Masjid al-Haram's Expansion: From Umar's Short Wall to Zamzam-Water Robots

Throughout its history, Masjid al-Haram has also faced crises that temporarily halted its operations. One of the most dramatic events was the 1979 siege by Juhayman al-Otaybi and his followers, who occupied the mosque for two weeks in an armed standoff. This unprecedented event led to a large-scale military operation by Saudi forces and had a profound impact on mosque security and future planning. In more recent times, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the temporary closure of the mosque in 2020 for about four months, followed by carefully monitored reopening with strict health protocols.