The Arabic word for Makkah’s big Masjid, is "المسجدالحرام" (Al-Masjid al-Haram), or “Forbidden Mosque”.
‘الحرام’“Forbidden”? Does it really mean "forbidden"? Why?
The word "الحرام" (al-Haram) in Arabic does mean "forbidden" and in some cases it is translated as, "sacred." This is not quite right, because The Arabic word المقدس (al-Muqaddas) means “the sacred" or “the Holy." It is often used to describe something revered, sanctified, or purified.
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EXAMPLES:
- البيت المقدس (Al-Bayt Al-Muqaddas) → "The Holy House" (a reference to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem)
- الأرض المقدسة (Al-Ard Al-Muqaddasah) → “holy earth” (The Holy Land)
Commonly referring to something that is prohibited or sacred in Islam, especially in the context of places or actions that are not allowed.
In the context of the Masjid, "al-Haram" refers to the Sacred Mosque, as it is a holy and protected site where certain activities (such as fighting or hunting) are forbidden, and it holds great spiritual significance in Islam. The term is often used in the name of the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, the holiest mosque in Islam, where the Kaaba is located.
Does the name Forbidden Masjid translate, literally as, "Forbidden place to your make prostrations?"
The literal translation of "Forbidden Masjid" wouldn't quite convey "Forbidden place to your make prostrations."
The term "Masjid" (م س ج د) in Arabic refers to a "place of prostration" or "mosque," specifically a space where Muslims perform the act of sujud (prostration) during prayer. The word "Forbidden" is often translated as "Haram" (حرام), means "forbidden" or "prohibited" in the context of God’s Law.
So, "Forbidden Masjid" could be understood as "Masjid Haram" (مسجد حرام) — a term often used for the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, which is the holiest mosque in Islam. However, if you want to express "a forbidden place to make prostrations" more directly in Arabic, you might say:
"Makan Harem Sujud" (مكان حرام للسجود)
This means a "forbidden place to make prostrations"
The name "المسجد الحرام" means, more or less, "A place forbidden to many things, (implied: a safe place to make prostrations).
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"المسجد الحرام" (Al-Masjid al-Haram) means: "The Forbidden Mosque."
This refers to Masjid al-Haram in Makkah (Mecca), the holiest mosque in Islam, surrounding the Kabba.
The term haram means "forbidden" or "sacred," signifying the area around the mosque is a place where certain actions (combats, fights, hunting, and cutting trees) are prohibited — It is a sanctuary.
This name indicates a place of safety and peace, where Muslims gather to pray and make sujud (prostrations) to Allah.
The phrase doesn't mean "a safe place to make sujud (prostration),” it encapsulates the sanctity and safety of the mosque, as well as the reverence we have for the sacred places of worship and make our sujud (prostrations).
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Translate the word "forsaken" to Arabic
The word "forsaken" can be translated into Arabic as "مُهْمَل" (pronounced muhmal) or "مُتْرَك" (pronounced mutrak). These terms generally convey the sense of being abandoned or left behind.
In a religious or literary context, "مُهْمَل" can imply neglect or abandonment, and "مُتْرَك" also suggests being left or deserted.
Would you like to know more about a specific context for this word?
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The limited clothes worn on the day of Arafat during Hajj are called "Ihram" (إحرام). It consists of simple, white garments that are worn by men and women, symbolizing purity and the shedding of worldly concerns. For men, this typically includes two white unstitched pieces of cloth, while women wear a modest dress that covers their entire body, except for their face and hands.
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Does the root in Arabic "Ihram" (إحرام) and المسجد الحرام, and المسجد الحرام come from the same root in the Arabic language.
Yes, both "Ihram" (إحرام) and "Al-Masjid Al-Haram" (المسجد الحرام) come from the same root in Arabic: ح-ر-م (ḥ-r-m). This root generally carries the meaning of something being sacred, prohibited, or sanctified.
- Ihram (إحرام) refers to a state of spiritual purity and sanctity that a Muslim enters during the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage, signifying that they are in a state where certain actions are prohibited (such as cutting hair, engaging in physical intimacy, etc.). The concept of "Ihram" comes from the root meaning something that is forbidden or sacred in this specific context.
- Al-Masjid Al-Haram (المسجد الحرام) refers to the Sacred Mosque, the mosque in Mecca that houses the Ka'bah. "Haram" here means sacred or inviolable, as it is a place set apart for worship and reverence, where certain prohibitions apply as well.
So, both words share the root meaning of something sacred, inviolable, or prohibited, but they are used in different contexts: one for the state of spiritual sanctity during pilgrimage and the other for the sacredness of a physical place of worship.
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