Islam Holy Sites

The holiest site in Islam, home of the Kaaba, and the destination for Hajj pilgrimage.

The second holiest mosque in Islam, containing the tomb of Prophet Muhammad.

India's most important Muslim shrine, visited by people of all faiths.

The sacred mountain where pilgrims gather for the most important day of Hajj.

A vast tent city where millions of Hajj pilgrims perform the symbolic stoning of the devil.

The first mosque built in Islam, founded by Prophet Muhammad upon his arrival in Medina.

The most sacred Islamic cemetery, containing the graves of the Prophet's family and companions.

The cave on the Mountain of Light where Prophet Muhammad received the first Quranic revelation.

The mosque where the direction of Islamic prayer was changed from Jerusalem to Mecca.

The cave where Prophet Muhammad hid from his Meccan pursuers during the Hijra migration.

A cluster of mosques at the site of the Battle of the Trench, a pivotal defense of Medina.

The mausoleum of Rumi, the great Sufi poet, and former lodge of the Whirling Dervishes.

The Privy Chamber of Topkapi Palace houses Islam's most sacred relics, including the Prophet's mantle and sword.

Istanbul's holiest mosque, built at the reputed burial place of the Prophet Muhammad's standard-bearer.

The world's oldest university and one of Islam's most important centers of learning.

Cairo's most visible mosque, dominating the Citadel with its Ottoman-style domes and minarets.

The fourth holiest city of Islam, with 82 mosques within ancient walls in eastern Ethiopia.

The third holiest mosque in Islam, where Prophet Muhammad led all prophets in prayer.

The iconic golden-domed shrine over the rock from which Muhammad ascended to heaven.

An Umayyad palace near Jericho with the 'Tree of Life' — one of the world's greatest floor mosaics.

A sacred site in the Judean Desert venerated as the tomb of the Prophet Moses.

The largest mosque in Africa, built dramatically over the Atlantic Ocean.

Marrakech's iconic 12th-century mosque whose minaret inspired the Giralda in Seville.

Morocco's holiest town, containing the tomb of the founder of the first Moroccan dynasty.

The world's oldest operating university, founded by a woman in 859 CE.

A remote 12th-century mosque in the High Atlas, the birthplace of the Almohad Empire.

A stunning royal mausoleum in Rabat housing the tombs of modern Morocco's founding kings.

The tomb of the founder of Morocco's current ruling Alaouite dynasty at the edge of the Sahara.

The most important of Marrakech's Seven Saints shrines, patron saint of the blind.

The shrine of the founder of Fes, considered the most important saint's tomb in the city.

The largest mosque in the world by area, housing the tomb of the eighth Shia Imam.

A stunning mosque in Shiraz famous for its kaleidoscopic stained glass and pink-tiled interior.

A dazzling mirrored mausoleum in Shiraz housing the tomb of two sons of the seventh Shia Imam.

One of Iran's oldest mosques, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture on Isfahan's grand square.

A mosque near Qom believed to have been built on the orders of the hidden Twelfth Imam.

The tomb of Fatimah bint Musa in Qom, one of Iran's holiest Shia shrines.

A masterpiece of Safavid architecture on Isfahan's Naqsh-e Jahan Square, famed for its dome.

An 18th-century Zand dynasty mosque in Shiraz with 48 carved pillars and exquisite tilework.

The tomb of Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam and fourth Caliph, in Najaf.

The shrine of Imam Husayn in Karbala, site of the pivotal Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.

A major Shia mosque in Baghdad housing the tombs of the seventh and ninth Imams.

A 9th-century Abbasid mosque famous for its massive spiral minaret, the Malwiya Tower.

A major Shia shrine in Samarra housing the tombs of the tenth and eleventh Imams.

A 12th-century Ayyubid castle with integrated mosque, built to defend against Crusader incursions.

A landmark white mosque on the Red Sea coast, named after the leader of the Arab Revolt.

