Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! definition: a black stone building in Mecca that is shaped like a cube and that is the most sacred Muslim pilgrim shrine significance: Sacred Muslim site, many pray at the Kaaba several times a … The Kaaba was buried under the sand by the Noah's flood.After a period of time, it was rebuilt by Prophet Abraham and his son Prophet Ishmael. Traditional buildings of two or three stories are built of local rock. However, by the time of Muhammad, the Ka'aba had been taken over by pagan Arabs to house their numerous tribal gods. Wild animals include wild cats, wolves, hyenas, foxes, mongooses, and kangaroo rats (jerboas). Among the modern residential areas are Al-ʿAzīziyyah and Al-Fayṣaliyyah along the road to Minā and Al-Ẓāhir, Al-Zahraʿā, and Shāriʿ al-Manṣūr along the roads to Jeddah and Medina. Word soon spread from Ojai to Berkeley, even then a, The music made in this era would place Houston on the map, solidifying the city as a hip-hop, The Jane Austen House is situated in the village of Chawton, about 50 miles southwest of London and has long been a, Over the past 10 years, VidCon has established itself as an annual, These sorts of support measures are aimed at ensuring new products emerge from the U.S., and that America remains a, In the following years, the evolution of those inventions contributed to what would become a, Words From 1921: 100 Years Old and Still Around, The Difference Between 'Libel' and 'Liable', 'Talented': That Vile and Barbarous Vocable. People of the same national origin tend to live together in certain parts of the city. The passes lead from the northeast to Minā, ʿArafāt, and Al-Ṭāʾif; from the northwest to Medina; from the west to Jeddah; and from the south to Yemen. Mecca. Mecca is particularly famous for being the birthplace of Muhammad. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Expansion has been accompanied by the construction of new streets in the old city. Arabic Makkah, sacred city of Islam, birthplace of Muhammad, which every Muslim must visit at least once.Origins have been proposed in Phoenician maqaq "ruined" or Arabic mahrab "sanctuary." The focal point of Mecca is the Ka'aba, the \"House of God\" believed by Muslims to have been built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, and which is covered in a gold-embroidered black fabric. Mecca is, however, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, containing people from various countries throughout the globe. the pilgrimage to Mecca, which every adult Muslim is supposed to make at least once in his or her lifetime: the fifth of the Pillars of Islam. A place that is regarded as the center of an activity or interest. Temperatures are high throughout the year and in summer may reach 120 °F (49 °C). President, Saudi Geographical Society. 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'. History of mecca The ancient Mecca was considered an oasis on the former caravan trade route that linked the Mediterranean world with southern Arabia, eastern Africa and southern Asia. Atlas » Learn more about the world with our collection of regional and country maps. In the 21st century a number of skyscraper hotels were built in the area around the mosque. It was also in this cave that he received the first verse (āyah) of the holy Qurʾān. What made you want to look up mecca? Learn a new word every day. The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) lived in Mecca once. Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. Muslims face in the direction of Mecca when they pray, and they are expected to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives. a. Mecca is the chief pilgrimage destination for Muslims and the capital of Hejaz. Mecca Send us feedback. “Mecca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mecca. The compact built-up area around the mosque comprises the old city, which stretches to the north and southwest but is limited on the east and west by the nearby mountains. Mecca is situated at an elevation of 909 feet (277 metres) above sea level in the dry beds of the Wadi Ibrāhīm and several of its short tributaries. It is c.45 mi (70 km) from its port, Jidda , and is in a narrow valley overlooked by hills crowned with castles. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Mecca or Makkah , capital of the Hejaz, W Saudi Arabia. Paperback $17.99 $ 17. According to the Quran, the Ka'aba was built by the prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael as a house of monotheistic worship. To the south of the Ḥaram Mosque, the Saudi government built the Abrāj al-Bayt skyscraper complex, one of the world’s largest and tallest buildings, to house hotels, shopping centres, and prayer areas near the holy sites. Mecca . According to Islamic sources, the Kaaba was a place of worship for angels before the creation of men. A holy city for Muslims. As with many Arabic words, its etymology is obscure. Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). The Kaaba surrounded by pilgrims during the hajj, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is also the place all Muslims have to travel to once in their life because it is one of their pillars of Islam, this pilgrimage is called hajj. In the 20th and 21st centuries the city underwent vast improvements. