Mekkah or Mecca with its full name Mecca Al Mukarramah, is located approximately 73 km east of Jeddah. Mecca is the birthplace of Prophet Ismail a.s. and also Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. This is also where the revelation came down to Prophet Muhammad s.a.w, which is in Gua Hira in Jabal Nur.
The city of Makkah is located 600 km from the city of Madinah and more than 200 km from the main terminal city to Makkah, which is Jeddah. The city is situated in a narrow valley and surrounded by mountains, with the Ka'aba building as the center of the city. The temperature in summer in this city is very hot and reaches up to 40 °C (104 °F).
In Mecca, there is the Masjid al-Haram where the Kaaba is located, which serves as the Qibla for Muslims all over the world.
The Masjid Al-Haram is the largest mosque in the world, located in the city of Mecca surrounded by hills. The construction of the Kaaba, which is the qibla of Muslims, is located in Masjid al-Haram.
Allah s.w.t said in Surah al-Imran verse 96, which means, "Indeed, the first house of worship built for mankind is the House of God in Mecca, which is blessed and a guide for mankind."
The reward of praying in Masjid al-Haram is 100,000 times compared to praying in other places. The word "Masjid al-Haram" is mentioned 15 times in the Quran.
In 2017 (1438 AH), Masjid al-Haram was the focal point of a highly successful Hajj season that saw more than 2.35 million pilgrims gather in Makkah. This particular year was significant as it marked a period of intense transformation and modernization for the mosque.
The Bab Ajyad (باب أجياد) or Ajyad Gate, is named after the two valleys of Ajyad, situated south-east of the Masjid al-Haram. It is one of the smaller, single portal gates of the mosque complex. Gates no. 7 and 8 are also part of the same group,providing electrical escalator facilities to access the upper part of the Haram.
KAA'BA
The Kaaba, sometimes referred to as al-Ka'ba al-Musharrata is a stone building in the center of Masjidilharam. It is considered by Muslims to be the Bayt Allah (House of God) and is the qibla (direction of prayer) for Muslims around the world. In early Islam, Muslims faced in the general direction of Jurusalem as the qibla of their prayers before changing to Kaaba,as a result of a Quranic verse revelation to Muhammad (PBUH).
According to Islam, the Kaaba was rebuilt several times throughout history, most famously by Prophet Ibrahim a.s and his son Ismail a.s.
Key Developments in 2017
1. The "Third Saudi Expansion"
During Hajj 2017, the massive Third Saudi Expansion (initiated by King Abdullah and continued by King Salman) was in a high-activity phase.
- Capacity: The expansion aimed to eventually increase the mosque's total capacity to over 2 million worshippers.
- Infrastructure: Significant work was visible on the northern side of the mosque, including new prayer floors, bridges, and pedestrian tunnels designed to ease the flow of the massive crowds.
- Technology: 2017 saw an increased reliance on digital systems, including nearly 1,000 high-tech cameras and sensors used for real-time crowd management and security.
2. Restoration of the Ottoman Porticos
A notable architectural event in 2017 was the ongoing restoration and re-installation of the historic Ottoman porticos. These arches had been temporarily removed to facilitate the expansion of the Mataf (the area for circumambulation around the Kaaba) and were being carefully integrated back into the modern structure.
3. Resumption of Construction
After a temporary halt following the tragic crane collapse in 2015, major construction work officially resumed in full force around September 2017, immediately following the Hajj season, to finalize the northern expansion and the surrounding service complexes.
HAJJ 2017 BY THE NUMBERS
Total Pilgrims : 2,352, 122
International pilgrims : approximately 1.75 million
Domestic pilgrims : Approximately 600,000
The olders Pilgrims : Mariah Marghani Muhammad (104 years old from Indonesia)
Safety Status : Reported as a "Smooth, incident-free" pilgrimage.
Rituals at the Masjid al-Haram
During Hajj, the mosque serves as the site for several critical rituals:
- Tawaf al-Qudum: The "Arrival Circumambulation" performed when pilgrims first reach Makkah.
- Sa’i: Walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa, which are now housed entirely within the air-conditioned complex of the mosque.
- Tawaf al-Ziyarah: An obligatory circumambulation performed after returning from Mina.
- Tawaf al-Wida: The "Farewell Circumambulation" performed just before leaving Makkah.
Note: 2017 was also characterized by extreme heat, with Saudi security forces using water misting systems and specialized flooring (heat-resistant marble) to keep the Mataf area cool for the millions of barefoot pilgrims.
The vast majority of Malaysian pilgrims at Masjidilharam were managed by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), which is internationally recognised for its gold-standard organisation.
MALAYSIAN EXPERIENCE AT MASJID AL-HARAM
During the 2017 (1438 AH) Hajj season, Malaysian pilgrims were a prominent and well-regarded presence at Masjid al-Haram. This year was particularly significant for the Malaysian delegation as it marked the restoration of their full Hajj quota and a year of high-tech hospitality.
Strategic Accommodation
Malaysian pilgrims were typically housed in "Maktab" (accommodation zones) located in areas like Misfalah and Ajyad.
- Proximity: Many Malaysian hotels were within a 600m to 900m radius of the mosque.
- Identification: Malaysians were easily identified by their Lanyard IDs which helped TH officials and Saudi security assist them if they became lost in the massive crowds.
Health & Welfare Services
The extreme heat in 2017 (reaching 45°C) was a challenge.
- TH Medical Centres: Tabung Haji operated specialized medical clinics near the mosque to treat Malaysians for heat exhaustion and respiratory issues (commonly known as the "Hajj cough").
- Guidance: Mutawwifs (guides) provided by TH were stationed at specific gates of Masjid al-Haram to help elderly Malaysian pilgrims perform their Tawaf and Sa'i safely.
DAILY LIFE FOR MALAYSIAN IN MEKKAH
- Cuisine : TH provided Malaysian-style meals (rice, sambal and curry) to ensure pilgrims remained healty and "at home".
- Groups often performed Tawaf in the late evening or early morning to avoid the peak afternoon sun.
- Many pilgrims used local SIM cards or TH's internal messaging systems to stay in touch with family in Malaysia.
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The 2017 Malaysian delegation was so well-organized that they were frequently cited by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah as one of the most disciplined and cooperative groups of pilgrims in the world.
Compiled by:
Hj Zulheimy Maamor
Hajj 2017 Pilgrim
30/12/2025: 3.10 p.m
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