Masjid al-Jinn

Masjid al-Jinn is a small historic mosque on Al Masjid Al Haram Road in the As Sulaymaniyah area, north of Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Tradition links the site with the jinn who listened to the Prophet Muhammad reciting the Quran, an event referred to in the Quran, and the mosque is therefore also associated with the name Masjid al-Haras or related titles in some accounts. Access is for Muslims only. The building is modest compared with the Grand Mosque, with a simple prayer hall, a plain facade and a short minaret, and it serves local worshippers as well as pilgrims who pass by on their way through the northern districts. It opens for the prayer times, and visitors usually stop to pray or to take a few moments to reflect rather than for an extended tour. A visit typically lasts fifteen to thirty minutes. The site lies within about a twenty-minute walk of the Grand Mosque, close to the Jannat al-Mu'alla cemetery, so the two stops are often combined in a short walking route through the older part of the city. Taxis also reach the mosque easily. Because the mosque is small, it can feel crowded during congregational prayers, especially on Fridays and in Ramadan, while off-peak times between prayers are calm. Visitors should dress modestly, remove shoes before entering and keep voices low. Photography of the exterior is generally acceptable, but visitors should avoid filming worshippers. Opening hours follow prayer times, so arriving shortly before a prayer allows entry to the hall. The area around the mosque has been altered by redevelopment, so visitors may find the surroundings busy with traffic and construction, and a taxi may be easier than walking in hot weather.