where do muslims worship

Muslims primarily worship in places called mosques, known as "masjid" in Arabic. Mosques serve as the central places for prayer, worship, community gatherings, religious festivals, and education. While Muslims are required to pray five times a day and can pray anywhere, many strive to pray in mosques, especially for the special congregational prayer held on Fridays. The two most significant mosques in Islam are the Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca, which houses the Kaaba—the holiest site in Islam and the direction (qibla) that Muslims face during prayer—and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, where the Islamic prophet Muhammad lived and is buried. These two cities and their mosques hold great religious importance, with Mecca being the heart of Islamic worship, especially during the Hajj pilgrimage, and Medina being revered as the second holiest site. Additionally, Muslims have historically regarded Jerusalem's Al- Aqsa Mosque as the third holiest site, along with other important mosques in the Middle East. However, daily worship generally occurs in local mosques throughout the world or even at home or other places, as prayer can be performed anywhere.