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, "before the rise of Islam, it was revered as a sacred sanctuary and was a site of pilgrimage." The birthplace c.AD 570 of Muhammad the Prophet, it is the holiest city of Islam , and the goal of the annual Muslim hajj . The birthplace of Muhammad, and thus the holiest city for Muslims. The preaching of Muhammad and the founding of Islam turn Mecca from a local place of pilgrimage to one of world-wide significance - though only Muslims are allowed to enter the city. The Ḥaram Mosque is magnificent in its size and architecture and has been embellished and enlarged on numerous occasions through the centuries, most recently in a series of massive expansions by the government of Saudi Arabia in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Shia definition is - the Muslims of the branch of Islam comprising sects believing in Ali and the Imams as the only rightful successors of Muhammad and in the concealment and messianic return of the last recognized Imam. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mecca.' History Before Prophet Muhammad. The main avenues are al-Muddaʿah and Sūq al-Layl to the north of the mosque and al-Sūq al-Ṣaghīr to the south. es. AP World History Chapter 14 Muhammad definition: the Arab prophet who founded Islam (570-632) significance: founder of Islam, a prominent religion Abu Bakr definition: companion of Updates? Mecca has been referred to by many names. During the month of pilgrimage the city is swollen with one to two million worshippers from other parts of Saudi Arabia and from other Muslim countries. As Abraham raised the foundations of the shrine, together with Ishmael, they prayed: \"Our Lord, accept this from us. Plants and animals are scarce and consist of species that can withstand the high degree of aridity and heat. Because of its relatively low-lying location, Mecca is threatened by seasonal flash floods despite the low amount of annual precipitation. The ancient Mecca was an oasis on the old caravan trade route that linked the Mediterranean world with South Arabia, East Africa and South Asia. A city of central Mali near the Niger River northeast of Bamako. Mecca is one of a number of place names which have taken on figurative meanings over time. Mecca, Arabic Makkah, ancient Bakkah, city, western Saudi Arabia, located in the Ṣirāt Mountains, inland from the Red Sea coast. It was in Medina that he established the Muslim community and where his body is … The town was located about midway between Maʾrib in the south and Petra in the north, and it gradually developed by Roman and Byzantine times, into an important trade and religious centre. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. 14th century emperor of the Mali Empire, is the medieval African ruler most known to the world outside Africa. Time-lapse video of the annual hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Located in Saudi Arabia. Learn more. In 622 Muhammad arrived in the city, then known as Yathrib, after fleeing Mecca, in an event known as the hijrah (emigration). The sole reason was to honor ALLAH, and its sole purpose is to worship ALLAH alone. Mecca meaning: 1. the holy city of Islam in Saudi Arabia 2. a place to which many people are attracted: 3. the…. Definition Ruler of the Inca society from 1438 to 1471; launched a series of military campaigns that gave Incas control of the region from Cuzco to the shores of Lake Titicaca. Because it is sacred, only Muslims are allowed to enter the city. In 630 A.D., Muhammad and his followers took over leadership of Mecca after years of persecution. This city in Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Muhammad and the site which Muslims must attempt to visit on a pilgrimage; from its role as a religious destination Mecca began to be used in the early 19th century (sometimes capitalized, and sometimes not) in a non-religious sense. Widely believed to be a synonym for Makkah, it is said to be more specifically the early name for the valley located therein, while Muslim scholars generally use it to refer to the sacred area of the city that immediately surrounds and includes the Ka'bah. Mecca. Most of the people are concentrated in the old city, while densities in the modern residential areas are the lowest in the city. South of the city, Mount Thawr (2,490 feet) contains the cave in which the prophet secreted himself from his Meccan enemies during the Hijrah to Medina, the event that marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The faith of up to 1.8 billion people, roughly a quarter of the world's population, dictates each one of them pray five times a day in the direction of a small, cubic building in Saudi Arabia. Author of. According to historian Eduard Glaser, the name " Kaaba " may have been related to the southern Arabian or Ethiopian word " mikrab ", signifying a temple. The area around the religious shrines was cleared, the mosque enlarged, housing and sanitation improved, and transportation facilities enhanced. [After Mecca ( from its being a place of pilgrimage ).] Mecca’s houses are more compacted in the old city than in the modern residential areas. Professor and Chairman, Department of Geography, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Delivered to your inbox! 4.6 out of 5 stars 176. Definition; bedouin: nomadic pastoralists of the Arabian peninsula with a culture based on herding camels and goats; early converts to Islam. The city centres on the Ḥaram Mosque, also called the Great Mosque, in which are situated the Kaaba and the sacred well of Zamzam. