✦ The Importance and Religious Status of Makkah Al-Mukarramah

Makkah is the holy land, the most beloved land to Allah and His Messenger(ﷺ) the Qiblah (direction faced in prayer) of the Muslims, the focus of their love and the place where they come together in pilgrimage. Allah made it sacred and bestowed respect and sanctity upon it the day He created the heavens and the earth. In it is the Ka’bah, the first House set up for the worship of Allah on earth. For the sacred House, Allah set up a sanctuary so that it might be venerated, in which He created safety and protection even for the trees and plants, which should not be cut down or picked, and for the birds which are not to be disturbed. He has decreed that rewards for deeds in Makkah are greater than rewards for deeds done elsewhere, and prayer in Makkah is equal to one hundred thousand prayers elsewhere. It is from the greatness and sanctity of the House that Makkah takes its greatness and sanctity; and from the security of the House, Makkah derives its security- as Allah says:

وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا     

                                          

“…whosoever enters it, he attains security.”

[Aal’Imran-03: 97]

Allah swears by Makkah as an indication of its great status, as He says; 

لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ ١            

                                    

“I swear by this city (Makkah).”

 [Al-Balad-90: 01]

It was in Makkah that Allah’s Messenger(ﷺ) said:“By Allah, you are the best land of Allah, the most beloved land of Allah to Allah. Had I not been driven out of you, I would not have left you.1

And it was reported that Ka’b ( رضی اللہ عنہ)said; “Allah favored some lands over others, and the most beloved land to Allah is Al- Balad Al-Haram (the Sacred City).2

On the basis of the high status and the great esteem in which Makkah is held by Allah, His Messenger(ﷺ) and all the Muslims, we have written this book, hoping that Allah will accept it as a righteous deed and that He will benefit thereby the Muslims who read it. We have striven our utmost to report the Sahih (sound)Ahadith and the strong reports; if we have succeeded, it is by the grace and bounty of Allah.           

 

[1. Ahmad (4/305),Ad-Darimi(2513),At-Tirmidhi (3925) and ibn Majah (3108) from ’Abdullah bin ‘Adi bin Al-Hamra’. Classed as Sahih by Shaikh Al-Albani in Sahih At-Tirmidhi and Sahih lbn Majah]

[2. Part of a lengthy narration reported by Al-Baihaqi in AshShu’ah from Ka’b At-Tabi’i. The men of its Isnad (chains) are Mawthuq (trustworthy) (3740). See Tahqiq Ash-Shu’ab,published in India, no. 3465]

 

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✦ The Sanctity of Makkah

 

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Makkah is known as the Sacred City {Al-Balad At-Haram).It is clear from the words of Allah’s Messenger that Makkah has been sacred from the time Allah created the heavens and the earth

Abu Hurairah ( رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that when Allah granted His Messenger(ﷺ)victory over Makkah, Allah’s Messenger(ﷺ)stood up before the people and praised and glorified Allah, then he said:

Allah kept the Elephant away from Makkah, and He gave His Messenger and the believers authority over it. Fighting therein was never permitted to anyone before me; it was only permitted to me for a brief part of one day, and it will never be permitted for anyone after me. Its game should not be chased, its thorny bushes should not be uprooted and things that are dropped therein should not be picked up except by one who makes a public announcement. One whose relative is murdered has the option either to accept compensation for it, or to retaliate.

AI-‘Abbas( رضی اللہ عنہ)said; “Except Al-Idhkhir 3,O Messenger of Allah, for we use it in our graves and in our homes.

He said: “Except Al-Idhkhir.”(Agreed Upon)4

 

[3. Al-Idhkhir: a fragrant plant like palm fibres or raffia]

[4. Al-Bukhari (2434), Muslim (1345)]

 

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✦  The Boundaries of the Haram (Sanctuary)

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The first one to set up boundaries for the Haram was Ibrahim Al-Khalil (علیہ السلام) Ibrahim(علیہ السلام) set up boundary markers for the Haram, as shown by Jibril(علیہ السلام) , which were not moved until during the year of the Conquest, Allah’s Messenger(ﷺ) sent Tamim bin Asad Al-Khuza’i to renew them. Then they were not moved until the time of Umar bin Al-Khattab( رضی اللہ عنہ) when he sent four men from Quraish to renew them.5

When Allah made the Sacred House holy, He also made it a place of safety and security even for the birds and trees. And He decreed that the reward for deeds done there would be greater than the reward for deeds done elsewhere. The Haram is a circle around Makkah Al-Mukarramah, some parts of which are closer than others. Signs have been set upon the main roads leading into Makkah, which are as follows:

1- On the Jeddah road from the west: Ash-Shumaysi (Al-Hudaibiyah), which is 22 km away.

