Holiest sites in Islam

The holiest sites in Islam are predominantly located in the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant. While the significance of most places typically varies depending on the Islamic sect, there is a consensus across all mainstream branches of the religion that affirms three cities as having the highest degree of holiness, in descending order: Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. Mecca's Al-Masjid al-Haram (including the Kaaba), Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, and Al-Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem are all revered by Muslims as sites of great importance. Within the Levant, both the Umayyad Mosque in the city of Damascus and the Ibrahimi Mosque in the city of Hebron have held interchangeable significance as the fourth-holiest Islamic sites. After the consensus on the first three sites as well as further sites associated with the family of Muhammad, there is a divergence between Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims on the designation of additional holy sites. For Sunnis, sites associated with the Rashidun, other companions of Muhammad, and Biblical prophets hold a high level of significance (see holiest sites in Sunni Islam). For Shias, sites associated with the Imamah hold a high level of significance (see holiest sites in Shia Islam). As part of the Hajj, the majority of Muslims also visit the sites of Mina, Mount Arafat, and Muzdalifah, in addition to the Kaaba. Hejaz Hejaz is the region in the Arabian Peninsula where Mecca and Medina are located. It is thus where the Islamic prophet Muhammad was born and raised. The two holy cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina, are traditionally known as the Ḥaramayn, which is the dual form of ḥaram, thus meaning "The Two Sanctuaries". They should not be confused with Jerusalem and Hebron, which were also called Haramain during the Mamluk period. Another appellation of the Two Noble Sanctuaries is Ḥaramayn Ṭayyibayn. Mecca and Kaaba Mecca is considered the holiest city in Islam, as it is home to Islam's holiest site Kaaba ('Cube') in Al-Masjid Al-Ḥaram (The Sacred Mosque). Only Muslims are allowed to enter this place.