Mecca and The Kaaba

 Islam is one of the world's monotheistic faiths. The Kaaba, believed to have been built by Abraham and his son Ishmael is the most important center for pilgrimage in Islam. 


The Kaaba, which means 'cube' in Arabic, is the religious epicenter of Mecca. The Kaaba is granite masonry covered in silk curtain, with calligraphy in gold and silver thread. It is the holiest shrine in Islam. In the Islam religion, followers pray five times a day, and regardless of your location, these prayers are directed towards Mecca and the Kaaba. 

The Pre-Islamic Kaaba originally housed the black stones and statues of Pagan gods. Muhammad was the one who returned the shrine to the monotheism of Abraham. The black stone of the Kaaba is highly revered by the Muslims because it is believed to have been given the Abraham by the Angel Gabriel. 

Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, this is a religious event that almost every Islam strives to achieve in their lifetime. Hajj is one of The Five Pillars of Islam and consists of religious rituals that take place in and around Mecca. "Muslims believe that the rituals of Hajj have their origin in the time of the prophet Abraham. Muhammad himself led the Hajj in 632." The city of Mecca and the Kaaba are highly valued in the Islam religion. 

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