- Info
- Storyline
- Madina Live
Makkah, also known as Mecca, has a rich history that predates the rise of Islam in the 7th century CE. According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) founded the city when Allah (God) commanded him to bring his wife Hagar and son Ishmael to a barren valley. There, they discovered the Zamzam Well, which led to people settling nearby and the establishment of Makkah. As Ishmael grew older, he helped his father build the Kaaba, a small cubical building that has been a religious center ever since and is the direction Muslims face when they pray. Makkah is also significant to Muslims because it is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, who was born there in 570 AD. Muhammad lived in Mecca until 622, when he was forced to flee to Medina, but returned in 630 to capture the city and declare it the holiest city of Islam. Muslims believe that the Quran was first revealed to Muhammad in the Hira cave, located on Jabal al-Nur ("Mountain of Light") just outside of the city.
