Makkah-The Holy City In Islam
The holiest city of Islam, Mecca is in western Saudi Arabia. Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad SAW was born in this city. Millions from the globe visit Mecca for the Hajj(pilgrimage). Kaaba, the sacred is also in this city and it is in Masjid al-Haram.
How Quran Name Makkah
- Makkah
- Bakkah
- Al-Balad
- Al-Qaryah
- Ummul-Qura
Quranic Verses
In Surah Al-Imran, Allah (ﷻ) states: “Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and guidance for Al-Alamin (mankind and jinn).” (Quran, 3:96)
When the Muslims conquered Makkah. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah had made this city sacred the day He created the heavens and the earth and its sanctity shall remain until the Day of Qiyamah (Day of Judgement). Its thorns cannot be broken, its animals cannot be harmed and things fallen on its ground cannot be picked up unless with the intention of returning it to its owner or making public announcements (to locate the owner). It is also forbidden to cut the grass that (naturally) grows here.” (Muslim)
History goes back to 2000 BC when the Kaaba was first built by Ibrahim AS. He with his son Hazrat e Ismaeel AS built the first Kaaba in the city of Mecca.
Prophet SAW was born In mecca in 571 AD. After the time of Ibrahim AS, the majority of Arabs started worshiping idols and before the time of Muhammad SAW, it was full of idols, approximately there were about 360 idols were there including Laat, Manat, and Uzza. When a prophet of Islam conquered Mecca in 630 all the idols were thrown away from Kaaba and these idols were also broken down. That was a new beginning for the life of Arabs.
The prophet of Islam also united the tribes in Mecca. It was done by diplomacy and where needed He used force as well. It was the end of long-running wars between Arab tribes. Muhammad SAW even after conquering Mecca, did not stay long there but returned to Madina.
Zamzam Well
Another significance of the city of Mecca is, at the time of Hazrat Ismaeel, the famous Well of Zamzam also sprouted from the land of Mecca when the water was direly needed. This is the holiest water until now. The Muslim pilgrims every year bring this water for their beloved ones for different reasons. It is thought to be the purest water on earth.
Kaaba
Hazrat Ibraham AS raised the foundations and said “Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Omniscient.” (Quran, 2:127)
Another significant reason for why the mecca is one of the holiest city in Islam is the Kaaba. It is the House of God, all Muslims offer their Islamic obligation namaz by keeping their faces towards Kaaba. It is covered with gold-embroidered black fabric and it is 40 cube style building.
The hadith of Sahih Bukhari is worth adding here about the construction of the Kaaba, it will definitely help our readers.
It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Ibrahim AS left his wife and Ismaeel on a mountainous place and stayed away for a long time, as hadith tells us, that,
“Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long as ALLAH wished, and called on them afterward. He saw Ishmael under a tree near Zamzam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Abraham, he rose up to welcome him (and they greeted each other as a father does with his son, or a son does with his father). Abraham said, ‘O Ishmael! ALLAH has given me an order.’ Ishmael said, ‘Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.’ Abraham asked, ‘Will you help me?’ Ishmael said, ‘I will help you.’ Abraham said, ‘ALLAH has ordered me to build a house here,’ pointing to a small hill higher than the land surrounding it.’ The Prophet added, ‘Then they raised the foundations of the House’;” i.e., the Ka’ba. (Sahih Bukhari, Prophets, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 583)
There is a long tale about the city, and we cannot include all here, the long in short is Mecca is in all Muslims hearts because of the affiliation of prophet Muhammad SAW to this city and because of the affiliation of the early Islam towards this city of Makkah. May Allah keep this city blessed forever.
Let us conclude our discussion with a hadith of Prophet Muhammad SAW about the holy city.
Hadith about the city of Mecca
Abdullah ibn ‘Adi reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, while he was standing near Mecca and saying, “By Allah, you are the best and most beloved land to Allah. Had I not been driven away from you, I would not have left you.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3925)
