The Prestige Of Makkah

Abdullah bin Addi (ra) relates that while migrating from Makkah to Madinah, Prophet (saw) addressed the city thus: “By Allah thou is the best and most beloved (city) in the sight of Allah; I would not have left, had I not been forced to leave thee.”

[Tirmidhi]

Explanation: Makkah is itself a respected city, and it became more so because of its association with Prophet (saw). It is obvious that the respect and value of a house is enhanced by the status of its occupant. The prestige of Makkah doubled for being the birth place of Allah’s last and final Messenger. The Holy Qur’an in Aayah 3 of Surah Teen , Allah (Swt) swears in these words: “By this safe town…”

According to the Holy Qur’an, the entire Harum, that is the earth spreading beyond for miles in all directions from the center of Makkah has been defined as a “sanctuary” as per Aayah 125 of Surah Al-Baqarah in these words: “We made the House a resort and a sanctuary for people, saying, ‘Take the spot where Ibrahim (AS) stood as your place of worship.’ We commanded Ibrahim and Isma’il: ‘Purify My House for those who walk round it, those who stay there, and those who bow and prostrate themselves in worship."

The multitude of humanity which visits this blessed city for the performance of Umrah the year round, and for the performance of Hajj each year is not drawn from the Arabian Peninsula alone, but from every nook and corner of the world. It should be noted that this caravan of lovers, devotees and worshippers is not a story of the last few years, but its flow continues since the time of Sayyidina Ibrahim (as).

The Harum, the Kabatullah and its sanctified area has been a place of peace and safety even before the recorded history. It is a sanctuary of safety and peace, where not to speak of hurting a man, even hunting an animal is prohibited. Though it has been decreed in the Islamic Jurisprudence, yet its sanctity was observed even in the pre-Islamic times known as the days of ignorance. Criminals even in the days of polytheists used to take refuge in Kabatullah and no one could take them to accounts.