Mecca

Mecca is a city located in western Saudi Arabia, near the Red Sea coast. It is the holiest city in the religion of Islam. Muslims believe Mecca is the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad. The city is the direction of prayer for Muslims around the world. This direction is called the qibla, which means the direction faced during prayer.

The history of Mecca goes back many centuries before Islam. The city was an important stopping place for trade caravans traveling across the Arabian Peninsula. It was also a religious center because it contained the Kaaba, a cube-shaped building at the center of the Great Mosque. According to Islamic tradition, the Kaaba was first built by the prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael. Before Islam, people of different beliefs visited Mecca.

Islam began in Mecca in the early 7th century. Muslims believe that Muhammad received his first revelations there around the year 610 CE. At first, only a small number of people accepted his message. Over time, opposition in the city grew stronger. In 622 CE, Muhammad and his followers left Mecca and moved to the city of Medina. This journey is called the Hijra, and it marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Several years later, Muhammad returned to Mecca. In 630 CE, the city came under Muslim control. The Kaaba was cleared of idols and became the central place of worship for Islam. After this time, Mecca became a religious center only for Muslims. Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter the city, a rule that continues today.

One of the most important events connected to Mecca is the Hajj. The Hajj is a pilgrimage, which means a journey made for religious reasons. Every year, millions of Muslims travel to Mecca to perform the Hajj during a specific month. The Hajj includes a series of rituals, such as walking around the Kaaba and traveling between nearby sites. These activities take place over several days.

Mecca today is a modern city that serves the needs of pilgrims. Large buildings, roads, and transport systems support the movement of visitors during the Hajj and the smaller pilgrimage known as Umrah, which can be done at other times of the year. The Great Mosque of Mecca, also called Masjid al-Haram, surrounds the Kaaba and is the largest mosque in the world. Mecca remains a central place in Islamic history and religious life.