Masjid Al-Jinn
The mosque marking where the Prophet ﷺ met the jinn and Surat Al-Jinn was revealed
Published 15 March 2025
There is a mosque a short walk from Masjid Al Haram that most visitors pass without a second glance, but its name alone stops people: Masjid Al-Jinn. This is the site where, according to Islamic tradition, the Prophet ﷺ met a delegation of jinn who had come to hear the Quran. They listened, they believed, and they pledged their allegiance.
The encounter is recorded in Surat Al-Jinn — "Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened and said, 'Indeed, we have heard a wondrous Quran.'" The mosque has stood here since the 3rd century AH (9th century AD), also known as the Guards Mosque and the Pledge Mosque, marking a meeting that stretched the boundaries of the seen world.
Surat Al-Jinn is one of the Quran's most striking chapters — a narrative told from the perspective of beings humans cannot see, describing their encounter with revelation. The mosque built at this site grounds that supernatural account in a physical location you can walk to in minutes from the Haram.
Getting there:
- Masjid Al-Jinn is within walking distance of Masjid Al Haram — roughly 5-10 minutes on foot, north of the Haram
- No taxi needed for most visitors staying in the central Makkah hotel district
- The mosque dates to the 3rd century AH / 9th century AD and has been maintained and renovated over the centuries
- Also known as the Guards Mosque (Masjid Al-Haras) and the Pledge Mosque (Masjid Al-Bayah) — though this is a different pledge from the one at Mina
- The mosque is open during standard prayer times; check locally for access between prayers
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