Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Mecca, located in the Sirāt Mountains of western Saudi Arabia, is regarded as the holiest city in Islam and is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. It is an essential destination for Muslims worldwide, who are required to make the pilgrimage known as Hajj at least once in their lifetime, which forms one of the five pillars of Islam. At the city’s heart lies the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure within the Masjid al-Haram, the largest mosque in the world. The Kaaba, believed to have been built by the biblical prophet Abraham, is a focal point for Islamic worship, with daily prayers directed towards it.
Historically, Mecca was a vital trading hub, connecting various regions from East Africa to Europe. Today, its economy heavily relies on the influx of pilgrims, alongside industries such as copper and iron manufacturing, and tourism-related services. The city has undergone significant changes over the centuries, including periods of control by various empires and major historical events like the 1979 mosque seizure. Only Muslims are permitted to enter Mecca, emphasizing its sacred status. As of recent years, with over 2.1 million residents, Mecca continues to attract millions more pilgrims annually, a number which is expected to rebound following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Mecca is a valley city located in the Sirāt Mountains of western Saudi Arabia. According to Islamic tradition, it is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and is considered the holiest city in Islam. The name “Mecca” is derived from the Arabic Makkah, which may have originated from the Arabic word mahrab, or “sanctuary.” Followers make an annual pilgrimage to the site during the month of Dhu al-Hijja, which falls sometime in the summer months in Western calendars. Known as a Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam. Within Mecca, the Kaaba is a large building located inside the Masjid al-Haram, Islam’s holiest mosque. Worshippers around the world turn toward Mecca (and the mosque) during their daily prayers. The action symbolizes their unity in worshipping God.
In ancient times, Mecca was an important trading center because its location linked East Africa, South Asia, and South Arabia with the Mediterranean. In modern times, the city’s economy has become dependent on the annual pilgrimages. Industries, including copper extraction, iron manufacturing, and farming have also existed since the 1970s, as well as hotels and other tourist-related amenities for those making their pilgrimage to the area.
Background
Mecca is referred to by multiple names within the Qur’an, including Bakkah, Umm al-Qura, Tihamah, and Faran; however, the earliest mention of Mecca, or Makkah, occurred in 741 in the Byzantine-Arab Chronicle. The text listed its location in Mesopotamia and not the Hejaz region. In the fifth century, the Quraysh tribe took over the city of Mecca and used it for trading purposes. The Quraysh developed strong connections with other parts of Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Europe.
The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca about 570. Muhammad left the city for nearby Medina in 622, but returned in 630 and dedicated the city to God, declaring it a site for pilgrimage. Pagan images were destroyed and pagan followers living in the city were granted amnesty. Muhammad again left Mecca for Medina—now Islam’s second holiest city—and helped to reunify the peninsula. Muhammad died in 632 and was buried in Medina. When commercial trade was no longer an effective part of the city’s economy, Mecca relied on the annual pilgrimages to sustain its economy.
In 1269, Mecca was under control of the Egyptian Mamluk dynasty, and later the Ottoman Empire in 1517. The city came under occupation again in 1803 when it was captured and held by the First Saudi State until 1813. King Ibn Sa’ud, considered the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, took over Mecca in 1925, making a part of Saudi Arabia. In 1979, Islamist dissidents seized Mecca’s great mosque and held tens of thousands of people hostage inside. The uprising lasted for two weeks, resulted in hundreds of deaths, and damaged the mosque. Since 1985, approximately 95 percent of Mecca’s historic structures have been razed.
At the heart of Mecca is the Kaaba, or the “Cube.” The Kaaba is a building within the Masjid al-Haram, Islam’s most important mosque. At 356,800 square meters (3.8 million square feet), the mosque is also the largest in the world, and can accommodate nearly one million worshippers in its indoor and outdoor areas. According to Islamic tradition, the Kaaba was first built by the biblical prophet Abraham when he returned to Mecca after leaving his family there by order of Allah. Since that time, the Kaaba has been rebuilt many times, but always in the same location. Although the Kaaba plays a major role in the Hajj, it is not a shrine, nor does it contain items of worship. Idol worship is strictly forbidden in Islam, and the space functions as any other mosque would. In addition to housing lamps for lighting, the Kaaba holds the Black Stone, or Hajar al-Aswad. The stone is the easternmost cornerstone of the Kaaba. According to legend, the stone was initially white but turned black after absorbing the sins of the pilgrims who have touched it.
Making the pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam. All Muslims who are able are required visit the city once in their lifetime. The four other pillars of Islam include a profession of faith, prayer, alms, and fasting. Hajj and the profession of faith are required only once during one’s lifetime, while the other pillars occur more regularly.
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Mecca is located 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The city is roughly 900 feet (274 meters) above sea level, and is surrounded by the Sirāt Mountains. Temperatures in the area can climb as high as 120 degrees F (49 C) in the summer months and drop to around 65 degrees F (18 C) in the winter. Although the area occasionally floods, there is typically very little precipitation throughout the year.
In 2022, more than 2.1 million people lived in the metro area of the city. That number can easily be doubled annually by those making a pilgrimage to the city. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic virtually halted pilgrimages to Mecca, with as few as 1,000 Saudi residents allowed to participate in the Hajj. In 2021, the number climbed to 60,000, and in 2022, approximately one million people worldwide took part in the annual pilgrimage. Officials anticipate visitors to Mecca will return to pre-COVID numbers—if not higher—although rising costs, particularly those related to travel, are likely to adversely impact the plans of some. According to estimates in 2024, nearly 2 million Muslims completed the pilgrimage to Mecca on June 14–19. However, more than 1,300 people died during the pilgramage when temperatures reached 122 degrees F (50 degrees C).
Approximately 25 percent of the world’s population, or more than 1.9 billion people, practice Islam. Only Muslims are allowed to enter Mecca. Those who attempt to enter Mecca as a non-Muslim can be fined. Anyone caught in Mecca as a non-Muslim can be deported.
Bibliography
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“Saudi Arabia Says This Year’s Hajj Pilgrimage Will Return to Pre-COVID Levels.” PBS News Hour, 10 Jan. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/01/10/1148063709/saudi-arabia-says-this-years-hajj-pilgrimage-will-return-to-pre-covid-levels. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.