Mecca: Difference between revisions

'''Mecca''' (Arabic: {{ia|مکة}}) is the holiest city for Muslims where [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] was born and Islam was appeared. This city is located in [[Arabian Peninsula]], Arabia. '''Bakka''', '''Balad al-Ḥarām''', '''Balad al-Amīn''' and '''Umm al-Qurā''' are the other names of this city.

* Mecca is a combination of Mak, meaning house, and Rab, meaning God and Mecca means Bayt al-Rab or Bayt Allah, the House of God.

* Mecca is a combination of Mak, meaning wadi (valley), and Rab, meaning God and Mecca means Wadi l-Rab, the Valley of God.

* Mecca is originally derived from Mukraba from the term Muqrab which means a place in which people seek taqarrub (nearness) to God.

* Mecca is derived from the term Makak meaning perish or decline, and Mecca is a place that every tyrant who wants to harm the city will be definitely perished.

* Mecca is derived from Mak meaning attraction, which means people of all regions are drawn to this land.<ref>Jaʿfarī, "Nām-hā-yi shahr-i Makka", p. 205-222</ref>

* '''Bakka:''' Undoubtedly the first House for the worship of Allah ever built for mankind is the at Bakka (Makka), a blessed site and a guidance for all the worlds.<ref>''Qur'an 3:96''</ref>  

* '''Balad al-Amin:''' Consider the fig and the olive, and Mount Sinai, and this land secure!.<ref>''Qur'an 95:1-3''</ref>

* '''Umm al-Qura:''' … may warn the people living in the Mother City (Makka) and those who live around her.<ref>''Qur'an 6:92''</ref>

* '''Al-Balad al-Haram.'''<ref>Jaʿfarī, "Nām-hā-yi shahr-i Makka", p. 205-222</ref>

* '''Building Ka'ba:''' Prophet [[Ibrahim]] (a), following the order of God, built [[Ka'ba]] with the help of his son, [[Isma'il]].<ref>Ibn Athīr, ''al-Kāmil'', 1407AH, vol. 1, p. 81-82; Ibn Athīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', 1997, vol. 1, p. 378; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī'', 1968, vol. 2, p. 251.</ref> However there are different narrations on the first time that Ka'ba was built, some stated that Ka'ba was built even before the creation of [[Adam (a)]].<ref>Azraqī, ''Akhbār Makka'', Rawāʾiʿ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, vol. 1, p. 68.</ref>

* '''Abraha's Raid:''' Abraha the ruler of [[Yemen]], attacked Mecca in order to destroy Ka'ba in 570 CE with an army of elephants. But when they arrived near Mecca birds came from the sky and dropped stones on their heads and perished their troops.<ref>Ibn Athīr, ''al-Kāmil'', 1407 AH, vol. 1, p. 342-345.</ref>

* '''Birth of Prophet Muhammad (s):''' [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] was born on 17th or 12th of [[Rabi' I]] in [[Am al-Fil]] (569 or 570) in Mecca.<ref>Shahīdī, ''Tārīkh-i taḥlīlī-yi Islām'', 1390 Sh, p. 37; Āyatī, ''Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām'', 1378 Sh, p. 43.</ref>

* '''Birth of 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) inside Ka'ba:''' [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] was born on Friday, 13th of [[Rajab]] in 30th year of [['Am al-Fil]]/ 600 CE in Ka'ba. He is the only person who was born inside Ka'ba;<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', 1416 AH, vol. 1, p. 5</ref> this narrations is also stated in a number of [[Sunni]] sources. Based on ''al-Mustadrak 'ala al-sahihayn'' considering [[Mutawatir]] narrations, 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) was born inside Ka'ba by [[Fatima bt. Asad]].<ref>Ḥākim al-Nayshābūrī, al-Mustadrak ʿala l-ṣaḥīḥayn'', vol. 3, p. 593.</ref>

