The marble floors in the Grand Mosque

The Secret of the Cool Marble Floors in the Grand Mosque at Makkah

The first step a visitor takes into the House of Allah, they feel the coolness under their feet on the floors of the Grand Mosque, despite the intense summer heat that can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius. This sensation is not a coincidence rather is the result of precise design and unique materials used in the Grand mosque. Among these materials is “Thassos” marble, imported specifically from the island of Thassos in Greece, which adds a special elegance and comfort for worshipers and pilgrims.

Features of the Marble

Thassos marble has unique properties that allow it to remain cool even in the hottest summer days. The marble used in the Two Holy Mosques is 5 centimetres thick and can absorb moisture through its fine pores at night and release it during the day, helping to maintain the coolness of the floors. This marble also has the ability to reflect light and heat, properties not found in any other type of marble. Additionally, the marble is cut and placed to face the direction of the Qibla, which helps worshipers know the direction of the Qibla even if they cannot see the K’abah.

King Khalid, may Allah have mercy upon him, is credited with completing the expansion of the Grand Mosque in the 1970s, where this type of marble was used in the expansion of the Mataf , increasing the comfort of worshipers during the mid-day heat.