslim tries

to kiss the Kabah at the bottom.

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Mosque

A mosque is a Muslim place of prayer. It is the belief of Muslims that anyone who helps in the building

of a mosque wins great favor with Allah.

He who builds a mosque for Allahs sake, Allah will build for him a house in paradise

Some mosques are simple assembly halls for prayer. Cathedral, or Friday, mosques are large, elaborate

buildings designed to house all the adult believers in a community. A mosque has a courtyard where

Muslims wash themselves in running water before entering the Mosque to pray. This ritual is called

wudu. Muslims leave their shoes at the door before entering the prayer room, this is a sign of respect

for Allah. A small platform where the Imam sits to give his Friday Sermon is called a minbar. It is at one

end of the prayer room. In a mosque, one will not find any seats or cushion. There are also no images

or pictures on the wall, because the Muslims holy book, the Quran does not allow any representation of

people or animals to prevent idol worship. Geometric designs are allowed. In some mosques, flat

surfaces are decorated with painted or tile patterns or with scriptural quotations in calligraphy. The

inner wall closest to the holy city of Mecca has a decorative niche or arch called a mihrab, which

indicates the direction Muslims must face when praying.

PROPHETMUHAMMAD