Masjid al-Haram is the great mosque in Mecca that surrounds the area in which the Kaaba is located. This expression, meaning “the Sacred Mosque,” appears in 16 verses of the Qur’an. At the center of Masjid al-Haram stands the Kaaba, and at its eastern corner is placed the Hajar al-Aswad, meaning “the Black Stone,” which has a distinct color and characteristics and is encircled by a silver frame. This stone is regarded as a relic passed down from the time of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to the present day. For this reason, it is of great value to all Muslims.