In the name of Allah, all praise is due to the Lord of all worlds. Salutations and peace be upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, born in Mecca, his family, companions, and all who follow in His footsteps.

Allah, the Almighty, has made Prophet Muhammad ﷺ the most noble of humans, Ramadan the most noble month, Friday the most noble day, and the Quran the most noble book. And it is He who has chosen Mecca as the most noble place on this earth.

Allah has the right to bestow honor upon a particular time, place, person, or anything else surpassing others. Mecca, with its special position in the hearts of Muslims, has various virtues that we should remember because people often visit it, whether for the pilgrimage (Hajj) or Umrah. May these virtues enhance our motivation to worship while being there.

The First Mosque in the World

In Mecca stands the most noble and majestic mosque, Masjid al-Haram, in front of which every believer is determined to pray and perform the circumambulation (Tawaf), even if a Muslim has never visited it. This reflects a profound love within the religion, a love for the symbols of the faith.

Masjid al-Haram is the first mosque ever built on the face of this earth for the worship of Allah. Scholars may differ on when exactly it was built, but they generally agree that it was the first mosque constructed. This is based on the words of Allah.

“Surely the first House ˹of worship˺ established for humanity is the one at Bakkah—a blessed sanctuary and a guide for ˹all˺ people. In it are clear signs and the standing-place of Abraham. Whoever enters it should be safe. Pilgrimage to this House is an obligation by Allah upon whoever is able among the people. And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is not in need of ˹any of His˺ creation.” – Ali ‘Imran 3:96-97

“Bakkah” is another name for Mecca, which means crowded or congested, describing the place as crowded with people who visit it. Inside this mosque is the station (Maqam) of Ibrahim. Those who enter this city are guaranteed safety, as mentioned in the Quranic verse above.

Qibla of Muslims

In addition to being the first mosque built for the worship of Allah, Mecca also serves as the qibla (direction of prayer) for Muslims worldwide. The obligation to perform prayers is unified with the obligation to face the qibla, located in Masjid al-Haram. In the early days of Islam, the first qibla for Muslims was initially the Masjid al-Aqsa, but Allah changed it to Mecca, as mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 144.

“Indeed, We see you ˹O Prophet˺ turning your face towards heaven. Now We will make you turn towards a direction ˹of prayer˺ that will please you. So turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque ˹in Mecca˺—wherever you are, turn your faces towards it. Those who were given the Scripture certainly know this to be the truth from their Lord. And Allah is never unaware of what they do.” – Al-Baqarah 2:144

“Indeed, those who persist in disbelief and hinder ˹others˺ from the Way of Allah and from the Sacred Mosque—which We have appointed for all people, residents and visitors alike—along with whoever intends to deviate by doing wrong in it, We will cause them to taste a painful punishment.” – Al-Hajj 22:25

The Holy Kaaba (Photo Credit: Nurul Mimsy)

Multiplied Rewards for Prayer

Praying in congregation is rewarded manifold, and the reward is multiplied by 27 times. The merit of such prayers increases even more when performed in the main mosques of the Muslim community, such as in Mecca. The reward is magnified to a hundred thousand times for those who pray there, as explained by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: 

“Praying in my mosque is more virtuous than a thousand prayers elsewhere except for the Masjid al-Haram. And praying in the Masjid al-Haram is more virtuous than a hundred thousand prayers elsewhere.” – Narrated by Imam Ibn Majah.

In this hadith, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ elucidates the immense reward for someone who establishes prayers with great virtue. This reward encompasses both obligatory and voluntary prayers. 

Therefore, a person blessed with the opportunity to be in the Masjid al-Haram should take full advantage by increasing voluntary prayers, such as Dhuha prayer, the Sunnah prayers before and after the obligatory prayers, and the night prayers (Tahajjud).

Imam an-Nawawi mentioned: “Know that in our school of thought, the excellence of prayer in these two mosques (Masjid al-Haram and Masjid Nabawi) is not limited to the obligatory prayers but extends to encompass all prayers, both obligatory and voluntary.”

