Islam considers Mecca to be the holiest city on earth. For more than 1.9 billion people worldwide, Mecca and its surroundings hold unparalleled historical and religious significance. Mecca is where Prophet Muhammad (may Allah grant him peace and blessings) was born.
In a cave called Hira on Mount Al-Nur outside of Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad () received the first verses of the Holy Quran. Mecca is home to the Kaaba, the most sacred place in Islam. The Qiblah, or direction of ceremonial prayer, is toward the Kaaba in Mecca. Muslims believe that the water in the Zamzam well in Mecca is the holy water in the entire universe. Each year, millions of Muslims do the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to Mecca. Only Mecca and Madinah will be guarded by rows of angels who will prevent the Anti-Christ (Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal) from entering.
In Saudi Arabia, Mecca is situated 45 miles to the east of Jeddah. Mecca is located in a valley at an altitude of 909 feet above sea level and is bordered by rough mountains that are between 1,000 and approximately 2,500 feet tall. The year-round precipitation is comparatively low, and temperatures can rise above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. However, due to its location in a valley, Mecca has previously experienced flooding. In 2008, there were 1.7 million people living there.
Throughout history, Mecca has been referred to by many different names. In truth, Mecca is referred to in the Holy Quran as Bakkah, Al-Balad, Al-Qaryah, and Ummul-Qura by Allah (the Glorified and Exalted).
The first mosque in the world is Masjid An-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque), which is located in Madinah. There, the reward for praying is 1,000 times greater than at any other mosque in the world. The second mosque is Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, where the prayer reward is 500 times greater than in any other mosque on earth.
The Kaaba is a sizable stone building that sits in the middle of Masjid Al-Haram and is composed of a single room with a marble floor. It is currently around 60 feet high, with a side length of 60 feet.
The Kaaba serves as the centre around which Masjid Al-Haram was constructed. A black curtain known as the Kiswah that hangs down from its four walls and is secured to the Shadharwan with copper rings is called this structure’s exterior.
On the Kaaba’s eastern corner is where you’ll find the Black Stone of Mecca. The stone was given to Adam upon his expulsion from paradise, in accordance with Muslim mythology. Muslims attempt to touch and kiss the stone when doing the Hajj (pilgrimage). The Black Stone, according to legend, was formerly white but turned black after taking on the sins of the pilgrims who kissed and touched it.
Mecca often has lows of 10 degrees, with the potential to dip as low as 5 degrees C. The lowest Fahrenheit temperature, though, will be lower still. It can get exceedingly chilly in Mecca during the winter because of its proximity to the Red Sea and Bab-al-Mandab strait.
