Makkah is the holiest city for Muslims. But there is so much more to it than just the Kaaba. Here are 20 facts you should know.
1. The Most Sacred Land
For Muslims, Makkah is number one. Prophet Muhammad said it is the most beloved land to Allah. One prayer in Masjid al-Haram equals 100,000 prayers elsewhere. That's why it's always full. Even at 3 in the morning. Every Muslim who can afford it must come here at least once.
2. The Kaaba Was Rebuilt Many Times
People think Kaaba was built once. No. It was rebuilt many times. First by angels. Then by Prophet Adam. Then by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail. Later the Quraysh tribe rebuilt it. Then Abdullah bin Zubair. Then Hajjaj bin Yusuf. The shape we see today is from Hajjaj's time. The black cloth, Kiswah, is changed every year. It costs about 20 million Riyals.
3. Zamzam Never Dries
This well is over 4,000 years old. From the time of Prophet Ismail. It is only 30 meters deep. But it pumps 11 to 18.5 liters per second. Millions of liters are taken daily. For pilgrims. For export. Still, it never runs dry. Never. Lab tests in Europe show it is clean. No bacteria. Rich in minerals.
4. A Giant AC Under The Mosque
Outside is 45 degrees. Inside the mosque it's cool. How? There is a massive cooling plant kilometers away. It sends chilled water through underground pipes. The marble floor is special. From Greece. It stays cold even under the hot sun. So you can walk barefoot. No burning.
5. Mountains With History
Makkah is surrounded by famous mountains. Jabal al-Nour. That's where Cave of Hira is. First revelation came down there. You need to climb 1,200 steps to reach it. Tough climb. Then Jabal Thawr. The Prophet hid there with Abu Bakar during Hijrah. And Jabal al-Rahmah in Arafah. Where Adam and Hawa met again. All these mountains are still visited today.
6. No Airport in Makkah
Surprising, right? Makkah has no airport. The government did it on purpose. To keep the city pure and safe. The nearest airport is in Jeddah. King Abdulaziz Airport. About 100KM away. From there you take a bus. 90 minutes. Or the Haramain fast train. Only 45 minutes. It goes 300KM per hour.
7. Special Rules in The Haram Area
The Haram area is huge. About 550 square kilometers. Inside, you can't just cut trees. You can't hunt. You can't take lost items for yourself. And non-Muslims cannot enter. At all. These rules protect the sanctity of the city.
8. The Kaaba Door Is Solid Gold
The door you see today is not normal. It is 280KG of pure gold. Made in 1979. By goldsmith Ahmad bin Ibrahim Badr. Ordered by King Khalid. Cost was 13 million Riyals. Quran verses are carved on it. All in gold.
9. The Biggest Mosque in The World
Masjid al-Haram is now the largest mosque on earth. After all the expansions. It can hold over 2.5 million people at once. Area is more than 400,000 square meters. It has 9 minarets. Over 200 gates. Yet everything is organized. Thousands of workers. High-tech systems.
10. Makkah Is Still Expanding
Saudi Vision 2030 is real. The target is 30 million Umrah pilgrims per year. So construction is everywhere. New hotels. New roads. Bigger mosque. If you come this year and next year, you will see something different. Guaranteed.
11. Makkah Was Once Called Bakkah
In the Quran, Makkah is called Bakkah. Old name. It means the place that crushes arrogance. People came arrogant. They left humble.
12. Birthplace of Prophet Muhammad
Prophet Muhammad was born in Makkah in the Year of the Elephant, 571 AD. The house where he was born still exists. Now it is a library near Masjid al-Haram.
13. Zamzam Was Found by Hajar
Zamzam was not found randomly. It was found by Hajar, wife of Prophet Ibrahim. She ran 7 times between Safa and Marwah looking for water for her son Ismail. That is the origin of Saie that we do during Umrah.
14. Safa and Marwah Are Now Air-Conditioned
Before, Safa and Marwah were two hills outside the mosque. People ran under the hot sun. Now they are inside the mosque building. Fully air-conditioned. With 4 levels.
15. Birds Do Fly Over The Kaaba
Many say birds don't fly over Kaaba. That's a myth. Birds do fly over. But airplanes are banned from flying directly over Makkah out of respect. That's why you never see flight routes over it.
16. Kiswah Is Handmade
Kiswah is not machine printed. It is handmade by more than 200 skilled workers in a special factory in Makkah. It uses 670KG of black silk. Embroidered with gold and silver threads. Takes 8 to 10 months to finish one.
17. Makkah Was Never Colonized
In over 1400 years of history, Makkah was never colonized by foreign powers. It was attacked, yes. But never ruled long-term. Because of its mountainous terrain and strong defense by Arabs.
18. Hajar Aswad Was Missing for 22 Years
In 930 AD, the Qaramitah group attacked Makkah and stole the Black Stone. It was missing for 22 years. When it was returned, it had broken into 8 small pieces. That's why now it looks like it is glued together.
19. Multazam Is The Most Powerful Place for Dua
Between the door of Kaaba and Hajar Aswad there is a small area called Multazam. Only 2 meters wide. But it is known as the most accepted place for dua. Scholars say duas made there are rarely rejected.
20. The City That Never Sleeps
Makkah is called the city that never sleeps. 24 hours alive. Shops open 24 hours. Tawaf never stops. For thousands of years until now. There is not a single second where Kaaba is empty without people doing Tawaf.
Sources: http://haj.gov.sa, http://gph.gov.sa, http://vision2030.gov.sa, http://haramain.sa, The Kiswah Factory Makkah
