Masjid al Haram in Makkah has been expanded and renovated many times to meet the modern standards and increasing number of pilgrims. Each year, millions of Muslims travel to this mosque for their Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. If you are one of them and traveling to Makkah anytime soon for Umrah, then this guide will prove quite useful to you.
It lists all the facilities available for pilgrims inside the mosque. These facilities have been carefully selected by the local authorities to make pilgrimage smooth and stress-free. Whether you are traveling on your own or via an Umrah deal, such as Umrah packages Manchester, these services help enhance your experience. Let’s explore the different facilities available inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Top 7 Services and Facilities for Pilgrims inside Masjid al Haram
1. Guide Signs
Masjid al Haram is the largest mosque in the world and has an area of 400,800 square meters. It is easy for pilgrims to get lost while visiting it. Hence, it is very important to guide pilgrims in the right direction. To do this, the mosque’s management uses hundreds of signboards and guide signs.
Portable guide signs are used to tell people about the closure and opening of different areas. These signs can be easily moved from one place to another due to their design and as they are very tall, you can see them from a distance. They are extremely helpful in crowd management.
Area signs are also placed to tell pilgrims about designated areas such as toilets, wudu areas, Mataf and water closets. These signs are properly lit and have English and Arabic texts.
On all the gates of the mosque, signs are affixed to tell pilgrims about the gate name and number. These signs also tell whether the gate is for males, females, entry or exit pilgrims. A QR code is also affixed to each gate which pilgrims can scan using their phones.
2. ZamZam Water Coolers
The water well that erupted after Hazrat Hajra’s running between Safa and Marwa is now a part of the Holy Mosque. Known as ZamZam, it has miraculous properties and is one of the most cherished things people bring from their pilgrimages.
Inside the Masjid al Haram and Masjid e Nabvi, there are tens of large-sized coolers that provide ZamZam water to pilgrims. These coolers are refilled every now and then to ensure that the water never runs out. The coolers are marked with cooled and uncooled signs.
Alongside each cooler, drinking cups are placed that are one-time use. Once you drink water, dispose of the cup in the bin near to the cooler. Drinking ZamZam is a sunnah after doing tawaf and it also refreshes your body.
3. Escalators
There are three floors in Masjid al Haram to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims. All of them are connected with escalators for the easy access of pilgrims.
When accessing the escalators, pilgrims are requested to follow all the necessary safety precautions. If you want to place a wheelchair on the escalator, make sure you do it with the help of a competent person. If you see an elderly person who is not comfortable with the escalator, help them until they get off.
4. Wheelchairs
Due to the demanding nature of the pilgrimage, many elderly or physically weak people often opt for a wheelchair. Understanding this, Masjid al Haram offers wheelchairs to pilgrims with some security deposit, which they can get back after handing over the wheelchair.
If you want a free wheelchair, head over to the eastern courtyard located near to the public transport entrance. The other two places from where you can get a free wheelchair are the southern courtyard (near King Abdulaziz Endowment) and western courtyard (Al-Shabika entrance).
In addition to the manual wheelchairs, electric ones are also available. You can get them from four different places inside Masjid al Haram. These places include:
- The eastern courtyard (Al-Qashashiya rooftop)
- The southern courtyard (Ajyad Bridge leading to the first floor)
- Bab Ajyad escalator
- Western courtyard (Shabika Bridge)
The wheelchairs are quickly taken, especially the electric ones, so it is better to book in advance through the Tanaqqul app. If you are using an electric wheelchair, make sure you follow all the rules and regulations and drive it only on the designated tracks.
5. Fatwa Services
Inside the mosque, you can get a fatwa for your religious problems. There are 10 designated offices inside the mosque and 9 telephone booths that connect you with religious leaders, ulema, and shariah court officers.
This facility is available 24/7 and 365 days a year. However, there are a lot of people standing in line almost all the time. So, be patient and your turn will come. A recent addition to the fatwa service is the robot guidance, which is limited only to female pilgrims and can be found only inside the women’s praying areas.
6. Special Services for Hearing and Speech Impaired Pilgrims
Pilgrims with hearing or speech problems are also offered special assistance inside the mosque. There are many guards inside the mosque who are trained to communicate in sign language and promptly address the issues faced by such people.
For the people with hearing disabilities, there is a special prayer room located close to the mosque’s gate number 93. The Friday sermons and lessons are translated into sign language for such people.
7. Sanitation Facilities
There are numerous toilet and ablution centers located in corners of the outer courtyards of the mosque. All the toilets are cleaned periodically by the janitors to ensure hygiene and proper sanitation. There are more than enough toilets inside these buildings. There are hardly any lines except during the days of Hajj or Ramadan.
Final Words
These facilities, along with the others ensure a seamless experience for all pilgrims. If you are looking for a travel agency to take care of the logistics of your Umrah trip, reach out to Muslims Holy Travel. They offer the best Umrah packages in the UK.
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