Makkah Tul Mukarammah

Makkah is the blessed city which is the most beloved land in the sight of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and the chosen location of His House. It was here that the final prophet and guide of the whole of mankind, Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم), was born and commenced his Prophethood.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has called Makkah by five names in the Quran: Makkah, Bakkah, Al-Balad, Al-Qaryah and Ummul-Qura.

In Surah Al-Imran, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) states

“Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-Alamin (mankind and jinn).”

3:96

When the Muslims conquered Makkah.

The Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said

“Allah had made this city sacred the day He created the heavens and the earth and it’s sanctity shall remain until the Day of Qiyamah (Day of Judgement). Its thorns cannot be broken, its animals cannot be harmed and things fallen on its ground cannot be picked up unless with the intention of returning it to its owner or making public announcements (to locate the owner). It is also forbidden to cut the grass that (naturally) grows here.”

Muslim

The reward of prayer offered in Masjid al-Haram is multiplied many times.

Jabir bin Abdullah (رحمه الله) narrates that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said

“A prayer in this mosque of mine is better than one thousand prayers anywhere else, except for al-Masjid al-Haram. A prayer in al-Masjid al-Haram is better than one hundred thousand prayers (anywhere else).”

Ahmad

The Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم), sitting on his camel in the Al-Hazwarah market, addressed Makkah saying

“By Allah, you are the best land of Allah, the most beloved land of Allah to Allah. Had I not been driven out of you, I would not have left you.”

Zaadul Ma’aad

The Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) once remarked

“There is no city in which Dajjal will be unable to enter besides Makkah and Madinah. Every street will be lined with angels standing in rows to protect them.”

Bukhari

In the time of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم), camel caravans were a major part of Makkah’s bustling economy. Alliances were struck between the merchants in Makkah and the local nomadic tribes, who would bring goods – leather, livestock, and metals mined in the local mountains – to Makkah to be loaded on the caravans and carried to cities in Syria and Iraq. Historical accounts also provide some indication that goods from other continents may also have flowed through Makkah.

The Hajar al-Aswad, which is set in the eastern corner of the Ka’bah. Tawaf begins and ends facing this sacred stone. Throughout the ages, countless people including many of the Prophets (عليه السلام), the Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) himself, the Sahabah (رضي الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰ عنهم), pious personalities and millions of Muslims who have performed Hajj and Umrah have placed their blessed lips on it.

Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said

“The Black Stone came down from Paradise and it was whiter than milk, but the sins of the sons of Adam turned it black.”

Tirmidhi

Du’as are accepted at the Hajar al-Aswad and on the Day of Judgement it will testify in favour of all those who kissed it.

The Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said

“By Allah! On the Day of Qiyamah, Allah will present the Hajar al-Aswad in such a manner that it will have two eyes and a tongue to testify to the Imaan (faith) of all those who kissed it.”

Tirmidhi

This corner of the Ka’bah is called the Rukan Yamani because it is situated on the side of the Ka’bah which faces the land of Yemen. It is on the wall opposite to that of the Hajar al-Aswad.

Because this corner is still standing on the foundation that Ebrahim (عليه السلام) built, the narration of Abdullah bin Abbas (رحمه الله) states that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) made ‘Istilaam’ of it.

‘Istilaam’ refers to the touching of the corner whether this is done by hand or by kissing. As the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) touched the Rukn Yamaani by hand, this practise is Sunnah. However, there is no harm if one is unable to touch it due to the crowds.

It was the practice of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) that when he passed between the Rukn Yamani and the Hajar al-Aswad.

He recited the following du’a

“O Rabb, grant us (all that which is) good in this world, (all that which is) good in the Aakhirah and save us from the punishment of the fire (of Jahannam).”

Surah Baqarah, verse 201

The Maqame Ebrahim refers to the stone on which Ebrahim (عليه السلام) stood on while he was building the Ka’bah. As Ismail (عليه السلام) passed stones to Ebrahim (عليه السلام), and as Ebrahim (عليه السلام) continued laying them in place the Maqame Ebrahim miraculously continued rising higher and higher as the walls rose. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) caused the trace of his footprints to remain on the stone as a reminder to the believers among his descendants.

It has been reported from Sa’eed bin Jubair (رحمه الله) that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said

“The stone is the station of Ebrahim (عليه السلام). Allah made it soft and made it a mercy. Ebrahim (عليه السلام) would stand on it and Ismail would hand the stones up to him.”

Muthir Al-Gharam

The Mataf refers to the open white area immediately around the Ka’bah where tawaf takes place.

With reference to it, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) mentions in the Quran

“We commanded Ebrahim (عليه السلام) and Ismail (عليه السلام) (saying), “Clean (remove idols from) My house (the Ka’bah) for those who perform tawaf, those who stay in it, those who bow (in Ruku) and those who prostrate” (referring to those who perform salah there).”

Surah Baqarah, verse 125

Mount Safa, inside Masjid al-Haram, is the point from where pilgrims (Guest of Allah) start the Sa’ee to emulate the actions of Hajra (رضي الله عنھا).

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) makes mention of the Safa and Marwah mountains in the Quran in Surah Baqarah

“Verily Safa and Marwah are among the landmarks (distinctive signs) of (the Deen of) Allah.”

2:158

Mount Marwah is where Hajra (رضي الله عنھا) ran to from Mount Safa in searching for water for her son Ismail (عليه السلام).

Masjid Shajarah (Masjid of the tree) is located opposite Masjid al-Jinn. The Masjid marks the spot from where the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) called a tree and it came to him. Please note that this masjid is not to be confused with the masjid in Dhul Hulayfah which is sometimes referred to by the same name.

This masjid is located at the foot of a mountain in the south of Mina, close to the smallest Jamarat. It was at this spot that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) performed his salah in Hajj tul Widah and numerous other Prophets before him performed salah.

Majid Ra’yah is located on the spot where the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) had his flag planted when he conquered Makkah. It is also known as Masjid Jowdariyyah.

Mount Thawr (or Jabal Thawr) is the mountain that contains the cave in which the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) and Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) sought refuge for 3 days and nights from the Quraysh, as they left Makkah and emigrated to Madinah.

There lies a cave in Mina known as the ‘Cave of Mursalaat’ as this was where the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) was when Surah Mursalaat was revealed to him.

This place is Close to Safa Hill, this is the place where Hazrat Omer accepted Islam. Prophet used to pray his Salah at this place with his companions. One of the Haram’s doors is named Dar e Arqam & can be seen when walking towards Hill Marwah.

The place She’eb Banu Hashim in Makkah is sited where the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) was born on Monday 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal (April 22, 571 CE), in the Year of the Elephant. Our prophet’s father Abdullah died about six months before his birth. While his mother Aminah was pregnant. Abdul Muttalib our prophet’s (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) grandfather named him Muhammad, which means ‘he who is praised’. In keeping with Arab tradition, he then shaved the baby’s head and afterwards invited his fellow Makkans to a feast. His ancestry can be traced back to the Prophet Ebrahim (عليه السلام).

The place later converted into a library (Maktab).

It is authentically related that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) said

“I am a result of the supplication of my father Ebrahim عليه السلام and the glad-tidings brought by Isa (عليه السلام). And my mother – when she bore me – saw that a light shone out from her, which lit up the palaces in Syria.”

al-Haakim