Haram (site)

A pilgrim supplicating at Al-Masjid Al-Ḥarām (ٱلْمَسْجِد ٱلْحَرَام) in Mecca, Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia

Haram (Arabic: حَرَم, romanized: ḥaram, lit. 'sanctuary') is one of several similar words originating from the triliteral Semitic root Ḥ-R-M. The word literally means "sanctuary," commonly used by Muslims to refer to Al-Masjid Al-Haram and Prophet Mohammad's Mosque. ^[1] There are certain rules which Muslims within these two areas must follow.

Another meaning of the word which was used in the past but has since fallen out of use, include an "inviolable/protected zone," referring to an area in which the number of residing families was limited, attributed to the idea of carrying capacity and early forms of nature reserves, and to the prayer hall of the mosque.