Amman's iconic blue-domed mosque, one of the few in Jordan open to non-Muslim visitors.

A distinctive black-and-white striped Ottoman-style mosque atop one of Amman's seven hills.

A monumental Sunni mosque in downtown Beirut, inspired by Ottoman architecture.

A Crusader-era fortress on the Mediterranean with an integrated mosque, in ancient Sidon.

One of the oldest and largest mosques in the world, containing a shrine to John the Baptist.

A major Shia shrine near Damascus, believed to house the tomb of Zaynab bint Ali.

A dazzling white marble mosque in Abu Dhabi, one of the world's largest and most opulent.

The oldest known mosque in the UAE, a small mud-brick structure dating to the 15th century.

Dubai's most photographed mosque, built in Fatimid style and open to non-Muslim visitors.

Dubai's oldest neighborhood with historic mosques and traditional wind-tower architecture.

A museum in a restored souq showcasing Islamic art, science, and faith spanning 1,400 years.

Oman's principal mosque, a masterpiece of modern Islamic architecture in Muscat.

A mosque within the royal palace complex in old Muscat, flanked by Portuguese-era forts.

A UNESCO-listed 13th-century fort with integrated mosque in Oman's interior.

A pre-Islamic fortification with a mosque, dramatically set against the Al Hajar Mountains.

Kuwait's largest mosque, an architectural landmark covering 45,000 square meters.

An ornate mosque in Kuwait City known for its elaborate Persian-influenced interior design.

Bahrain's largest mosque, notable for its fiberglass dome and welcoming interfaith approach.

Qatar's national mosque and largest house of worship, a symbol of modern Qatari identity.

A uniquely designed mosque with colorful tilework in Qatar's premier cultural center.

A UNESCO fort guarding the ruins of an 18th-century pearling town with historic mosques.

One of the oldest mosques in the world, said to have been built during Prophet Muhammad's lifetime.

The 'Manhattan of the Desert,' a 16th-century mud-brick skyscraper city with historic mosques.

An iconic palace perched on a rock pillar near Sana'a, a symbol of Yemeni Islamic culture.

A mosque built by Queen Arwa al-Sulayhi, one of the most powerful women in Islamic history.

A stunning blue-tiled mosque believed by many to house the tomb of Imam Ali.

A 65-meter UNESCO-listed minaret in a remote Afghan valley, from the Ghurid dynasty.

A striking yellow two-story mosque in Kabul, unique for its European-influenced design.

One of Afghanistan's oldest and grandest mosques, renowned for its intricate tilework.

One of the finest public squares in the Islamic world, framed by three grand madrasas.

A monumental mosque built by Tamerlane in Samarkand, once the largest in Central Asia.

A stunning avenue of mausoleums in Samarkand, known as the 'Street of the Living King.'

A 12th-century minaret in Bukhara so magnificent that Genghis Khan spared it from destruction.

Tashkent's spiritual center, housing one of the world's oldest Quran manuscripts.

The largest mosque in Central Asia, a gleaming white structure in Kazakhstan's capital.

A UNESCO-listed Timurid mausoleum in Turkestan, a major Sufi pilgrimage destination.

An underground mosque carved into a remote cliff in western Kazakhstan, a Sufi pilgrimage site.

The remnant of an 11th-century minaret from the Karakhanid capital of Balasagun.

One of the largest mosques in Central Asia, featuring controversial inscriptions from the Ruhnama.

A UNESCO site of medieval mausoleums and the tallest pre-modern minaret in Central Asia.

The central mosque of Dushanbe and the largest in Tajikistan.

A reconstructed 9th-century Islamic palace and fortress in southern Tajikistan.

A reconstructed 13th-century mosque on the Caspian shore, one of the spiritual symbols of Baku.

A UNESCO-listed 18th-century palace with stunning shebeke windows and religious murals.

The largest mosque in the South Caucasus, a modern architectural landmark in Baku.