Bakkah

Bakkah is a historical name for the city of Mecca in present-day Saudi Arabia. In Islamic tradition, Bakkah is used in the Qur’an to designate the sanctuary where the Kaaba stands, described as the first House of Worship established for mankind and as a blessed place that provides guidance to the worlds. The term is also used by some sources to refer to the broader valley or area around Mecca, while others treat it as a historical or alternate name for the city itself. The exact meaning of the word Bakkah is uncertain, and traditional explanations vary; several classical writers link it to concepts such as gathering, crowding, or a place of significance for worship.

Geographically, Mecca lies in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia and is the site of the Masjid al-Haram and the Kaaba. In Islamic practice, Muslims face toward the Kaaba during daily prayers, and the Kaaba’s precinct hosts the annual Hajj pilgrimage as well as the Umrah rites throughout the year. The association of Bakkah with the Kaaba underscores the sacred status attributed to the city within Islam.

Historically, Mecca was a major religious and commercial center in pre-Islamic Arabia, with the Quraysh tribe managing the sanctuary and caravan routes. In Islamic tradition, the Kaaba is linked to the figures of Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ismail, who are accorded a role in rebuilding the sanctuary and establishing pilgrimage practices. The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, preached there for years, and later migrated to Medina, a turning point in Islamic history. Today, Bakkah is generally identified with Mecca, a city of profound religious significance and the destination of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.