Forbidden Land

Mecca is one of the sacred lands, alongside Medina. The sanctity of Mecca has been declared by Allah since the creation of the heavens and the earth. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Verily, this city (Mecca) is forbidden by Allah since He created the heavens and the earth. It is a forbidden city by the sanctification of Allah until the Day of Resurrection.” – Muttafaqun ‘alaih.

Regarding the meaning of forbidding, Ibn Ashur stated: “The meaning of forbidding the sacred land is to prohibit anything that goes against its benefit, the well-being of its inhabitants, animals, and plants. This includes preventing the fighting against its people, hostility, oppression, and intimidation. It also prohibits hunting, cutting plants within specified boundaries.”

Therefore, there are prohibitions that must be observed by someone in the Mecca region, such as the prohibition of killing, hunting animals, cutting plants indiscriminately, and taking items found in the area without proper permission, except for the purpose of publicizing them to be found by their owners. This prohibition is a sign of honor and preservation, not a disrespect towards the place.

Place of Revelation

Indeed, one of the greatest honors of Mecca is the emergence of a Messenger from among its people and the revelation that brought about a significant transformation in the social fabric of the ignorant society. 

People who had humiliated themselves with idol worship turned to worshiping Allah, the Creator. Women, whose status was degraded in society, became honorable. Those who were once considered lowly slaves rose in dignity through faith. It was in this place that the revelation of the Quran, the starting point of Prophet Muhammad’s mission, took place.

More precisely, the revelation occurred in the Cave of Hira while the Prophet ﷺ was engaged in worship and seclusion. This should serve as a profound lesson for the Muslim community, emphasizing that Islam originated in Mecca, brought by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and it shattered polytheism. 

Therefore, those who visit Mecca should avoid any form of polytheism and superstition, as these were the very things vehemently opposed by the Prophet ﷺ.

Pilgrims in the Hijr Ismail (Photo Credit: Haidan)

Special Place for Hajj Worship

Ibadah haji is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, obligatory for a Muslim who is financially and physically capable. Performing the pilgrimage is a great aspiration for Muslims. Consequently, some Muslims sell their livestock, pawn their possessions, or even sell parcels of land solely to cover the expenses of performing hajj, demonstrating the significance of this religious duty.

The pilgrimage is specifically ordained to be conducted in Mecca, encompassing the Masjid al-Haram, Safa and Marwa, Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah. All these locations are situated in Mecca. This is a magnanimous honor bestowed by Allah on the sacred land of Islam.

If any Muslim claims to have performed hajj elsewhere, the pilgrimage is not valid, and they may even be considered sinful for conducting a religious ritual in a location not sanctioned by Islamic law.

Mina in Makkah al-Mukarramah (Photo Credit: Nurul Mimsy)

Zam-Zam Water

Zamzam water is the best water in the world, and its excellence is unparalleled by any other water. One of the miracles that Allah shows with this water is its emergence in the midst of dry and barren land, as we are familiar with in the story of Hajar searching for water for her son, Ismail.

This story is recorded by Allah in the Quran through His words:

“Our Lord! I have settled some of my offspring in a barren valley, near Your Sacred House, our Lord, so that they may establish prayer. So make the hearts of ˹believing˺ people incline towards them and provide them with fruits, so perhaps they will be thankful.” – Surah Ibrahim 14:37

Additionally, when we consider the population density of Mecca and the large number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims visiting Mecca, each bringing Zamzam water back to their hometowns, the well of Zamzam never runs dry. Furthermore, it is also sent to Medina, such as in Masjid al-Nabawi and Masjid Quba’. There are numerous virtues associated with Zamzam water, as recorded in the sayings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ once said: “The best water on the face of the earth is the water of Zamzam; it serves as food and a source of nourishment. It is also a cure for various illnesses. The worst water on the face of the earth is the water of Barahut in Hadramaut. It is like the fluid of a young insect; in the morning, it is a flowing stream, and by the evening, it dries up.”

Masjidil Al-Haram (Photo Credit: Sam Riz)

In conclusion, Mecca’s virtues are numerous, making it a source of spiritual and historical significance for Muslims worldwide. Pilgrimages to this holy city are not just rituals but opportunities to connect with the rich history and sacred traditions of Islam. May Allah continue to honor and preserve the sanctity of Mecca.