Which city is the Islamic center of pilgrimage?

Mecca is a city in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. The city is located 70 km (43 mi) inland from Jeddah, in a narrow valley 277 m (909 ft) above sea level, 340 kilometres (210 mi) south of Medina, its population in 2012 was 2 million, although visitors more than triple this number every year during the Ḥajj ("Pilgrimage"), held in the twelfth Muslim lunar month of Dhūl-Ḥijjah.

It is the birthplace of Muhammad, a cave 3 km (2 mi) from Mecca was the site of Muhammad's first revelation of the Quran, and a pilgrimage to it, known as the Hajj, is obligatory for all able Muslims. Mecca is home to the Kaaba, one of Islam's holiest sites and the direction of Muslim prayer, and thus Mecca is regarded as the holiest city in Islam.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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40 Comments

David Colloby

the questions are going from the sublime to the ridiculous

Fran Donnelly

I'm starting to think like the rest of you now, as soon as I read the question I thought 'this is a Carol question'

Bruce Means

Mohammed, the epitome of pedophillia, "married" Aiesha at 6 and held off commsumation until she was 9. What a guy.!!! Mind you she iced him a bit later on.

Sybilla

Good grief, people! This is a page that many of us access to learn, play and entertain ourselves yet many quizzers insist on disparaging some of the writers. Do you realise they allow us easy points and that even if you know the answer, many others do not? In my not so humble opinion, the derogatory comments show a lack of respect and quite a puerile way of thinking.

ninakamwene

Alahu Akkbar

Chrissie

Albeck Wilson-Smith, of course not - there WERE no Muslims in Abraham's time!

Karin Johansson

Richard D. Boyle, the islam in Saudi is more like the Christian sects. The reason others than Saudis can pilgrim there are a lot of economic reasons. This year they are gonna lose Most of the 8 - 12 billions they earn of it a normal year.

Karin Johansson

Andrew King, normally when there are around 2.5 millions it happens.

Karin Johansson

Clay Wilson, then you know nothing. And remember how many so called Christians har killed in the name of God!

Karin Johansson

Abdul Baloch, not first place of of worship. There has been many places for that before. Under Stone age and Bronze age. Think about Stonehenge, Avebury or Newgrange for example.

Karin Johansson

Char, i learned a lot about both when we went to the Maldives and when i did study History at the University. Very interesting.

Karin Johansson

Kevin Dale Streets, i think you should read more about Islam. Because it is as wide as Christianity in how the Quran is read. Most muslims are not following ut strictly. And most are never going to the Mosque. I was to the Maldives. It is an islamic country. But also one of the most liberal countries in the world in many ways. To divorce is easy, all children are taken care of the whole family, if someone commit a crime that person can instead of being punished get a chance on another Island. So not all islamic countries are like Saudi.