The Great Pilgrimage to Mecca

I have written about Jerusalem and we all know that it is a holly city for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Today I want to tell you about the holiest city of Muslims, Mecca. It is the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad; he was born in 570. There, in Mecca, angel Jibrīl (Gabriel as we know him) verbally revealed the Quran to the Prophet. The city is located nearby Red Sea, on the territory of Saudi Arabia from 1924, the year Saudi Family conquer the town. Hajj, the great pilgrimage, is performed there annually by millions of Muslims. The postcard that I have shows images of Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām (المسجد الحرام‎) - The Sacred Mosque - the largest mosque in the world. The Muslims gathered around the Black Stone, called Kaaba (Qaaba) (الكعبة‎) (literally means the Cube) which was built by Ibrahim (Abrahaam) and Ismaeel (Ishmael) when they arrived in Arabia. The Golden Door is on the eastern wall of Kaaba and it was made from 300 kg of gold in 1979 by the artist Ahmad bin Ibrahim Badr. The Golden Door replaced the silver one from 1942 created by the father of the artist. A very sacred thing is the Black Stone which is said to come from paradise, from angels to Ibrahim. Muhammad said that it was white as milk but it turn black because of the sins of the sons of Adam. As you have seen, Saud Family did a lot of modifications there and just now the mosque is expanded to 400.000. mp and a new gate named after King Abdullah will be built together with two new minarets, bringing their total to 11.

You have to read this beautiful story (from Wikipedia):

The Hajj is based on a pilgrimage that was ancient even in the time of Muhammad in the 7th Century. According to Hadith, elements of the Hajj trace back to the time of Abraham (Ibrahim), around 2000 BCE. Abraham's wife, Sarah, was unable to conceive, and upon her request, Abraham had taken their female servant, Hagar, as a second wife. Hagar bore Abraham a son, Ishmael. It is believed that Abraham was ordered by God to leave Hagar (Hājar) and Ishmael (ʼIsmāʻīl) alone in the desert. Looking for shelter, food and water, Hagar ran back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times with her son. In desperation, she laid the baby on the sand and begged for God's assistance. The baby cried and hit the ground with his heel (some versions of the story say that the angel Gabriel (Jibral) scraped his foot or the tip of his wing along the ground), and the Zamzam Well miraculously sprang forth.

The postcard is from ASDF. Thank you!

21.422,39.826  Click for Google Maps or use numbers on your GPS to navigate.

Wikipedia For more information, links, pictures and many more Wikipedia is the perfect site to be informed.

Official Site For visiting information (like fees and open days and times) use the official site.
Saudi Arabia For travel information, the official site of the National Tourist Board, is the perfect location.

Am scris ceva despre Ierusalim şi ştim cu toţii că este oraş sfânt pentru evrei, creştini şi musulmani. Azi vă povestesc despre un alt oraş sfânt, de data asta doar pentru musulmani. Mecca este oraşul în care profetul Mohamed s-a născut în anul 570. Tot acolo Jibrīl (Gabriel pentru creştini) îi transmitea Coranul profetului. De aceea Mecca este cel mai sfânt loc pentru musulmani şi un loc obligatoriu de pelerinaj, numit Hajj. De asemenea, atunci când se roagă, musulmanii se îndreaptă tot spre Mecca. Ca localizare, oraşul este foarte aproape de Marea Roşie, pe teritoriul Arabiei Saudite din 1924 când familia Saud a cucerit oraşul. Hajj, marele pelerinaj la Mecca, este realizat anual de milioane de musulmani din întreaga lume. Vederea pe care o am prezintă imagini cu Moscheea Sacră (Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām (المسجد الحرام‎)). Pelerinii s-au strâns în jurul pietrei negre, numită Kaaba (Qaaba) (الكعبة‎) (în traducere Cubul); Kaaba a fost construită de Ibrahim (Avraam) şi fiul lui Ismaeel (Ismael) atunci când s-au stabilit în Arabia. Uşa de aur este plasată pe peretele dinspre est al Kaabei şi a fost realizată în 1979 di 300 kg de aur. Uşa de aur a fost realizată de artistul Ahmad bin Ibrahim Badr şi a înlocuit uşa de argint realizată în 1942 de tatăl lui. Un element foarte important este Piatra Neagră ce se spune că este din Paradis şi a fost trimisă de îngeri lui Ibrahim. Mohamed a spus că piatra a fost albă ca laptele dar păcatele copiilor lui Adam au făcut ca ea să devină neagră. Familia Saud a avut un rol important în dezvoltarea moschei. Au început lucrări care o să mărească suprafaţa ei la 400.000 mp, se construieşte o nouă poartă şi încă două minarete (astfel se ajunge la un total de 11). Din păcate, cei care nu sunt musulmani nu pot să viziteze acest loc.