In this respect it is advisable to note that the Sacred Ka’ba is an exceedingly august and sublime place. Allah the Exalted has drawn three circles around it as a sign of its veneration. There are some distinct and specific dictates relating to every circle thereof. The first circle is that of ‘Masjid-ul-Haram’ (the Mosque around Ka’ba), in the centre of which Baitullah is situated. Next to Baitullah, the place held to be the most distinguished and venerable is the place which has been encircled by ‘Masjid-ul-Haram’. Related to this place there are many particular precepts but as they have no special relation with Ihram they need not be mentioned here. The 2nd circle is that of the boundaries of Haram. This circle is formed by some fixed territorial around Mecca where some marks of the boundries of Haram have been raised. The distance of these boundries of Haram from Mecca is three miles from one side, nine from another, and some what more or less from other sides. People living within this circle are named as ‘Ahl-e-Haram’ (the people of the sacred place). The 3rd circle is that of the Mawaqit mentioned here before. People living within the 2nd circle that is to say with in the boundaries of Haram are called Ahl-e-Haram while those who live outside the Haram but within the circle of Mawaqit, they are called ‘Ahl-e-Hill’ (people of the place of admissibilities). The inhabitants of out-side the precincts of Mawaqit are known as Ahl-e-Afaq. Read more... (482 words, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)