During the Islamic month of Muharram in 1447 AH (June-July 2025), over 60 million worshippers visited the Two Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia, encompassing the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. According to the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, the Grand Mosque welcomed approximately 27.5 million worshippers, including nearly 7.9 million performing Umrah rites, with 47,823 praying in the sacred Hateem area (Hijr Ismail).The Prophet’s Mosque in Medina recorded around 21.6 million worshippers, with over 1.1 million praying in the highly revered Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah, considered one of the gardens of Paradise, and more than 2.1 million visitors paying respects to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions.TL;DR:
- Over 60 million worshippers visited the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during Muharram 1447H (July–August 2025).
- The
Presidency of Religious Affairs coordinated extensive crowd management, safety, and service operations to handle the unprecedented numbers.
- Both mosques hold deep religious importance for Muslims worldwide, serving as focal points for worship, prayer, and spiritual renewal.
Detailed breakdown
- A total of 60,245,635 visitors were recorded during Muharram 1447 (Islamic year) .
Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque of Makkah) welcomed 27,531,599 worshippers, including 47,823 praying in the sacred Hijr Ismail (Hateem) area. Additionally, 7,857,270 pilgrims performed Umrah during the month .
Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah) counted 21,576,200 worshippers, with 1,122,368 praying in Al-Rawdah al-Sharifah, and 2,110,375 visitors entering to greet the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions .
These figures reflect not only religious devotion but also the Kingdom’s meticulous planning across infrastructure and service delivery to ensure pilgrimage ease.
Why the two holy mosques matter deeply
- Spiritual core of Islam: Masjid al-Haram houses the Kaaba, the direction (Qibla) of Muslim prayer worldwide, while Masjid an-Nabawi holds the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) mosque and resting place. Both sites are deeply embedded in Islamic devotion and history.
- A home of blessings: Al-Rawdah al-Sharifah in Madinah is revered, as emphasized by Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman al-Sudais, who stated that prayer there is “better than praying a thousand times elsewhere.”
- Custodial leadership: Saudi kings hold the title “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,” symbolizing the Kingdom’s sacred responsibility in preserving and expanding access to these spiritual landmarks.
- Service as worship: Continuous infrastructural investment, ranging from crowd management systems to pilgrim services—underscores the spiritual duty of hosting humanity at these sites.
As Muharram unfolded, more than 60 million pilgrims and worshippers circled the two holiest mosques in Islam, testifying to enduring faith and the Kingdom’s commitment to serving its global spiritual guests. These sacred hubs are pillars of Islamic devotion and Saudi leadership, continuously evolving to welcome believers with dignity and reverence.
FAQ
- 1. How many people visited the Holy Mosques in Muharram 1447 AH?
Over 60.24 million worshippers visited Makkah and Madinah during the month.
- 2. How many performed Umrah during Muharram?
A total of 7,857,270 pilgrims performed Umrah in Muharram.
- 3. How many prayed in Hijr Ismail at Masjid al-Haram?
47,823 worshippers prayed in the Hijr Ismail zone in Makkah.
- 4. How many entered Al-Rawdah in the Prophet’s Mosque?
1,122,368 people prayed in Al-Rawdah, while 2,110,375 visited to gain blessings by greeting the Prophet and his companions.
- 5. What makes Masjid an-Nabawi spiritually significant?
Reputed as better than a thousand prayers elsewhere, Al-Rawdah is deemed especially sacred, underscoring the elevated blessings associated with praying there.
