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Posted at Oct 10/2007 09:28AM:
ian:Not the one that means forbidden.

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Posted at Oct 11/2007 11:59AM:
Audrey von Maluski: Haram with a short 'a' sound means 'forbidden' or 'sanctuary.' When used to refer to geography, it commonly refers to a sanctuary, usually near an oasis, where rival parties could make peace with one another without fear of attack. In the earliest days of Islam, such places sprang up at locations near water, food, and a sheltering town to enable travelers to remain there in comfort. Later, haram grew to encompass certain very important sites within Islam, which then attained sacred status as haram.

The two most holy of haram sites are Mecca and Medina.

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Posted at Oct 15/2007 09:39AM:
Ian: These were also associated with person who had the spiritual qualities or the "baraka" to establish them. Why was Muhammad's transformation of Medina into a haram so significant then?