For many centuries the Grand Mosque had four separate prayer places. Each school of thought prayed one after another with its own Imam.
The Shafi’i group usually prayed first, followed by the others. This meant the same prayer was repeated several times in one day.
On 27 October 1926 King Abdulaziz ordered this practice to stop. Scholars agreed to bring everyone together under one single Imam.
Since then only one congregation is held for each prayer. No repeated groups and no separate sections remain in the Haram.
This matches the way the Prophet ﷺ and his companions prayed. All worshippers stand together behind one Imam as one body.
The same system has continued without change for a full 100 years. Today millions still pray as one united congregation in Makkah.
Source: Islamicinfo