# Uprising against choosing [[Yazid b. Mu'awiya]] as the successor of his father

# The uprising of [['Abd Allah b. Zubayr]] in Mecca ([[62]]/681-2)

# The attack of Yazid's army to [[Ka'ba]] and [[Masjid al-Haram]] ([[64]]/683-4)

# Rebuilding Ka'ba by 'Abd Allah b. Zubayr

# The Attack of [[Hajjaj b. Yusuf]] by the order of [['Abd al-Malik b. Marwan]] to Mecca and setting it on fire

# [[Uprising of Fakhkh]] (169/786)

# The event of Ahbash ([[173]]/789-90)

# The uprising of Al-Aftas (199/314-5)

# Capturing Mecca by Qaramata (317/929-30)

# Qarmatians raided Ka'ba and stole [[Hajar al-Aswad]] (the Black Stone) (317/929-30)

# Ruling of Sharifs over Mecca (358/968-9)

# Influence of Shi'ism over Mecca

# Disturbing Iranian pilgrims in Mecca

# Killing Shi'ites in Mecca with the pretext of making the curtain of Ka'ba [[najis]] (unclean) (1088/1677-8)

# Killing a number of Iranian scholars in Mecca including Zayn al-'Abidin al-Kashani (1040/1630) and Sayyid Muhammad Mu'min Radawi (1088/1677-8)

# Obliging lecturers to curse Shi'ites in their formal speeches (1157/1744-5)

# Issuing the [[fatwa]] of takfir (excommunication) of Shi'ites by religious scholars in Mecca

# Killing Yemeni pilgrims in Mecca (1341/1922-3)

# Attacking and capturing Mecca and killing Muslims (1342/1923-4)

# Destroying mausoleums and shrines including the shrine of [[Abu Talib]], [['Abd al-Muttalib]] and Lady [[Khadija (a)]]<ref>[https://www.alwahabiyah.com/main.aspx?typeinfo=1&lid=0&mid=6890 www.alwahabiyah.com]</ref> (1342/1923-4)

# Dominance of Al Saud over Mecca (1344/1925-6)

# Killing Egyptian pilgrims in [[Mina]] (1344/1925-6)

# Killing Iranian pilgrims in Mecca in 1987<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Makka wa Madīna'', p. 50-62.</ref>

# Expansion of [[Masjid al-Haram]] and building new spaces for performing [[Tawaf]]

# [[Mina]] stampede and death of over two thousand pilgrims in 2015

* '''[[Al-Khayf Mosque]]:''' According to narrations [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] gave his speech in [[Hajjat al-Wida']] in this mosque. [[Shiite Imams]] have mentioned high rewards for praying in al-Khayf Mosque.<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 4, p. 519.</ref>

* '''Masjid al-Nahr:''' It is located in [[Mina]], where God sent a lamb for Ibrahim (a) to sacrifice instead of Isma'il.<ref>Kurdī, ''al-Tārīkh al-qawīm'', vol. 6, p. 28.</ref>

* '''Masjid al-Bay'a or Masjid al-Ghanam:''' The first oath of allegiance of new Muslims of [[Yathrib]] (Medina) to [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] in [['Aqaba]] took place here.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, Rasūl. ''Āthār-i Islāmī Makka wa Madīna'', p. 142-144.</ref>

* '''[[Masjid al-Shajara]]:''' [[Pledge of al-Ridwan]] in the time of [[Hudaybiyya Peace Treaty]] was made here.

* '''[[Masjid of Ghadir Khumm]]:''' Prophet Muhammad (s) introduced [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] as his vicegerent and people's guardian after himself.

* '''[[Al-Juhfah]]:''' it is the miqat of pilgrims from [[Egypt]], [[Syria]] and Maghreb and those who go to Mecca from these routes.

* '''[[Wadi 'Aqiq]]:''' it is the miqat of pilgrims from [[Iraq]], Najd and those who go to Mecca from this route.

* '''[[Qarn al-Manazil]]:''' It is the miqat of pilgrims from [[Yemen]] and [[Ta'if]].

* '''[[Yalamlam]]:''' According to narrations, Yalamlam is the last miqat for pilgrims from Yemen and those who go to Mecca from this route.<ref>Khoeī, ''Manāsik al-ḥajj'', vol. 1, p. 72-73.</ref>

* The place [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] was born is located in [[Shi'b Abi Talib]].

* The House of Lady [[Khadija (a)]], the wife of Prophet Muhammad (s) is among the most important places in Mecca in which a number of significant incidents took place:  

# Marriage of Prophet Muhammad (s) with Khadija bt. Khuwaylid (a)  

# Birth of [[Lady Fatima (a)]]  

# Demise of Lady Khadija (a)  

# [[Laylat al-Mabit]] event  

# Start of immigration of Prophet (s) to Medina.

* The house of [[Arqam b. Abi Arqam]]; the first secret house for promoting Islam.