2- From the south: Ida’at Libn,a on the Yemen road coming from Tihamah, which is 12 km away.

3- From the east: the edge of Wadi ‘Uranah Al-Gharbiyah,which is 15 km away.

4- From the northeast: Al-Ji’ranah road, near the village of Shara’i’Al-Mujahidin, which is 16 km away.

5- From the north: the boundary of At-Tan’im, which is seven km away

 

[5. Reported by Al-Azraqi in Akhbar Makkah (2/129)]

[6. ida’ah means land. Libn is the name of a mountain]

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✦ The Sanctity of the Haram

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Allah says referring to the sanctuary of Makkah:

 ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا

 

…whosoever enters it, he attains security.

[Aal’lmran-03: 97]

When the one who is afraid enters it, he will be safe from all things. This was the state of affairs during the Jahiliyah when a man would kill someone then enter the sanctuary; the son of the slain man would meet him but be unable to disturb him until he left.7

There is scholarly consensus that the one who commits an offence within the boundaries is not to be given protection, because he has violated the sanctity of the holy place. But if he commits an offence outside the sanctuary then flees to the Haram for refuge, he is to be subjected to pressure until he leaves the sanctuary, and then the Hadd (prescribed punishment) is to be carried out on him beyond the confines of the sanctuary. It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbas( رضی اللہ عنہ) said: Whoever commits an offence then flees to the House (the Ka’bah) will be safe, and the Muslims do not have the right to punish him in any way until he leaves. Then when he leaves,they should carry out the Hadd punishment on him.8

 

[7. Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

[8. Muthir Al-Gharam As-Sakin By Ibn Al-Jazwi]

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✦  The Names Of Makkah

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The Holy City has many names, approximately fifty 9.Allah called Makkah by five names: Makkah, Bakkah, Al-Balad,Al-Qaryah and Ummul-Qura. He used the name Makkah in the Verse:

 

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ عَنْهُم بِبَطْنِ مَكَّةَ ۢ

“And He it is Who has withheld their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makkah.

[Al-Fath-48: 24]

Allah mentioned the name Bakkah in the Verse:

 

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

“Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-Aalamin (mankind and jinn)”

[Aal Imraan-03: 96]

He called it Al-Balad (the city), meaning Makkah, in the Verse:

 

لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

“I swear by this city (Makkah).”

[Al-Balad-90: 1]

 

In Arabic the word Balad means the main city.He called it Al-Qaryah (the township) in the Verse:

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا قَرْيَةًۭ كَانَتْ ءَامِنَةًۭ مُّطْمَئِنَّةًۭ

“And Allah puts forward the example of a township (Makkah), that dwelt secure and well-content.”

[An-Nahl-16: 112]

A Qaryah is a place in which a great number of people live together. It is a name derived from a verb which means to collect or gather, as in the phrase Qaraytul-Ma’fil-Hawd (I gathered the water in the cistem).And He called it Ummul-Qura (the Mother of Towns) in the Verse:

 

وَلِتُنذِرَ أُمَّ ٱلْقُرَىٰ ْ

“…so that you may warn the Mother of Towns (i.e.,Makkah)…”

[Al-An’am-06:92], meaning Makkah.

Makkah also has other names such as: An-Nassasah, Al-Hatimah, Al-Haram, Salah, Al-Basah, Mu’adh, Ar-Ra’s, Al-Balad Al-Amin, Kawtha and many others.

