Mecca

Liveology
Oct 20, 2025
2 min read

The holiest city in Islam.

Location

Saudi Arabia

Information

Mecca (also spelled Makkah) is the holiest city in Islam, located in present-day Saudi Arabia. It is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the site of the Kaaba, the most sacred structure in Islam. Every year, millions of Muslims from around the world travel to Mecca to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, a central obligation for all able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime.

According to Islamic tradition, Mecca’s sacred status began with the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ishmael (Ismail). They are believed to have built the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure at the center of Mecca, as a house of monotheistic worship to the one God, Allah. Over time, however, the Kaaba became surrounded by idols, and Mecca became a center of polytheistic worship for many tribes in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 CE into the Quraysh tribe. In 610 CE, he received his first revelations from the angel Gabriel and began preaching Islam, calling for the worship of one God and rejecting idolatry, injustice, and inequality. This message challenged the authority and economic interests of the Quraysh elite.

As a result, Muhammad and his early followers faced intense persecution in Mecca. In 622 CE, they migrated to Medina in an event known as the Hijra, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Eight years later, Muhammad returned with a growing number of followers and peacefully conquered Mecca in 630 CE. He cleansed the Kaaba of idols and rededicated it to the worship of Allah.

Today, Mecca is also a vibrant urban city that blends ancient heritage with modern infrastructure designed to support the vast number of pilgrims who visit annually.

Liveology® creates uplifting content and products for abundant life. Join us on the journey of seeking God, self-study, healing, and awakening as we draw from spiritual traditions across the world with a wealth of articles, videos, and courses on victorious living. Shop our all natural bodycare, prayer & meditation cushions, and spiritual apparel!

Thank you for your continued and growing support all over the world. Wishing you abundant life, love, joy, peace, and prosperity.