7 Islamic Sites on a Muslim Tourist’s Itinerary in Saudi Arabia

This is a small mountain in the southeast of Mecca and is the most important part of the Hajj Pilgrimage. This is the place where the Prophet Mohammed gave his farewell sermon and is also the site where Adam and Eve landed when they fell out of heaven. It is known as the Mount of Mercy and Muslims gather here during Hajj to pray to God to forgive them for their sins and give them strength – it is believed that once they do this part, they are wiped with a clean slate, their sins forgiven.

In Medina, this is one of the oldest mosques in the world (dating back to 623 CE). It's also the mosque where the Prophet told worshipers to change the direction in which they looked when they prayed. Up to that point, worshippers would look towards Jerusalem. As is the case with most of the religious sites, it has been renovated over time.

In Mecca, this is where Muslims come to perform the cleaning rituals and prayers, as well as change into the white towels for men before doing the Umrah, a small pilgrimage).

The oldest mosque in the world, it was built by the Prophet Mohammad in Medina following his escape from Mecca. It encompasses 56 domes and four minarets and can house up to 20,000 worshippers.

A huge mosque in the city of Madina, and built by the Prophet Mohammed, it is also where he and his close companions are buried. Each of the pillars, domes, and windows in the mosque tells a story and indicates the location of events of historical and spiritual significance. It is the second holiest site in Islam, after the Kaa'ba (which is housed in the Great Mosque) and is the third mosque to ever be built in Islam. It has been rebuilt and extended over hundreds of years so that is now one of the largest mosques in the world.

Situated in the holy city of Mecca by the Grand Mosque, the Kaa'ba is the house of God for Muslims. Meaning "cube" in Arabic, this is a shrine that predates Islam and where Muslims do the Hajj pilgrimage. It is believed to have been built by Abraham and when Angel Gabriel brought down the first part of the Qu'ran to Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) in 610, Muslims used to face Jerusalem when they prayed. But after the Prophet's decree, they face Mecca when they pray. It is believed that directly above the Kaa'ba in heaven is its replica and it's visited by angels.

Meaning the "sacred Mosque" this is the largest Mosque in the world and it surrounds the Kaa'ba. The mosque contains a few significant historical and religious sites, like: The black stone, well of Zamzam, Ibrahim's station, and the Safa and Marwa.