 

[9. See Shifa’ul-Gharam (1/48-53); Mu’jamul-Buldan (5/181-183)]

 The Importance and Religious Status of Makkah Al-Mukarramah

                                             

Makkah is the holy land, the most beloved land to Allah and His Messenger(ﷺ) the Qiblah (direction faced in prayer) of the Muslims, the focus of their love and the place where they come together in pilgrimage. Allah made it sacred and bestowed respect and sanctity upon it the day He created the heavens and the earth. In it is the Ka’bah, the first House set up for the worship of Allah on earth. For the sacred House, Allah set up a sanctuary so that it might be venerated, in which He created safety and protection even for the trees and plants, which should not be cut down or picked, and for the birds which are not to be disturbed. He has decreed that rewards for deeds in Makkah are greater than rewards for deeds done elsewhere, and prayer in Makkah is equal to one hundred thousand prayers elsewhere. It is from the greatness and sanctity of the House that Makkah takes its greatness and sanctity; and from the security of the House, Makkah derives its security- as Allah says:

وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا        

                                         

“…whosoever enters it, he attains security.”

[Aal’Imran 03:97]

Allah swears by Makkah as an indication of its great status, as He says; 

لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ ١           

                                     

“I swear by this city (Makkah).”

 [Al-Balad 90:01]

It was in Makkah that Allah’s Messenger(ﷺ) said:“By Allah, you are the best land of Allah, the most beloved land of Allah to Allah. Had I not been driven out of you, I would not have left you.[1]

And it was reported that Ka’b ( رضی اللہ عنہ)said; “Allah favored some lands over others, and the most beloved land to Allah is Al- Balad Al-Haram (the Sacred City).[2]

On the basis of the high status and the great esteem in which Makkah is held by Allah, His Messenger(ﷺ) and all the Muslims, we have written this book, hoping that Allah will accept it as a righteous deed and that He will benefit thereby the Muslims who read it. We have striven our utmost to report the Sahih (sound)Ahadith and the strong reports; if we have succeeded, it is by the grace and bounty of Allah.           

 

[1: Ahmad (4/305),Ad-Darimi(2513),At-Tirmidhi (3925) and ibn Majah (3108) from ’Abdullah bin ‘Adi bin Al-Hamra’. Classed as Sahih by Shaikh Al-Albani in Sahih At-Tirmidhi and Sahih lbn Majah.]

[2: Part of a lengthy narration reported by Al-Baihaqi in AshShu’ah from Ka’b At-Tabi’i. The men of its Isnad (chains) are Mawthuq (trustworthy) (3740). See Tahqiq Ash-Shu’ab,published in India, no. 3465]

 

 The Sanctity of Makkah

 

Makkah is known as the Sacred City (Al-Balad At-Haram).It is clear from the words of Allah’s Messenger that Makkah has been sacred from the time Allah created the heavens and the earth

Abu Hurairah ( رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that when Allah granted His Messenger(ﷺ)victory over Makkah, Allah’s Messenger(ﷺ)stood up before the people and praised and glorified Allah, then he said:

Allah kept the Elephant away from Makkah, and He gave His Messenger and the believers authority over it. Fighting therein was never permitted to anyone before me; it was only permitted to me for a brief part of one day, and it will never be permitted for anyone after me. Its game should not be chased, its thorny bushes should not be uprooted and things that are dropped therein should not be picked up except by one who makes a public announcement. One whose relative is murdered has the option either to accept compensation for it, or to retaliate.

AI-‘Abbas( رضی اللہ عنہ)said; “Except Al-Idhkhir[ 3],O Messenger of Allah, for we use it in our graves and in our homes.

He said: “Except Al-Idhkhir.”(Agreed Upon)[4]

 

[3: Al-Idhkhir: a fragrant plant like palm fibres or raffia.]

[4: Al-Bukhari (2434), Muslim (1345).]

