10 Stunning Capitals of Islamic Culture in the Middle East — theculturetrip.com

As important to Jerusalem is for Judaism, Makkah al-Mukarramah, or Mecca as it is commonly known, is the most revered place for all Muslims. Located in Saudi Arabia’s Hijaz region on the western coast, it is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. Each year millions of Muslims across the world travel to Mecca for the Hajj to fulfil the pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The most sacred place in Mecca is the Ka’ba, a mosque which is housed around a black stone; it’s to this monument to which all Muslims pray during the salaat. Non-Muslims are unable to visit the site, which was awarded the Capital of Islamic Culture in 2005, but its importance in the Islamic world is undeniable.

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