The city of Makkah

Makkah is the blessed city which is the most

beloved land in the sight of Allah (Glorified and

Exalted is He) and the chosen location of His

House. It was here that the final prophet and

guide of the whole of mankind, Muhammad

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him), was

born and commenced his Prophethood.

Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has called

Makkah by five names in the Quran: Makkah,

Bakkah, Al-Balad, Al-Qaryah and Ummul-Qura.

In Surah Al-Imran, Allah (Glorified and Exalted

is He) states: “Verily, the first House (of

worship) appointed for mankind was that at

Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a

guidance for Al-Alamin (mankind and jinn)

.” [3:96]

When the Muslims conquered Makkah. The

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on

him) said, “Allah had made this city sacred the

day He created the heavens and the earth and

it’s 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]

The reward of prayer offered in Masjid al-

Haram is multiplied many times. Jabir bin

Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him)

narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings

of Allah be on him) said: “A prayer in this

mosque of mine is better than one thousand

prayers anywhere else, except for al-Masjid al-

Haram. A prayer in al-Masjid al-Haram is

better than one hundred thousand prayers

(anywhere else).” [Ahmad]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be

on him), sitting on his camel in the Al-

Hazwarah market, addressed Makkah saying,

“By Allah, you are the best land of Allah, the

most beloved land of Allah to Allah. Had I not

been driven out of you, I would not have left

you.” [Zaadul Ma’aad]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be

on him) once remarked: “There is no city in

which Dajjal will be unable to enter besides

Makkah and Madinah. Every street will be lined

with angels standing in rows to protect

them.” [Bukhari]

In the time of the Prophet (peace and

blessings of Allah be on him), camel caravans

were a major part of Makkah’s bustling

economy. Alliances were struck between the

merchants in Makkah and the local nomadic

tribes, who would bring goods – leather,

livestock, and metals mined in the local

mountains – to Makkah to be loaded on the

caravans and carried to cities in Syria and

Iraq. Historical accounts also provide some

indication that goods from other continents

may also have flowed through Makkah.

Muslim scientists have provided evidence to

show that Makkah is the true centre of the

Earth, one argument being that unlike other

longitudes, Makkah’s is in perfect alignment to

magnetic north.

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah

– Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, Holy Makkah

– Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, Wikipedia