Muhi al-Din Lari: The Futuh al-Haramayn, page 40 - the Kaaba (16th century)

(Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA)

An illuminated page made by the Persian or India artist Muhi al-Din Lari ( ? - 1521/27). This page comes from a book called "Futūḥ al-Ḥaramayn" which is a guide for pilgrims who go on a hajj. It explains the stations of the Pilgrimage, the rituals to be observed and the various Holy places in Mecca en Medina. This page gives a bird's-eye view of the Al-Masjid al-Harām (Al-Haram Mosque or Great Mosque) in Mecca with the Kaaba. The page shows the mosque with seven minarets, including the one which was added in 1565/66 by the Ottoman sultan Suleyman, Page from the 16th century.