Mecca live: Masjid Al-Haram and the Kaaba streaming

Cameras in Masjid Al-Haram broadcast images of the Kaaba without interruption. This page lets you follow that live stream free of charge, at any hour: the pilgrims' tawaf, the five daily prayers led by the imam, and the unique atmosphere of the Hajj or the Umrah. It is a way of strengthening your bond with the Sacred House when you cannot go there.

Masjid Al-Haram, the Sacred Mosque, is the largest mosque in the world and the foremost holy place of Islam. It surrounds the Kaaba, towards which Muslims the world over turn to pray. Enlarged several times over the centuries, it can hold more than two million worshippers during the Hajj and stays open day and night.

According to the Quran, the foundations of the Kaaba were raised by the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail. The Quran describes it as the first House established for the worship of Allah (surah 3, verse 96). Rebuilt several times over history, it holds in one of its corners the Black Stone, which pilgrims greet at the start of each circuit of the tawaf.

The images show the tawaf, the circling of the Kaaba by the faithful, the congregational prayers, the calligraphy on the walls and even the Black Stone set into the corner of the building. During the Hajj and the Umrah the crowds become striking, and the cameras catch the fervour of the millions of pilgrims come to perform their pilgrimage.

Some like to follow the live stream in order to pray at the moment the congregation prays there, but the five obligatory prayers must be performed according to the prayer times of your own city. The live stream remains valuable for reflection, for listening to the recitation and for the supplications made while contemplating the Sacred House.