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Mecca (/ ˈ m ɛ k ə /; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah) is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia and the holiest city in Islam. It is 70 km (43 mi) inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea , in a narrow valley 277 m (909 ft) above sea level.
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Mecca, city, western Saudi Arabia, located in the Ṣirāt Mountains, inland from the Red Sea coast. It is the holiest of Muslim cities. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was born in Mecca, and it is toward this religious centre that Muslims turn five times daily in prayer (see qiblah). All devout and able Muslims attempt a hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Because it is sacred, only Muslims are allowed to enter the city.
In the 20th and 21st centuries the city underwent vast improvements. The area around the religious shrines was cleared, the mosque enlarged, housing and sanitation improved, and transportation facilities enhanced. As a result, Mecca can accommodate the continually increasing number of pilgrims, or hajjis. Area 10 square miles (26 square km). Pop. (2010) 1,534,731.
The population density in Mecca is high. Most of the people are concentrated in the old city, while densities in the modern residential areas are the lowest in the city. During the month of pilgrimage the city is swollen with one to two million worshippers from other parts of Saudi Arabia and from other Muslim countries. Entrance into Mecca is perm...
Apr 19, 2024 · The Kaaba (Kaʿbah) surrounded by pilgrims during the hajj, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The cube-shaped structure (the word kaʿbah means “cube” in Arabic) is roughly 50 feet (15 meters) high, and it is about 35 by 40 feet (10 by 12 meters) at its base. Constructed of gray stone and marble, it is oriented so that its corners roughly correspond to ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Mecca, officially known as Makkah al-Mukarramah ( Arabic: مكة المكرمة, Makkah al-Mukarramah ), is a city in Saudi Arabia and the holiest city in Islam. Mecca is the birthplace of Prophet Muhammed, the founder of Islam, and Muslims believe the Qur'an was first revealed to Muhammad here. The Great Mosque of Mecca, known as Masjid al ...
The purest place in the world, and the city that embraces the qiblah of Muslims. Learn about its ancient history, its great Islamic status, ways to reach it, and the best seasons to visit it to see its many historical and Islamic landmarks.
The Kaaba, [b] sometimes referred to as al-Ka'ba al-Musharrafa, [d] is a stone building at the center of Islam 's most important mosque and holiest site, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. [2] [3] [4] It is considered by Muslims to be the Bayt Allah (Arabic: بَيْت ٱللَّٰه, lit.
Great Mosque of Mecca, mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, built to enclose the Ka‘bah, the holiest shrine in Islam. The modern building is the product of centuries of development, with its oldest parts dating to a 16th century Ottoman renovation. In the 20th century it was significantly enlarged by the Saudi government.
