Primarily, Haram (the Inviolate Zone) refers to the Sanctuary of Makkah, and secondarily to that of Madinah; and hence al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn (the Two Noble Sanctuaries (of Makkah and Madinah). In the northern regions of the Arab world, the term Haram al-Shareef refers to Bayt al Maqdis.
Kaba
Haram area enjoys a special status. Allah declared the town sacred the day He created the heavens and the earth. It will remain so until the Last Day. Fighting was not permitted in its precincts for anyone before the Prophet; and even he was allowed it only for an hour or so. No bloodshed is allowed within this area, no wild animal may be hunted, no thorn is to be plucked, no plant is to be uprooted (except for the Izkhar grass) and no fallen article may be picked up. No one, unless a proven dangerous criminal, may be removed by force from here. According to Abu Haneefah, a criminal who has sought refuge in the Haram may not be arrested, although he could be besieged and prevented from food and water until he gives himself up. But if he kills in the Haram, he may be killed in the Haram. An act of Fisq is doubly prohibited here.
The Haram is a land of peace. The Ka`ba is the holiest of houses. The building around Ka`ba is the Masjid al-Haraam; a place of great sanctity. In the third tier, the Haram area covers the inner two with further sanctity. Again, the Hill area further restricts anything that can disturb the peace of the area within by depriving the pilgrim of several liberties. Finally, the Arabian Peninsula is engulfed in spiritual peace by the prohibition to build any altar for any deity.