Le mataf

Le mataf refers to the open area immediately surrounding the Kaaba in the Masjid al-Haram (Great Mosque) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the area where pilgrims perform the Tawaf, the ritual circumambulation of the Kaaba. The mataf is typically paved and designed to accommodate a large number of people performing the Tawaf simultaneously. It provides access to the Kaaba and allows pilgrims to circle the structure in a counter-clockwise direction as part of their Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage. The mataf is a highly sacred space for Muslims and is considered to be the focal point of their worship during the Tawaf. Its size has varied throughout history, expanding with renovations and expansions of the Masjid al-Haram to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims.