RSSThe holy city of the religion of Islam, the Mecca, is situated in Saudi Arabia. Despite the presence of an ethnically varied population, non-Muslims are restricted from entering the holy city. It is a much developed city meeting the requirements of this developed world.
Located in the gravelly valley, Mecca is a complete disappointment for agricultural purposes. Yet, the place has prospered in an unexpected fashion, the reason for which can be attributed to these factors. The city is an ideal trading post as it is present en route the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean. The second reason for the prosperity of this rocky city is that it is the most sacred Muslim pilgrim center.
Ages before the prevalence of Islam in the holy city, pilgrims visited Mecca for performing the holy ceremony of walking around the Ka’ba, which is a small square building. They used to circle this building seven times. The building is an exhibit of numerous images that have been carved and were worshipped by these pilgrims. The building is also the abode to the holy stone that is black in colour, which probably is a meteorite originally.
Muhammad & Mecca
Muhammad was born as the son of a Mecca-based merchant in the year 570 AD. But to his bad luck, his parents passed away when he was a small child and grew up with his kith and kin. He never had a permanent residence during his childhood and was brought up by a Bedouin nurse. He used to accompany the caravans who used to pass through Mecca, a major location on their trade route.
If it is to be believed, child Mohammad happened to see Archangel Gabriel on Mount Hira, which is a holy spot according to the Islamic traditions. This moment has been portrayed by Mohammed, during a later period, where he said Gabriel disclosed the Holy Quran to him.
He started preaching the holy message he received from this divine figure from about 613 AD, and had to face numerous oppositions and contempt from the traders residing in Mecca. This resulted in a row between the public and traders, as a result of which the traders hatched a plan for murdering Muhammad.
But, good luck, as it can be called, Mohammad was able to escape from this plan as he moved to a place known as Median, accompanied by people who were ready to follow what he preached.
Muslims & Mecca
After these incidents, Mohammed started losing his relationship with Mecca one after another, worsening the state. A huge war was fought between the supporters and oppositions of Mohammed. Truth triumphs and the good always wins, Mohammad won with the help of his peacekeeping caliber and the supporters of Mohammad once again were able to enter the city of Mecca during 629 AD. After this, they were able to perform the holy ritual at Ka’ba.
But there was a different and unexpected turn that happened when these people returned. When they left the city of Mecca after the three days of ritual, they took with hundreds of locals who had been influenced by the supporters of Mohammed. The next year, the locals of Mecca called in for peace and the Muslims were allowed to enter Mecca without any problems. The locals accepted Islam. After this, Mohammed took out the idols from Ka’ba, leaving behind the holy Black stone.
One of the major attributes for this peaceful change of Mecca was the promise that Mohammad made to them. Mohammad told them that Mecca will always remain as a sacred pilgrimage centre. Thus, Mecca, from then was hailed as the sacred place for followers of Islam.
Since then, Ka’ba has been considered as a place which along with being an Islamic shrine is a place where Muslims do expect miracles. Even now, any Muslim who prays does it facing towards the direction where the holy city of Mecca is located. Mecca is situated at at 21° 25' 24" N and 39° 49' 24" E in DMS notation.
According to Muslims, they must visit this holy city at least once during their life time. More than three million people visit this holy city every year. This pilgrimage is known as Hajj, which they carry out during the Islamic month of Dhu'l-Hijja. Hajj may also be carried out as part of minor pilgrimage across the year, known as Umrah.
Entry of non-Muslims is strictly restricted. This is the reason why Sir Richard Burton, the renowned British explorer, disguised himself as an Afghan Muslim and took part in the ritual. This happened in 1853. He has given a personal narration on his experience also.
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Even now, the sentenced people are brought to the place after the Jumu’a on Friday afternoons. Their punishments are then carried out on a hill so that people understand thoroughly about the judgments given by Allah when they commit sins or mistakes.
Yet another strange ritual that is held in Mecca is the ‘Tawafu Assa’y’. During this the pilgrims are supposed to walk between Assafa & Almarwa reciting Koran verses and praying for their needs. People who complete 7 circles around Ka’ba are then asked to undergo trampling of feet of stronger people. Those who die add to the number of “sacrifices” made to Allah.
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