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Mecca, Arabic Makkah, ancient Bakkah, city, western Saudi Arabia, located in the Ṣirāt Mountains, inland from the Red Sea coast. Mecca, Saudi Arabia, a destination of pilgrims in the Islamic world. It is the holiest of Muslim cities. Mansa Musa was the wealthiest king in the history of the world, with his name literally meaning King Musa, since mansa was the word for king. Mecca in English translation and definition "Mecca", Dictionary English-English online. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. History . Cracking the AP World History: Modern Exam, 2020 Edition: Practice Tests & Prep for the NEW 2020 Exam (College Test Preparation) Part of: College Test Preparation (91 Books) | by The Princeton Review | Nov 5, 2019. (2010) 1,534,731. Area 10 square miles (26 square km). There are less than 5 inches (130 mm) of rainfall during the year, mainly in the winter months. A place visited by many people: a mecca for tourists. This city in Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Muhammad and the site which Muslims must attempt to visit on a pilgrimage; from its role as a religious destination Mecca began to be used in the early 19th century (sometimes capitalized, and sometimes not) in a non-religious sense. b. Pop. shaykhs: leaders of tribes and clans within bedouin society; usually possessed large herds, several wives, and many children. HISTORY. Term Mecca is so significant to Muslims that the word has come to be commonly used for any place that attracts a … These key objectives will be accomplished at the completion of the lesson review: Identify how long Mecca has been considered a holy city by Muslims - Definition, Pilgrimage & History to learn more. The Figurative Use of Mecca. You are the Hearer, the Omniscient.\" (Qura… It is surrounded by the Ṣirāt Mountains, the peaks of which include Mount (Jabal) Ajyad, which rises to 1,332 feet, and Mount Abū Qubays, which attains 1,220 feet, to the east and Mount Quʿayqʿān, which reaches 1,401 feet, to the west. Mecca. 99 $19.99 $19.99. The Catholic Encyclopedia - Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Mecca - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Mecca - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Note: Accessed 6 Jan. 2021. All devout and able Muslims attempt a hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Mecca. Other locations (some of which are fictional) that have taken on this kind of extended meaning are Eden, Camelot, and Wall Street. After the creation of Adam, the Kaaba was built by him.According to Qur'an, it is the first house on Earth. Entrance into Mecca is permitted only to followers of Islam. Definition. Medina, city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia. A goal to which adherents of a religious faith or practice fervently aspire. See the full definition for mecca in the English Language Learners Dictionary, Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mecca, Britannica English: Translation of mecca for Arabic Speakers, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mecca. As a result, Mecca can accommodate the continually increasing number of pilgrims, or hajjis. Abrāj al-Bayt, a skyscraper complex in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Since World War II, Mecca has expanded along the roads through the mountain gaps to the north, northwest, and west. The mosque can accommodate one million worshippers at a time. Founded in the 11th century by the Tuareg, it became a major trading center (primarily for gold and salt) and a center of Islamic learning by the 14th century. Natural vegetation includes tamarisks and various types of acacia. Omissions? Houses near the mosque have been razed, and it is now surrounded by open spaces and wide streets, which can be crossed through underground walkways built to ease traffic. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was born in Mecca, and it is toward this religious centre that Muslims turn five … It is the holiest of Muslim cities. Slum conditions can still be found in various parts of the city; the slum inhabitants are mainly poor pilgrims who, unable to finance their return home, remained in Mecca after arriving either for the hajj or for a lesser pilgrimage known as the ʿumrah. The gaps have also defined the direction of the contemporary expansion of the city. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. The villas in the modern areas are constructed of concrete. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? The state-of-the-art complex, now multilevel, includes an advanced communication network, air-conditioning, escalators, and a complex network of pedestrian routes and tunnels, in addition to numerous aesthetic and artistic accompaniments. It is the second holiest city in Islam. Mecca is the place where Muslims from all around the world come to pray and follow the way their ancestors did. The population density in Mecca is high. Entrance to the city is gained through four gaps in the surrounding mountains. Mecca is in present-day Saudi Arabia. The exhibition falls into three sections, the first focusing on the journey to Mecca, particularly along the major routes used through history across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Mecca is one of a number of place names which have taken on figurative meanings over time. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? 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