Once a year the Arabs came to Mecca for Pilgrimage. All the Idols they worshiped were displayed and it was like a carnival. A lot of money exchanged hands and it was a good time to display and sell goods. People travelled from everywhere to sell and buy goods. Lots of money was also given as offerings to the Pagan Gods, and as it was very lucrative this practice continued.
Once Islam came to be accepted, all the idols were destroyed, and the yearly Pilgrimage which is done by the Muslims, who come from all over the world is called the Haj Pilgrimage.
Mecca was an important religious center as well as trading center. Caravans stopped by Mecca during certain holy months, to worship the ancient shrine called the Ka'aba.
Mecca was an important religious center as well as trading center. Caravans stopped by Mecca during certain holy months, to worship the ancient shrine called the Ka'aba.
Mansa Musa traveled to Mecca as part of his pilgrimage that every person in his religion had to do at a certain time in their lifetime. In this case, Mansa Musa traveled to Mecca with an extremely large caravan and gave out very generous amounts of gold to the people in need in Mecca and Cairo during his trip to the Hajj.
In the old days they travelled on Horses and Camels and caravans. It is now a modern city and people travel in cars, buses, taxi, bikes and more recently they have the railways.
A Muslm's life takes a different shade when he puts on Ihraam, declares Labback Allah huma Labback, and leaves for Mecca to perform Hajj or Umra. He has to abide by certain rules and follow certain restriction during Hajj.
In general, they used trade routes. On land they used camels to carry goods and caravans to actually travel in. When they were near water they used ships.
During the Hajj, pilgrims stone Satan.
He did not tell "everyone" to leave Mecca, but only non-Muslims. He gave this instruction because he wanted Mecca to be a totally Muslim state. He allowed the pagans four months to leave. After that, he instructed his followers to kill any pagans whom they might find still in Mecca.
Mecca is a place in Saudi Arabia where many Muslims visit as a holy pilgrimage. It is said that God established this place with Abraham as the Ka'ba (the holy place) and all Muslims face in the direction of Mecca during prayer times.
Most do. Some mosques used to be a different building, like a library or a church, and don't face Mecca. Nonetheless, Muslims face Mecca during prayer.
The fabled remote city of Timbuktu was an important oasis on the edge of the Sahara Desert. It was a crossroads for desert caravans and traders from Western Africa, as well as Muslim pilgrims heading for Mecca. As it grew in wealth and importance it became a major learning centre for Muslim people.
All weapons had to be laid down near the temple, making Mecca a safe and peaceful place to do business.