Editing Mecca (section)

== Significance in Islam ==
[[File:La mecque pelerinage.png|thumb|The [[Hajj]] involves pilgrims visiting Al-Haram Mosque, but mainly camping and spending time in the plains of [[Mina, Saudi Arabia|Mina]] and [[Arafah]]|300x300px]]

Mecca holds an important place in Islam and is considered the holiest city in all branches of the religion. The city derives its importance from the role it plays in the [[Hajj]] and '[[Umrah]] and for its status as the birthplace of Muhammad.

=== Masjid al-Haram ===
The ''Masjid al-Haram'' is the site of two of the most important rites of both the Hajj and of the Umrah, the circumambulation around the Ka'bah (''[[tawaf]]'') and the walking between the two mounts of Safa and Marwa (''[[sa'ee]]''). The masjid is also the site of the [[Zamzam Well]]. According to Islamic tradition, a prayer in the masjid is equal to 100,000 prayers in any other masjid around the world.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Adil, Salahi.|title=Sahih Muslim (Volume 2) With the Full Commentary by Imam Nawawi.|date=2019|publisher=Kube Publishing Ltd|others=Al-Nawawi, Imam., Muslim, Imam Abul-Husain.|isbn=978-0-86037-767-2|location=La Vergne|oclc=1152068721}}</ref>

====Kaaba====
{{Main|Kaaba}}
There is a difference of opinion between Islamic scholars upon who first built the [[Ka'bah]], some believe it was built by the [[Angels in Islam|angels]] while others believe it was built by [[Adam and Eve|Adam]]. Regardless, it was built several times before reaching its current state. The Ka'bah is also the common direction of prayer (''[[qibla]]'') for all Muslims. The surface surrounding the Ka'bah on which Muslims circumambulate it is known as the Mataf.

====Hajr-e-Aswad (The Black Stone)====
{{Main|Black Stone}}

The Black Stone is a stone, considered by scientists to be a [[meteorite]] or of similar origin and believed by Muslims to be of divine origin. It is set in the eastern corner of the Ka'bah and it is [[Sunnah]] to touch and kiss the stone. The area around the stone is generally always crowded and guarded by policemen to ensure the pilgrims' safety. In Islamic tradition, the stone was sent down from Jannah (Paradise) and used to build the Ka'bah. It used to be a white stone (and was whiter than milk). Because of the worldly sins of man, it slowly changed color to black over the years after it was brought down to Earth.

====Maqam Ibrahim====
[[File:Maqam Ibrahim, Makkah.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Maqam Ibrahim]], [[Makkah]]]]
This is the stone that Ibrahim (Abraham) stood on to build the higher parts of the Ka'bah. It contains two footprints that are comparatively larger than average modern-day human feet. The stone is raised and housed in a golden hexagonal chamber beside the Ka'bah on the Mataf plate.
The stone inside the casing is square shaped and measures {{convert|40|cm|abbr=on}} in length and width, and {{convert|20|cm|abbr=on}} in height.<ref name="madainmaqam">{{cite web |title=Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Abraham) |url=https://madainproject.com/station_of_abraham |website=Madain Project |access-date=9 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909190553/https://madainproject.com/station_of_abraham |archive-date=9 September 2020}}</ref> It used to be enclosed by a structure called the ''Maqsurat Ibrahim'' which was covered by a [[Sitara (textile)|''sitara'']]: an ornamental, embroidered curtain that was replaced annually.<ref name="daralkiswa">{{Cite book|last=Nassar|first=Nahla|url=|title=The Hajj: collected essays|publisher=The British Museum|year=2013|isbn=978-0-86159-193-0|editor-last=Porter|editor-first=Venetia|location=London|pages=176–178|chapter=Dar al-Kiswa al-Sharifa: Administration and Production|oclc=857109543|editor-last2=Saif|editor-first2=Liana}}</ref> Currently, it is placed inside a golden-metal enclosure. The outer casing has changed a number of times over the years; historic photographs show that the arch of the Banu Shaybah Gate stood next to it.<ref name="madainshaiba">{{cite web|title=''Bab Bani Shaiba''|url=https://madainproject.com/bab_bani_shaiba|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909191733/https://madainproject.com/bab_bani_shaiba|archive-date=9 September 2020|access-date=9 September 2020|website=Madain Project}}</ref>

====Safa and Marwa====
{{Main|Safa and Marwa}}
Muslims believe that in the divine revelation to Muhammad, the Quran, Allah describes the mountains of Safa and Marwah as symbols of His divinity. Walking between the two mountains seven times, four times from Safa to Marwah and three times from Marwah interchangeably, is considered a mandatory pillar (''[[Fard|rukn]]'') of [[Umrah]].{{Panorama
| image   = File:Masjid_al-Haram_panorama.JPG
| height  = 130px
| caption = Panorama of the [[al-Masjid al-Haram]], also known as the Grand Mosque of Mecca, during the Hajj pilgrimage
}}

=== Hajj and 'Umrah ===
The Hajj pilgrimage, also called the greater pilgrimage, attracts millions of Muslims from all over the world and almost triples Mecca's population for one week in the twelfth and final Islamic month of ''[[Dhu al-Hijjah]]''. In 2019, the Hajj attracted 2,489,406 pilgrims to the holy city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=الحصر الفعلي للحجاج|url=https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/28|date=17 December 2015|access-date=29 June 2020|website=General Authority for Statistics|language=ar|archive-date=24 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524103836/https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/28|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 'Umrah, or the lesser pilgrimage, can be done at anytime during the year. Every adult, healthy Muslim who has the financial and physical capacity to travel to Mecca must perform the Hajj at least once in a lifetime. Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, is not obligatory, but is recommended in the Quran.<ref>{{cite news|title=What is Umrah?|url=http://islamonline.com/news/articles/21/What_is_Umrah_.html|date=5 December 2007|publisher=islamonline.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722131048/http://islamonline.com/news/articles/21/What_is_Umrah_.html|archive-date=22 July 2011}}</ref> In addition to the ''Masjid al-Haram'', pilgrims also must visit the nearby towns of [[Mina, Saudi Arabia|Mina/Muna]], [[Muzdalifah]] and [[Mount Arafat]] for various rituals that are part of the Hajj.

=== Jabal al-Nour ===
[[File:Jabal Nur.JPG|thumb|[[Jabal al-Nour]], the mountain atop which is the Hira cave, where it is believed Muhammad received his first revelation.]]
{{main|Jabal al-Nour}}
[[Jabal al-Nour]] (or Jabal an-Nur) is a mountain believed by Muslims to have been the place where Muhammad spent his time away from the bustling city of Mecca in seclusion.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=In the Shade of the Message and Prophethood|url=http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/ch1s7.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215232900/http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/ch1s7.html|archive-date=15 February 2008|access-date=15 February 2008}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web | title=Welcome to Witness-Pioneer | website=witness-pioneer.org | date=2010-07-16 | url=http://www.witness-pioneer.org/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111083717/http://www.witness-pioneer.org/ | archive-date=2010-11-11 | url-status=unfit }}{{fcn|date=April 2025}}</ref> The mountain is located on the eastern entrance of the city and is the highest point in the city at 642 meters (2,106 feet).

==== Hira'a Cave ====
Situated atop Jabal al-Nour, this is the cave where Muslims believe Muhammad received the first revelation from Allah through the archangel [[Gabriel]] ([[Angels in Islam|Jibril]] in Islamic tradition) at the age of 40.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />