The importance of Mecca for Muslims is inestimable. All Muslims, wherever they are on the earth, are required to pray five times a day in the direction of the Ka’bah in Mecca. The direction of prayer is known as the qiblah.Muslims regard the al-Masjid al-Haram as the holiest place on Earth. Both the mosque and the city itself are strictly off-limits to non-Muslims.
The focal point of Mecca is the Ka’bah, the “House of God”, believed by Muslims to have been built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, and is covered in a gold-embroidered black fabric. The Pilgrims circle the Ka’bah seven times and may also try to touch or kiss its cornerstone, the Black Stone. Pilgrims then drink from the well of Zamzam. The water of Zamzam is believed to have special properties and is alleged to have health benefits. Few pilgrims return from the Hajj without a large plastic bottle of the Zamzam water.
For Muslims, a pilgrimage to Mecca is required as one of the Five Pillars of Faith of the faith. In recent years, about two to three million have gathered for the major pilgrimage or Hajj, during the Muslim month of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and many more perform the minor pilgrimage or Umrah, which may be performed at any time of year. Few non-Muslims have ever seen the rites and rituals of the Hajj as non-Muslims are strictly prohibited from entering Mecca and Madinah.
For most English-speakers, Mecca has long been the accepted spelling for the holy city. The word is a transliteration of the original Arabic, and has become part of the English language. The wordMecca is nowadays used to mean not only the city in Saudi Arabia but any center of activity sought or converged upon by a group of people with a common interest.
The focal point of Mecca is the Ka’bah, the “House of God”, believed by Muslims to have been built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, and is covered in a gold-embroidered black fabric. The Pilgrims circle the Ka’bah seven times and may also try to touch or kiss its cornerstone, the Black Stone. Pilgrims then drink from the well of Zamzam. The water of Zamzam is believed to have special properties and is alleged to have health benefits. Few pilgrims return from the Hajj without a large plastic bottle of the Zamzam water.
For Muslims, a pilgrimage to Mecca is required as one of the Five Pillars of Faith of the faith. In recent years, about two to three million have gathered for the major pilgrimage or Hajj, during the Muslim month of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and many more perform the minor pilgrimage or Umrah, which may be performed at any time of year. Few non-Muslims have ever seen the rites and rituals of the Hajj as non-Muslims are strictly prohibited from entering Mecca and Madinah.
For most English-speakers, Mecca has long been the accepted spelling for the holy city. The word is a transliteration of the original Arabic, and has become part of the English language. The wordMecca is nowadays used to mean not only the city in Saudi Arabia but any center of activity sought or converged upon by a group of people with a common interest.
Article source passtheknowledge.wordpress.com
No comments:
Post a Comment