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Hajj Guide

An Introduction to the Sacred Sites of Hajj

Chapter pages

Chapter 3 of 12

An Introduction to the Sacred Sites of Hajj

  1. 1Al-Masjid al-Haram
  2. 2The boundaries of the Haram
  3. 3The Holy Kaaba
  4. 4Hajar al-Aswad (the Black Stone)
  5. 5Rukn al-Yamani
  6. 6Multazam
  7. 7Maqam Ibrahim
  8. 8Mataf
  9. 9Safa and Marwah
  10. 10Mas‘a
  11. 11The birthplace of the Prophet ﷺ
  12. 12Mount Abu Qubais and Mount Ajyad
  13. 13Historical Sites of Makkah—Mount Hira
  14. 14Cave of Thawr
  15. 15Dar al-Nadwah
  16. 16Zubaydah Canal

Mataf

1 min readLast updated September 1, 2026

The open area surrounding the Holy Ka'bah is called the Mataf. The word Mataf means the place where Tawaf is performed. Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr was the first to pave the Mataf, extending it approximately 5 metres around the Ka'bah. Over time, the Mataf was expanded. Today, the Mataf is paved with cool marble that remains cool even under the intense heat of the sun, enabling pilgrims to walk comfortably while completing Tawaf.