Muslim Woman: Kaaba in Mecca is the Centre Point of Muslim World
Mecca or Makkah (in full: Makkah al-Mukkaramah; Arabic) is a city in the Hijaz region of western Saudi Arabia . It is revered as the holiest site of the Islamic religion, and a pilgrimage to it is required of all Muslims.The Hajj or Haj is the Pilgrimage to Mecca and is the fifth of the "Five Pillars of Islam". Any Muslim who can afford to do so is grateful to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. The word Muslim means one who submits and implies complete submission to the will of God (Allah Almighty). Muslims believe that nature is itself Islamic, since it follows natural laws placed by Allah Almighty. Thus, a Muslim strives to submit to God's instructions every step of the way. The holiest book for Muslims is the Quran, or the 'Koran' in English. Muslims believe the Arabic Quran as the direct revelation of Allah Almighty; translations do exist to other languages but are not regarded as the literal word of God. For Muslims, a pilgrimage to Mecca is required as one of the Five Pillars of the faith.
Every year about three million gather for the major pilgrimage, or Hajj .The Hajj or Haj is the Pilgrimage to Mecca and is the fifth of the "Five Pillars of Islam. The focal point of Mecca is the Kaaba, the "House of God" believed by Muslims to have been built by Abraham peace be upon him and his son Ishmael peace be upon him, and which is covered in a gold-embroidered black fabric. Pilgrims circle the Kaaba seven times and may also try to touch or kiss its cornerstone, the Black Stone the Black Stone (called Al-Hajarul Aswad in Arabic). The importance of Mecca for Muslims is inestimable. A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. The direction of prayer is known as the Qibla. The Kaaba or Kaaba, in the mosque known as Masjid al Haram in Mecca (Makkah), is one of the holy places of Islam. Some have identified Mecca with an ancient city called Bakkah, a place mentioned in surah 3:95 of the Quran. It is said to be the site of the first mosque, and therefore it is by some identified with the city of Mecca.
