Allah The Almighty takes oath by the Sacred City in two places in the Quran. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {And [by] this secure city [Makkah] } [Quran 95:3]
· {I swear by this city, Makkah -}[Quran 90:1]
Allah The Almighty did so because of the virtue of this blessed spot of land. There is no other place on earth that Allah The Almighty orders His servants to leave for except Makkah. No wonder then that it is the most beloved place to Allah, to the Prophet, , and to the sincere believers.
Reviewing the Quranic and Sunnah (Prophetic traditions) texts, we find that there are specific characteristics that make Makkah distinguished from other places, and certain rulings should be taken into consideration in Makkah. Therefore, we find ourselves obliged to present part of these characteristics. They are summarized in the following points:
1- It is the Qiblah for Muslims as they pray in its direction. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a Qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer].} [Quran 2:144]
· {So from wherever you go out [for prayer, O Muhammad] turn your face toward Al- Masjid Al-Haraam, and indeed, it is the truth from your Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.} [Quran 2:149]
2- Allah The Almighty made it the Mother of Cities. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {that you may warn the Mother of Cities and those around it.} [Quran 6:92] Ibn Katheer said, “Makkah was named the Mother of Cities because it is more honored than all cities.” All cities are subordinate to it.
3- Multiplication of the reward for good deeds in it. The Prophet, , said: “A prayer in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam is better than one hundred thousand prayers in other mosques.” [Ahmad (Al-Arnaa’oot: Saheeh)] According to many scholars, such multiplication of good deeds in Makkah is on the basis of the sacredness and high status of this city before Allah The Almighty.
4- Gravity of committing a sin in it: Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Whoever intends [a deed] therein of deviation [in religion] or wrongdoing - We will make him taste of a painful punishment.} [Quran 22:25] There is a threat for the mere intention to commit a sin in the sanctuary of Makkah. Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Committing a sin in the Sanctuary (of Makkah) of Allah and His City is graver than committing it in any other place on earth. Therefore, whoever disobeys a king in his court is not like the one who disobeys him in a place far away from his house and court.”
5- Allah The Almighty made it a secure, sacred place: It is forbidden to kill people in it, cut its trees or chase game in it. In it, people feel secure for themselves and properties. It is the perfect secure place for every creature of Allah. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {And whoever enters it shall be safe.} [Quran 3:97]
· {[Say, O Muhammad], "I have only been commanded to worship the Lord of this City, who made it sacred and to whom [belongs] all things. And I am commanded to be of the Muslims [those who submit to Allah ]} [Quran 27:91]
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “Allah has made Makkah a Sanctuary (sacred place) the day He created the Heavens and the earth; it is sacred by the Order of Allah until the Day of Judgment. It was a sanctuary before me and will be so after me. It was made lawful for me (to fight in it) only for a few hours. None is allowed to chase its game or uproot its thorny shrubs or to cut its trees.” [Al-Bukhari] There is no exception but the plant of Ithkhir because of the need for it as indicated in other Saheeh Hadeeths.
6- Being the most beloved spot of land to Allah The Almighty: ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Adiyy, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I saw the Messenger of Allah on his mount at Al-Hazwarah, saying: “By Allah, you are the best land of Allah and the most beloved land to Allah; had I not been driven out of you, I would have never left you.” [At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]
7- Being a place where supplication is most likely to be answered: The Prophet, , said: “Those who perform Hajj and ‘Umrah are the guests of Allah. If they supplicate Him, He would answer them and when they seek His Forgiveness, He would forgive them.” [An-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah (Al-Albaani: Saheeh)]
8- Impermissibility for polytheists to enter it: Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach Al-Masjid Al-Haraam after this, their [final] year.} [Quran 9:28]
9- Impermissibility to pick up the found fallen things in it except for those who want to make a public announcement for them without claiming possession of them: Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “It is not allowed to pick up its fallen things except by a person who announces it publicly.” [Al-Bukhari]
10- Impermissibility of facing the Qiblah or turning one’s back to it when one relieves oneself: The Prophet, , said: “If anyone of you goes to an open space for answering the call of nature he should neither face nor turn his back to the Qiblah; he should either face the east or the west.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] According to scholars, this ruling is specific for those who are in an open place unlike those who are inside buildings.
11- The Antichrist cannot enter Makkah or Madeenah: Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “There will be no town that the Antichrist will not enter except Makkah and Al-Madeenah.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
12- Allah The Almighty defends it: This happened during the Year of the Elephant and would happen again at the end of time. ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the Prophet, , said: “An army will raid the Ka‘bah and when it reaches a desert land, all of them will be swallowed up by the earth.” [Al-Bukhari]
13- Hearts are attached to this city and people like it because Allah The Almighty answered the supplication of our father Ibraaheem (Abraham), may Allah exalt his mention, which is stated in the Quran where Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them.} [Quran 14:37]