Katie Flowers

How did Meccas cultural significance make it a unique city in

world history?

Considered Islams Holiest City and the birthplace of the Prophet

Mohammad, people from all around the world come to travel to

Mecca. (McKinnon, 391) Because Mecca is one of the five Pillars of

Islam, many pilgrims put theirs lives in danger to reach this holy land.

In honor of Muhammads visits to Mecca in 629 and 632, those who

are physically and financially able must undertake the hajj and make

one pilgrimage to Mecca. (Traditions, 294) The uprising of

Muhammad, the roots and history connected to the Bible, and the

extensive travel of pilgrims to this Holy land has made Mecca such a

unique city in history today.

Muhammad was recognized as a Christian monk and called upon

a Gods messenger. An angel Gabriel approached Muhammad in a cave

when he was praying and then showed Muhammad the Quran, which is

the scriptures, moral code, and ritual of the Islam. In Traditions and

Encounters, Sources from the Past on page 293, the Quran on Allah

and his expectations are shown, All praise be to Allah Guide us (Oh

Lord) to the path that s straight You alone we worship you, and to You

alone turn for help. This shows us some of the sayings and readings of

the Quran that Muhammad had discovered from the angel Gabriel.
Muhammad was strictly monotheistic and Islamic traditions connected

Muhammad back to the Bible.

The Bible takes it back to Abraham and his two sons Isaac and

Ishmael. In the Islamic version of Gabriel, the angel that approached

Muhammad is striking the ground to find water for the dying thirst of

Ishmael. When Gabriel strikes the ground, water appears from the floor

marking the site of the Meccan Sanctuary. (McKinnon, 401-403) Then

Allah (god) commands Abraham and Ishmael to establish a sanctuary,

which is now the grounds of the Kaab.

Mecca is a city where the Kaab is located. The Kaab is

considered a symbol of Meccas greatness, a large black rock that

many Muslims, only the devote, can approach to praise. When Muslims

pray their five daily prayers they must face the direction towards

Mecca, even to this day. (McKinnon, 391) Since it is one of the Five

Pillars of Islam, Muslims must make way to visit this land once in their

lifetime. (Traditions, 294) The hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca) drew in

many important historical individuals and worshipers from Arabia,

Morocco, and many more places.

The pilgrimage to Mecca was an extensive and rough voyage for

many people throughout time and history. In Places of Encounters,

Encounters as Told, Ibn Battuta explains his trip to Mecca, he explains

the caravan he went on with his group and camels, and how important

water was for everyone. Traveling night and day through poison winds,
and unable to attain water, except for minor occasions the water went

to the camels. (MvKinnon, 426) This is just one case recorded about a

voyage to Mecca. The travel was not easy, poverty, disease, and

border control was not easy, but many people did what they could to

make it to this Hoy land.

Mecca has a great development of the religion of Islam.

Muhammad, Gods messenger developed a strong cultural religion in

Mecca. The development of this religion brought many travelers to this

area that sacrificed health in search of this Holy land. Now Mecca is

still traveled by many every year during the hajj and remains one of

the five Pillars of Islam to this day.