30 Facts About Mecca

Mecca is generally considered "the fountainhead and cradle of Islam".

Mecca is revered in Islam as the birthplace of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

The Great Mosque of Mecca, known as the Masjid al-Haram, is home to the Ka'bah, believed by Muslims to have been built by Abraham and Ishmael.

Since then, Mecca has seen a tremendous expansion in size and infrastructure, with newer, modern buildings such as the Abraj Al Bait, the world's fourth-tallest building and third-largest by floor area, towering over the Great Mosque.

Nonetheless, Mecca is the familiar form of the English transliteration for the Arabic name of the city.

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Early history of Mecca is still largely disputed, as there are no unambiguous references to it in ancient literature prior to the rise of Islam.

Mecca'storian Patricia Crone has cast doubt on the claim that Mecca was a major historical trading outpost.

However, other scholars such as Glen W Bowersock disagree and assert that Mecca was a major trading outpost.

Mecca suggests that most of these goods were destined for the Roman army, which is known to have required colossal quantities of leather and hides for its equipment.

The civilization of Mecca is believed to have started after Ibrahim left his son Isma?il and wife Hajar in the valley at Allah's command.

Goods from Africa and the Far East passed through en route to Syria including spices, leather, medicine, cloth, and slaves; in return Mecca received money, weapons, cereals and wine, which in turn were distributed throughout Arabia.

Mecca became the center of a loose confederation of client tribes, which included those of the Banu Tamim.

Mecca was born into the faction of Banu Hashim in the ruling tribe of Quraysh.

Mecca was declared the holiest site in Islam ordaining it as the center of Muslim pilgrimage, one of the faith's Five Pillars.

Mecca attracted a year-round population of scholars, pious Muslims who wished to live close to the Kaaba, and local inhabitants who served the pilgrims.

Mecca was never the capital of any of the Islamic states.

Mecca re-entered Islamic political history during the Second Fitna, when it was held by Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr and the Zubayrids.

In 930, Mecca was attacked and sacked by Qarmatians, a millenarian Shi'a Isma'ili Muslim sect led by Abu-Tahir Al-Jannabi and centered in eastern Arabia.

One of the most famous travelers to Mecca in the 14th century was a Moroccan scholar and traveler, Ibn Battuta.

Mecca is not served by any airport, due to concerns about the city's safety.

Mecca has been the site of several incidents and failures of crowd control because of the large numbers of people who come to make the Hajj.

Mecca holds an important place in Islam and is the holiest city in all branches of the religion.

Mecca donated funds for the deepening of Zamzam Well and funded a massive construction project likely costing 1.

The school system in Mecca has many public and private schools for both males and females.

Mecca's culture has been affected by the large number of pilgrims that arrive annually, and thus boasts a rich cultural heritage.

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Mecca Province is the only province where expatriates outnumber Saudis.

Mecca Gate, known popularly as the Quran Gate, on the western entrance of the city, or from Jeddah.

Mecca is primarily served by King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah for international and regional connections and Ta'if Regional Airport for regional connections.

Mecca is served by four ring roads, and these are very crowded compared to the three ring roads of Medina.

Mecca Metro, officially known as Makkah Mass Rail Transit, is a planned four-line metro system for the city.