Difference between revisions of "Mecca"
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==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
''Mecca'', Saudi Arabia, a destination of [[pilgrims]] in the [[Islamic]] world | ''Mecca'', Saudi Arabia, a destination of [[pilgrims]] in the [[Islamic]] world | ||
| − | *[ | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1843] |
==Definition== | ==Definition== | ||
*1: a place regarded as a [[center]] for a specified [[group]], [[activity]], or interest <a mecca for shoppers> | *1: a place regarded as a [[center]] for a specified [[group]], [[activity]], or interest <a mecca for shoppers> | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | '''Mecca''' (/ˈmɛkə/; Arabic: مكة, ''Makkah'', pronounced [ˈmækkæ]), also transliterated as ''Makkah'', is a city in the [ | + | '''Mecca''' (/ˈmɛkə/; Arabic: مكة, ''Makkah'', pronounced [ˈmækkæ]), also transliterated as ''Makkah'', is a city in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hejaz Hejaz] and the capital of Makkah Province in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia Saudi Arabia]. The city is located 70 km (43 mi) inland from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeddah Jeddah] in a narrow [[valley]] at a height of 277 m (909 ft) above sea level. Its resident [[population]] in 2012 was roughly 2 million, although [[visitors]] more than triple this number every year during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajj Hajj] period held in the twelfth Muslim lunar month of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhu_al-Hijjah Dhu al-Hijjah]. |
| − | As the birthplace of [[Muhammad]] and a site of the [ | + | As the birthplace of [[Muhammad]] and a site of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation Muhammad's first revelation] of the [[Quran]] (the site in specificity being a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hira cave] 3.2 km (2 mi) from Mecca), Mecca is regarded as the [[Holy|holiest]] [[city]] in the religion of [[Islam]] and a pilgrimage to it known as the Hajj is [[obligatory]] for all able Muslims. |
| − | Mecca is [[home]] to the [ | + | Mecca is [[home]] to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba Kaaba], by majority description Islam's holiest site, as well as being the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qibla center of the Islamic universe]. Mecca was long ruled by Muhammad's descendants, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharif sharifs], acting either as independent rulers or as vassals to larger polities. It was absorbed into Saudi Arabia in 1925. In its [[modern]] period, Mecca has seen tremendous expansion in size and [[infrastructure]], home to structures such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraj_Al_Bait Abraj Al Bait], also known as the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, the world's second tallest building and the building with the largest amount of floor area. Due to this expansion, Mecca has lost some historical structures and archaeological sites, such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajyad_Fortress Ajyad Fortress]. |
| − | Today, more than 15 million Muslims visit ''Mecca'' annually, including several million during the few days of the Hajj. As a result, Mecca has become one of the most cosmopolitan and [[diverse]] cities in the Muslim world, despite the fact that non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the [[city]].[ | + | Today, more than 15 million Muslims visit ''Mecca'' annually, including several million during the few days of the Hajj. As a result, Mecca has become one of the most cosmopolitan and [[diverse]] cities in the Muslim world, despite the fact that non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the [[city]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecca] |
[[Category: Geography]] | [[Category: Geography]] | ||
Latest revision as of 01:27, 13 December 2020
Origin
Mecca, Saudi Arabia, a destination of pilgrims in the Islamic world
Definition
Description
Mecca (/ˈmɛkə/; Arabic: مكة, Makkah, pronounced [ˈmækkæ]), also transliterated as Makkah, is a city in the Hejaz and the capital of Makkah Province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located 70 km (43 mi) inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of 277 m (909 ft) above sea level. Its resident population in 2012 was roughly 2 million, although visitors more than triple this number every year during Hajj period held in the twelfth Muslim lunar month of Dhu al-Hijjah.
As the birthplace of Muhammad and a site of the Muhammad's first revelation of the Quran (the site in specificity being a cave 3.2 km (2 mi) from Mecca), Mecca is regarded as the holiest city in the religion of Islam and a pilgrimage to it known as the Hajj is obligatory for all able Muslims.
Mecca is home to the Kaaba, by majority description Islam's holiest site, as well as being the center of the Islamic universe. Mecca was long ruled by Muhammad's descendants, the sharifs, acting either as independent rulers or as vassals to larger polities. It was absorbed into Saudi Arabia in 1925. In its modern period, Mecca has seen tremendous expansion in size and infrastructure, home to structures such as the Abraj Al Bait, also known as the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, the world's second tallest building and the building with the largest amount of floor area. Due to this expansion, Mecca has lost some historical structures and archaeological sites, such as the Ajyad Fortress.
Today, more than 15 million Muslims visit Mecca annually, including several million during the few days of the Hajj. As a result, Mecca has become one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the Muslim world, despite the fact that non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city.[1]
