The City of Mecca

• Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has called Mecca by five names in the Quran: Mecca, Bakkah, Al-Balad, Al-Qaryah and Ummul-Qura.
• In Surah Al-Imran, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) states: “ Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Mecca), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-Alamin (mankind and jinn).” [3:96]
• When the Muslims conquered Mecca. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) 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 (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) 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 (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), sitting on his camel in the Al-Hazwarah market, addressed Mecca 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 (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) once remarked: “ There is no city in which Dajjal will be unable to enter besides Mecca and Medina. Every street will be lined with angels standing in rows to protect them.”   [Bukhari]
• In the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), camel caravans were a major part of Mecca’ s bustling economy. Alliances were struck between the merchants in Mecca and the local nomadic tribes, who would bring goods – leather, livestock, and metals mined in the local mountains – to Mecca 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 Mecca.
• Muslim scientists have provided evidence to show that Mecca is the true centre of the Earth, one argument being that unlike other longitudes, Mecca’ s is in perfect alignment to magnetic north.