02/06/2026
What are those four green-roof structures near the Kaaba?
In older photographs of Masjid al-Haram, the Mataf area once featured four small green-roofed structures placed around the Kaaba.
These were known as the Maqamat of the Four Imams, representing the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence. Each station corresponded to one of the madhabs:
🟢 Hanafi
🟢 Maliki
🟢 Shafi’i
🟢 Hanbali
At the time, worshippers would gather at their designated station and pray behind an imam following their school of thought.
As the number of pilgrims increased, this arrangement began to create congestion in the Mataf and could also cause confusion for visitors from different regions.
Eventually, the separate prayer stations were removed, and congregational prayer was unified under a single imam. This helped free up space around the Kaaba and improved the overall flow of worship for pilgrims.
Photo: Historical Hajj documentation, National Geographic (1953)