* The house of [[Abu Talib]] in which [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] and Prophet Muhammad (s) were raised.

* The house of 'Abd Allah b. Jad'an where the Treaty of [[Hilf al-Fudul]] were made.

* Bazan region where [[Hamza]] b. 'Abd al-Muttalib was born in.

* The house of [[Harith b. Abd al-Muttalib]] where the first public promotion of Islam started by Prophet Muhammad (s); he invited his relatives to Islam.

* The house of [[Umm al-Hani]], where Prophet Muhammad (s) went to [[Mi'raj]] and returned.

* Dar Abi Sa'id near Dar al-'Ijla where [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] was born. It is said that [[Ja'far al-Tayyar]] was born in this house as well.<ref>Qāʾidān, ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmi Makka wa Madīna'', p. 144-153.</ref>

* [[Al-Ma'lat Cemetery]], where [['Abd al-Muttalib]], [[Abu Talib]] and Lady Khadija (a) are buried.

* The burial place of the [[Uprising of Fakhkh|martyrs of Fakhkh]] who were martyred in a battle against [[Banu 'Abbas]] army.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Makka wa Madīna'', p. 161-168.</ref>

* The burial place of the martyrs of the [[battle of Badr]]: It is located 150 km southwest of [[Medina]] where the battle took place. Fourteen martyrs of the battle are buried in this place.

* The mosque of 'Arish: This mosque is built next to the burial place of the martyrs of the battle of Badr. [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] has performed the [[night prayer]] in this place the night before the battle.

* [[Rabadha]]: It is located on the east of Medina. [[Abu Dhar al-Ghifari]] is buried there.

* [[Ghadir Khumm]]: It is a region near [[al-Juhfah]] and 156 km northwest of Mecca where the [[Event of Ghadir Khumm]] took place.

* [[Abwa']]: It is 45 km on the road of al-Juhfa where [[Amina bt. Wahb]], the mother of Prophet Muhammad (s) is buried.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Makka wa Madīna'', p. 194-200.</ref>

* '''[[Mount Abu Qubays]]:''' Its height is 420 meters and it is located on the northeast of [[Masjid al-Haram]]. As it is near [[Ka'ba]], according to narrations Abu Qubays Mountain is regarded holy. It is said that in the time of Prophet [[Nuh]] when the storm erupted, the [[Hajar al-Aswad]] was safely protected by the Mount of Abu Qubays which is the reason that this mountain is called Amin (custodian). The first public declaration of Islam by Prophet Muhammad (s) was made on this mountain as well.<ref>Qāʾidān, ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmi Makka wa Madīna'', p. 110.</ref> [[Mount Safa]] which is the beginning point of [[Sa'y]] is on the hillside of this mountain.

* '''[[Jabal al-Nur]] or Hira':''' It is located four km on the northeast of Mecca and next to the road of [[Mina]] to [['Arafat]]. Its height is 634 meters. [[Mount Hira'|Hira' Cave]] is located on the top of this mountain where Prophet Muhammad (s) was worshiping in [[Ramadan]] months before [[Bi'tha]]. During that time [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] accompanied Prophet (s) as well.<ref>[https://hawzah.net/fa/Article/View/4205/حضرت-علی(ع)-در-غار-حرا Imam Ali (a) in Hira (Persian)]</ref> The first verses of the [[Quran]] was revealed to Prophet (s) in Hira' Cave.<ref>Qāʾidān, ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmi Makka wa Madīna'', p. 108.</ref>

* '''[[Mount Thawr]]:''' Its height is 759 meter and it is located three km on the south of Mecca. When Prophet Muhammad (s) planned to Immigrate to [[Medina]], he sought shelter in a cave in the [[Mount Thawr]] from the polytheists who were looking for him.<ref>Fākihī, ''Akhbār Makka fī qadīm al-dahr wa ḥaīthih'', vol. 4, p. 80-83.</ref>

* '''[[Shi'b of Abi Talib]]:''' Today it is called Shi'b or valley of 'Ali (a) as well.<ref>Qāʾidān, ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmi Makka wa Madīna'', p. 113-114.</ref> Muslims escaped from the tyrannies and prosecutions of polytheists to this valley and stayed there for three years.<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 375-376.</ref>