The Holy Ka‘bah, the mataf surrounding it, the building beyond the mataf, and the open courtyard paved with marble beyond the building—all of these together constitute the present-day Masjid al-Haram. According to some, the entire Haram area is considered Masjid al-Haram. One verse of the Holy Qur’an states: لَتَدْخُلُنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ—You will surely enter Masjid al-Haram.[1] That is, you will enter the Haram area. Masjid al-Haram is mentioned in Surah al-Isra. It is stated—
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ ﴿1﴾
—Holy is He who took His servant by night from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings I have blessed.[2] According to historians, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was taken from the house of Umm Hani for the Isra and Mi‘raj. At that time, Masjid al-Haram comprised only a small area around the Holy Ka‘bah, while Umm Hani’s house was far from Masjid al-Haram. Nevertheless, that place has been referred to as Masjid al-Haram.
[1] — Surah al-Fath: 27
[2] — Surah al-Isra: 1