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A hajj is a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca (Arabic: Makkah) in Saudi Arabia. Believers in the religion of Islam are called Moslems. They try to make a hajj once in their life. After a Moslem makes a hajj to the holy city of Mecca, he is called a hajji, or pilgrim. Non Muslims are not permitted to enter Mecca.
Quraish, the birthplace of Muhammad Ibn Abdulah Ibn Hashim was a city of idol worship. Even before Muhammad's birth the city of Quraish was an significant trade and religious center.
Muhammad's father died before he was born and his mother died when he was only six. Muhammad's grandfather raised him and after his death, his uncle took him in.
Muhammad did not like what he saw in Quarish because he did not believe in idol worship, he believed in one true God. He watched as people prayed and offered food to rocks. When Muhammad was 40 years old, he claims Gabriel the angel appeared before him. He said Gabriel told him he was to be a prophet. Muhammad professes that Gabriel spoke the words of the book of Qura'an to him as he wrote everything down.
Muhammad began to preach in the city c613 but was forced to flee to Medina in 622. Eventually, the Muslims had to leave Quraish due to severe mistreatment. In 630 Muhammad returned with 10,000 men to take over the city and establish it as center of the Islamic world, changing the name of the city to Mecca. Each year over 1,000,000 people visit during the month of pilgrimage.
The heart of Mecca surrounds the al-Haram or Great Mosque, which can hold 300,000 people. It is the center of worship for all Moslems. The main economic movement in Mecca is supplying services to pilgrims. Merchants in particular profit from the business of pilgrims. Large fairs are held during the month of pilgrimage.
Near the Great Mosque is a small structure shaped like a box. It is called the Kaaba. The kaaba holds the sacred Black Stone that Moslems believe God sent from heaven. Wherever Moslems live, they face in the direction of the Kaaba where they pray.
The Black Stone was also sacred in ancient Arabic religions.
The Moslems believe Abraham and his son, Ishmael, built the black cube. The story goes that Abraham and his son wanted a place for the people to worship God. The people, wanting to be near the Kaaba, started building homes around it. Soon, a big city grew up. But after some time, the people begin to worship idols instead of God. The city of Quraish became popular for its idol worship.
The Carmathians ruled the city from 930 until 1269. When Egyptian Mamelures gained control Ottoman Turks ruled from 1517-1916. Mecca fell to the House of Ibn-Saud in 1924 and in 1932 Hejaz became a province of Saudi Arabia. In November 1979 a group of 200 Muslin zealots seized Mecca's Great Mosque. They were driven out by Saudi troops and many were put to death.
There is no tangible evidence for the early history of Islam due to persistent flooding and constant rebuilding. Today, we use the word, "Mecca" to mean a location where many people visit. A mecca for children could be a zoo, or park or perhaps it's your own church, but the genuine name of Mecca is the holy city for Moslems.
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