Rafiq-ul-Haramayn - Islamic School System - Dawat-e-Islami

Rafiq-ul-Haramayn 55
Explanation of Ḥaram
People generally assume that only Masjid-ul-Ḥarām is Ḥaram. No
doubt Masjid-ul-Ḥarām is also within Ḥaram but Ḥaram has spread
out 1 up to several miles around Makka-tul-Mukarramaĥ with its
limits fixed in all directions.
For example, there lies a police check point on the road about 23
kilometres away from Makka-tul-Mukarramaĥ towards Jeddah. On
this road, there is a sign board that read: ‘
َ ۡ
لِل ۡ مُسلِمِ‏ فَق
ۡ ’ (i.e. only for
Muslims). Ahead of it is Bīr-e-Shamīs 2 , i.e. Ḥudaybiyaĥ wherefrom
the limit of Ḥaram starts. According to the latest measurement made
by a historian, the perimeter of Ḥaram is 127 kilometres, whereas its
total area is 550 square kilometres. (Tārīkh Makka-tul-Mukarramaĥ, pp. 15)
(The administration often makes new roads and routes by building
tunnels, cutting mountains and deforestation, causing the area of the
sacred territory to be increased or decreased. Therefore, the correct
limits of Ḥaram are the very same as stated in blessed Aḥādīš.)
Entering Makkaĥ
‏َط ني
Ṫĥanḋī ṫĥanḋī ĥawā Ḥaram kī ĥay
Bārish Allah kay karam kī ĥay
Gentle breeze is blowing in Ḥaram
Rain of mercy is showering in Ḥaram
(Wasāil-e-Bakhshish, pp. 124)
Anyway, enter the limits of Ḥaram with your head bowed and eyes
lowered with humility and shame for the sins committed. Recite
1
Obviously, the population of Makka-tul-Mukarramaĥ is increasing constantly, extending
it beyond the limits of Ḥaram in some directions. For example, Tan’īm is outside the
limits of Ḥaram but probably within the municipality of Makka-tul-Mukarramaĥ.
2
Name of a well