Everything You Need to Know About Masjid e Jinn in Makkah

There are more than 20,000 mosques in the holy city of Makkah. Some of them were constructed at the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Out of all these mosques, Masjid al Haram is the most important as it houses the sacred Kaaba. Each of the mosques has a unique story and history and knowing about them is vital for Muslims before visiting Makkah for pilgrimage.

Today, we will discuss Masjid e Jinn in Makkah. Many pilgrims visit this mosque after performing Umrah and a visit to it is also mentioned in most Umrah group packages as well. In this guide, we will cover the reason behind its unique and intriguing name, its history, location, and its structure.

Why is this Mosque called Masjid e Jinn?

The story behind the name of this mosque is quite interesting. The word "Jinn" means "djinn" or "genie," and they are supernatural beings that are created by Allah and only obey and listen to Him or to some humans, but only with the will of Allah.

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was once reciting the Holy Quran at the location of this mosque when the jinns in a large number gathered and started listening to the recitation. They were so moved by the wording of the Quran that they accepted Islam and gave their allegiance as well. The event is also mentioned in the Surah Jinn in the Holy Quran. Due to their allegiance to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), this masjid is also referred to as the mosque of Allegiance sometimes. In addition to these names, it is also known as Masjid al Ḥaras or simply Haras because Makkah's night guards assembled here during the early times.

History of Masjid e Jinn

The exact date for the start of the mosque’s construction and completion is not known but it is said that it was built in the 17th century and the original compound was an underground structure. At that time it did not have any minarets or large halls.

Another interesting thing about this mosque is that it is not clear who built the mosque. Some people and sources say that it was completely jinns while others mention that only humans did the work. A few even mention that both humans and jinns worked side by side in the completion of the mosque. Although humans did not see the jinns working with them, the legend goes that they completed some tasks that were too difficult for humans.

While the exact construction dates and details are not known, the record of all the renovations is fully documented. Many Umrah packages for groups have guide services that also tell all such details during their visit to this mosque. The most important renovation to happen was during the time of King Fahad in 2000 CE. During this time, the prayer halls were expanded and made more robust with the help of reinforced concrete materials. A new and big minaret was also added to the mosque.

Since then, small renovation works have been carried out from time to time as per the need basis. The current shape and structure of the mosque is quite beautiful and equipped with all the modern facilities such as AC halls, wudu spaces and prayer mats. Many people go here to offer two rakat nafal after performing their Umrah.

Location of Masjid e Jinn

The mosque is located right at the center of the holy city. You don't need any transport to visit this mosque if you book the best group Umrah deals because they come with hotels that are located in proximity to the Haram and Masjid e Jinn. It is right behind the Jannat al Mualla cemetery in Makkah. There are plenty of hotels and retail stores around the mosque and you can also get refreshments or go shopping between the prayer breaks.

Structure and Layout of Masjid e Jinn

The mosque is not too large and can only accommodate around 350 passengers. Its area is only 500 meter square but it offers separate halls for both men and women pilgrims.

The men’s prayer hall is around 270 square meters. It has a rectangular structure and a hemispherical dome at the top. It also comes with a pulpit for delivering sermons to prayers.

The women’s hall is a bit smaller, around 130 square meters, and is located on the northern side of the main prayer room. If you want to go there to offer prayers, make sure you leave early as it can get crowded quite quickly due to a smaller capacity.

Do Jinns Still Pray Inside the Mosque?

At the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), jinns used to pray here but no one is sure that they still come to the mosque to pray or not. As we already explained, only Allah and a few selected humans can see jinns or talk to them. So, you cannot believe anyone with 100% certainty if they tell you that jinns still visit this mosque or offer prayers here.

Other Mosques to Visit in Makkah

A pilgrim will obviously go to Masjid al Haram during his Umrah trip, as all the rituals are performed inside the mosque. However, there are many other mosques in Makkah that must be visited because praying here gives a lot of reward. Here are some of them.

Masjid e Nimrah

This mosque plays a central role during the days of Hajj as the sermon is delivered here. It is located in Wadi Uranah. Unlike Masjid e Jinn, it is located at some distance from Masjid al Haram and has a capacity to accommodate hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

Masjid al Khayf

You can pray here when you visit Mina during your Umrah or Hajj journey. The most special thing about this mosque is that more than 70 prophets including Prophet Moses and Muhammad (PBUH) prayed here. It can house more than 45,000 pilgrims.

Aisha Mosque

It is named after Hazrat Aisha, wife of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the daughter of Hazrat Abubakar (RA). The mosque is located around 8 kilometers north of Makkah and also serves as a Miqat point for Umrah pilgrims. As it is the closest Miqat point, there are a lot of pilgrims at any given time. People who are inside the Haram boundary use this mosque to wear Ihram. It is a well-maintained mosque and has all the facilities for the pilgrims.

Masjid al Hudaybiyah

This mosque is located at one of the most important sites in Islam as the Treaty of Hudaibiyah and the famous Pledge of Rizwan took place here. The Muslims at the time of signing the treaty with the Quraish were not happy because it required them to go back instead of performing Umrah. However, it proved extremely fruitful as they won the battle of Makkah after a year or so.

Final Words

If you want to explore all these mosques in Makkah after your Umrah, contact Muslims Holy Travel. They offer affordable group Umrah packages with ziyarat tours. Reach out now to book your slot.

I am Sitara Gul, born Muslim, right now living in United Kingdom. I am writing for Muslims holy Travel Halal holidays too.