Mecca is a holy city in Saudi Arabia, important to Muslims for being the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the site of the Ka’aba. Non-Muslims are not allowed in the city, and Muslims must follow strict rules of conduct. The hajj pilgrimage is a significant event for Muslims, who visit the Great Mosque and Kaa’aba to reflect and pray.
Mecca is the Holy City of Islam, although the city had religious importance before the advent of religion. It is located in the western region of Saudi Arabia, near the Red Sea. Technically, the city is formally known as Mecca al-Mukaaramah, which translates into English as “Mecca the Blessed.” The Saudi Arabian government has been pushing many English-speaking nations to adopt Mecca as the correct transliteration from Arabic, rather than the more common name. The change is spelling, however, has not caught on in most of the English-speaking world.
For Muslims, Mecca is a very important and sacred place. All able-bodied Muslims must travel there in their lifetime to perform the hajj, or pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam. The city is holy for a variety of reasons. The main reason for most Muslims is that Mecca is the birthplace of Muhummad, the Prophet of Islam. Many of his revelations also occurred within the city limits.
Besides being the birthplace of the Prophet, Mecca is also the site of the Ka’aba, a structure supposedly built by Abraham. The Kaa’ba is housed within the Masjid al-Haram, the Great Mosque, and is visited by millions of Muslims each year. The Zamzam Well, the sacred well that would have arisen to give water to Hagar, Abraham’s wife, is also found in Mecca.
Only Muslims can enter and live in Mecca. Non-Muslims are required to bypass the city, and regular inspections of travelers and their documents are carried out to enforce this tradition. Non-Muslims caught in the city are subject to punishment, although a small number of Westerners have nevertheless braved its borders, reporting to the outside world. Muslims in Mecca are also required to follow strict rules of personal conduct, reflecting the devoutly religious atmosphere of the city.
During their stay in Mecca, Muslims visit the Great Mosque and Kaa’aba to reflect and pray on the nature of faith. Many people plan an extended visit and the city is home to a large number of Muslim scholars in addition to pilgrims and regular residents. Many Muslims make the journey several times throughout their lives, hoping to enrich their personal spiritual practice. For those with less financial freedom, a trip to Mecca is a once in a lifetime event. For both groups, travel is extremely important personally and is taken very seriously.
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