 

 The Boundaries of the Haram (Sanctuary)

 

The first one to set up boundaries for the Haram was Ibrahim Al-Khalil (علیہ السلام)

Ibrahim(علیہ السلام) set up boundary markers for the Haram, as shown by Jibril(علیہ السلام) , which were not moved until during the year of the Conquest, Allah’s Messenger(ﷺ) sent Tamim bin

Asad Al-Khuza’i to renew them. Then they were not moved until the time of Umar bin Al-Khattab( رضی اللہ عنہ) when he sent four men from Quraish to renew them.[5]

When Allah made the Sacred House holy, He also made it a place of safety and security even for the birds and trees. And He decreed that the reward for deeds done there would be greater than the reward for deeds done elsewhere. The Haram is a circle around Makkah Al-Mukarramah, some parts of which are closer than others. Signs have been set upon the main roads leading into Makkah, which are as follows:

1- On the Jeddah road from the west: Ash-Shumaysi (Al-Hudaibiyah), which is 22 km away.

2- From the south: Ida’at Libn,[6] on the Yemen road coming from Tihamah, which is 12 km away.

3- From the east: the edge of Wadi ‘Uranah Al-Gharbiyah,which is 15 km away.

4- From the northeast: Al-Ji’ranah road, near the village of Shara’i’Al-Mujahidin, which is 16 km away.

5- From the north: the boundary of At-Tan’im, which is seven km away

 

[5. Reported by Al-Azraqi in Akhbar Makkah (2/129).]

[6. ida’ah means land. Libn is the name of a mountain.]

   

The Sanctity of the Haram

Allah says referring to the sanctuary of Makkah:

 ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا ِ

…whosoever enters it, he attains security.

[Aal’lmran3:97]

When the one who is afraid enters it, he will be safe from all things. This was the state of affairs during the Jahiliyah when a man would kill someone then enter the sanctuary; the son of the slain man would meet him but be unable to disturb him until he left.[7]

There is scholarly consensus that the one who commits an offence within the boundaries is not to be given protection,because he has violated the sanctity of the holy place. But if he commits an offence outside the sanctuary then flees to the Haram for refuge, he is to be subjected to pressure until he leaves the sanctuary, and then the Hadd (prescribed punishment) is to be carried out on him beyond the confines of the sanctuary. It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbas(رضي الله عنه) said:Whoever commits an offence then flees to the House (the Ka’bah) will be safe, and the Muslims do not have the right to punish him in any way until he leaves. Then when he leaves,they should carry out the Hadd punishment on him.[8]

 

[7: Tafsir ibn Kathir.]

[8: MuthirAl-GharamAs-Sakin by lbn Al-Jawzi.]

 

  The Name’s Of Makkah

 

The Holy City has many names, approximately fifty[9].Allah called Makkah by five names: Makkah, Bakkah, Al-Balad,Al-Qaryah and Ummul-Qura. He used the name Makkah in the Verse:

                              وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ عَنْهُم بِبَطْنِ مَكَّةَ

 

“And He it is Who has withheld their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makkah”

[Al-Fath48:24]

Allah mentioned the name Bakkah in the Verse:

                                  إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

“Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-Aalamin (mankind and jinn)”[Aal ‘Imran3:96]

He called it Al-Balad (the city), meaning Makkah, in the Verse.”

 

                                         لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

“I swear by this city (Makkah).” [Al-Balad 90:1]

In Arabic the word Balad means the main city.He called it Al-Qaryah (the township) in the Verse:

                                     وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا قَرْيَةًۭ كَانَتْ ءَامِنَةًۭ مُّطْمَئِنَّةًۭ يَأْتِيهَا

” Allah puts forward the example of a township (Makkah), that dwelt secure and well-content.” [An-Nahl 16:112]

A Qaryah is a place in which a great number of people live together. It is a name derived from a verb which means to collect or gather, as in the phrase Qaraytul-Ma’fil-Hawd (I gathered the water in the cistem).And He called it Ummul-Qura (the Mother of Towns) in the Verse:

                                         وَلِتُنذِرَ أُمَّ ٱلْقُرَىْٰ

…so that you may warn the Mother of Towns (i.e.,Makkah)…” [Al-An’am 6:92], meaning Makkah.

Makkah also has other names such as: An-Nassasah, Al-Hatimah, Al-Haram, Salah, Al-Basah, Mu’adh, Ar-Ra’s, Al-Balad Al-Amin, Kawtha and many others.

 

 

Book: “History of Makkah”

Prepared by a Group of Scholars under the Supervision of Shaikh Saifur -Rahman Mubarakpuri.

Translated by: Nasiruddin al- khattab.