Mecca
The holiest city of Islam, in the Hijaz; site of the Kaaba and destination of the Hajj pilgrimage.
- Region
- Hijaz
- Country
- Saudi Arabia
- Known for
- The Kaaba and the Hajj
Overview
Mecca (Makkah al-Mukarramah) lies in the Hijaz region of western Arabia. It is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the site of the Sacred Mosque and the Kaaba, toward which Muslims pray and to which the Hajj pilgrimage is made.
In the classical sources
The classical geographers devote long entries to Mecca, its names, its wadis and its surrounding mountains. Its history as a caravan town and sanctuary long predates Islam.
Sources
- ياقوت الحموي، معجم البلدان، 626هـ — مادة: مكة
Last reviewed: 2026-07-09