Mecca's history Mecca City is one of the deep-rooted cities in history .Its history can be traced back to more than two thousand years ago. Mecca had been called different names during  various periods. It has got more than thirty names. However,  its  known names are only  four, namely:  Albalad Alamine, Um Alkura, Baka, and Mecca.

Mecca was known at the time of the Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail, peace be upon them, as a small village in the form of valley (Our Lord, I have settled some of my children in an uncultivable valley near Thy Sacred House ). Mecca is surrounded by mountains from all directions. Geographically, it is located in the west of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 75 km east of the Red Sea, 80 km from the city of Taif in the south-east.

Mecca’s History until the dawn of Islam

The period of Ibrahim (peace be upon him)

Mecca’s history dates back to the era of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail, peace be upon them, in the nineteenth century BC. In response to God’s ,the Almighty, order Ibrahim traveled to Mecca’s valley, and when he and his wife Hagar run out of provisions, God responded to his supplication and exploded the fountain of Zamzam under his feet. After by, many tribes come to settle nearby the fountain; the Yemeni tribe of Jarham was the first tribe to settle in Mecca.

The period of Khuzaa tribe

After its  victory over the Yemeni tribe of Jarham,  Khuzaa tribe led by Rabia ibn al-Harith, took command of Mecca at the end of the third century.

The period of Quraysh

Due to the different conflicts inside Khuzaa tribe , the tribe of Quraish  took command  of Mecca after the period of the reign of Yaamar-bin Awf ibn Ka'b Ibn al-Layth.. The most important feature that characterized  this period, is the arrival  of Abraha Ashram with the intention to demolish the Sacred House in 571 (Year of the Elephant), the year that witnessed the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

The period of the prophet Muhammad, peace and blessinegs of Allah be upon him

The Coming of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, had played a great role in changing the different aspects of life in Mecca and in the entire world. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, has got the best and highest qualities . He insisted on the importance of knowledge  and called for change. He denied the female infanticide and defined polygamy, divorce and eliminated tribalism. The Islamic religion brought a doctrine that simply calls to the Oneness of Allah the Almighty .

The period of the reign of the Caliphs, God bless them

The Masjed Haram Has attracted men of Hadiths , readers and muftis. Omar Ibn Khattab, God bless hil, has ordered to launch the first expansion of the Masjad Haram, by adding walls and doors to the Mosque. Then Calipha Othman ben Affan , God bless him, ordred  the renewed and expanded the Mosque and added a corridor and draped  the Kaaba with Qubati.

The period of Umayyad

The Umayyad Caliphate main roots can be traced back to the period of the reign of Moawiya ben Sofiane, who reigns in the year 41 AH.
The Umayyad dynasty  gave the reforms  considerable importance and they  ordered many religious and scientific reforms in the year 91 AH, as well as, Caliph al-Walid bin Abdul Malik, who ordered the renewal of the Masjad Haram  . He expanded the Masjed and decorated its corridors and made its pillars of marble too.

The Abbasid period

The abbasid gave great attention to the architectural design of the Masjad Haram. Abou jaafar al-Mansur ordered to purchase the settlements situated north the  Mosque to expand its area . He equally decorated the mosque’s corridor and ceilings with patterns of marble. The most remarkable reforms during the Abbasid period are the extension of the Masjed Haram and the encouragements of workshops, science lessons and scientists.

-In the year 317 AH, karamata conquered Mecca and they took the black stone, but they sooner restore it in 330 AH.
-The ikhshidi dynasty reign was between 331 and 357 AH.
-The government of the first class was formed by Musawwis in 358 AH by Jaafar bin Muhammed bin Hussein

The second class

Hashimi were able to reign over Mecca after their conquest of Sulamini

The Saudi Reign

Mecca witnessed some comprehensive development during the reign of King Abdul Aziz. He attached the Masjad Nabawi and Kaaba Affairs great importance since 1386 when he first ordered expansion of the Prophet Mohammad Mosque.
The First expansion of the Masjed Haram took place during the period of the reign of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz al saud, may God have mercy on him.

The new Saudi enlargement

King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud The purpose, when expanding the Masjid Haram seeks to increase its capacity to welcome more  Muslims and to provide more places to pray whether in it or the surrounding squares.
Whether in present or in future, The Kingdom of  Saudi Arabia main aim is to bring effective reforms to the Islamic sites. The railway network of Arafat, Mena, and Muzdalifa  is nothing but  an example of the government’s efforts to ameliorate the conditions where pilgrims are to perform their rituals.

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