Masjid al-Haram, Mevlana's Tomb, the Pool of Sacred Fish, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi are sacred sites that attract millions every year
Millions of people, mostly Muslims, are taking the road to reach these places; Masjid al-Haram, Mevlana Tomb, the Pool of Sacred Fish, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi and others. The Sky Road magazine has covered these places that millions are visiting every year.
Along with Kaaba, where almost 15 million Muslims go every year to carry out their obligatory worship, Makkah and Madinah are among the most significant spiritual centers of the world.
These two places do not just attract Muslims during the Hajj period, but all year for Umrah visits.
Almost 14 million Muslims visit the Kaaba and Masjid al-Haram, which were cleared of idols by the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in Makkah; Al-Masjid an-Nabawi and the grave of the Prophet in Medina, along with hajj and umrah visits.
To be able to host millions of Muslims, Saudi Arabia has a billion-dollar tourism and service sector. However it is not possible to visit Saudi Arabia, particularly Makkah and Medina, solely as a tourist, due to the faith-oriented sensitivity and the existing laws putting the sensitivity under protection.
In addition to its function as a place of worship, Sultan Ahmet Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, constructed in competition with Byzantine figure Hagia Sophia, is the 20th most visited attraction in the world .
These two architectural works are visited by more than 3 million of people every year. The two top attractions are followed by other faith attraction centers in the city, Eyüp Sultan Tomb and the Chora Mosque.
Jerusalem, which is considered to be sacred to the three major Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- is being visited by around 3.5 million tourists, 82 percent of the total visitors to Israel every year.
Jerusalem, called Zion by Jews, has a significant importance in mythology. The city is also the holy place that the temple of the Prophet Suleiman is located.
The holy place is important to Christians because they believe Jerusalem hosted Jesus' last supper and witnessed his crucifixion and ascension.
For Muslims, Jerusalem is holy for its significance as the place of the Prophet Mohammed's ascension (Miraj).
The city includes Suleiman's Temple and the Wailing Wall of the Jews, a number of important places for Christians and also significant Muslim attractions, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.
The city also hosts the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, claimed to house the grave of Prophet Jesus in, Jewish Quarter, Via Dolorosa that Prophet Jesus was taken to be crucified and the Mount of Olives.
Bethlehem, thought to be the birth place of Prophet Jesus, itself attracts more than 1.5 million tourists in a year.
Turkey's Şanlıurfa, the city of the prophets, carries the memories of Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Eyub and Prophet Shuaib. The Pool of Sacred Fish region of Şanlıurfa and the Halilurrahman Mosque form “an island of spirituality."
The pool of Sacred Fish area includes the place of Prophet Ibrahim's birth, and other important places. Along with
the Pool of Sacred Fish, Göbekli Tepe, a recently discovered archaeological site at the top of a mountain ridge and faith attraction Harran, the city has important potential to be developed in terms of tourism. Almost 500,000 people visit Şanlıurfa every year.
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic is one of the world's most-read authors; his works have been translated into dozens of languages.
The tomb and the museum of Mevlana are visited by 2.1 million people every year, as the most significant spiritual centers of Turkey. These visitors are not just Muslims but also people from other religions who are interested in spirituality and the Mevlevi Order.
Also, commemoration of the anniversary of Rumi's passing this month with an event known as "Şeb-i Arus" (The Wedding Night), is taking place with thousands of people attending from Turkey and abroad.
Nevşehir is among the most significant spiritual attractions for its stone churches and the Cappadocia region's natural wonders, in particular characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage. Nevşehir is also significant for its importance in Alevi-Bektashi culture. The Hacı Bektaş Social Complex which is a popular place among Muslims to visit.
