History informs us about what
happened during specific points in the past as well as events that have taken
place over time and gives us information related to this. Such information may
be true or false, and every Muslim is obliged to seek the truth and confirm any
information he hears so that he may ascertain what is correct from what is
fabricated. Moreover, every Muslim should refer to reliable sources in order to
obtain definite, authentic and verifiable information.
Makkah is the Sacred City as well as the holiest and the absolutely most
honorable place on earth. The most truthful sources from which one can take news
about its history are the Noble Qur’aan and the authentic prophetic narrations
in this regard, and from these we can ascertain its ancient history as well as
how it was prior the message and prophet hood of Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa
sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).
After the advent of Islaam, Muslim scholars and historians have endeavored to
record chronicles of Makkah in general history books as well as books concerned
with the biographies of the Muslim scholars who lived in it. Some scholars
authored books that dealt primarily with its history and the areas surrounding
it, one of the most famous being “Chronicles of Makkah and its Ancient
Monuments” authored by Abu Al-Waleed Al-Azraqi may Allaah have mercy upon him
from the third century AH. Another book was “Chronicles of Makkah in Ancient and
Contemporary Times” authored by Al-Faakihi may Allaah have mercy upon him who
also lived during the third century AH, and his book was larger than that
written by Al-Azraqi may Allaah have mercy upon him but the initial parts of his
book were lost over time.
Thereafter, chronicling the affairs and events of Makkah ceased for a period of
almost four centuries. It was thereafter resumed and one of the scholars who is
considered to be the most prolific author regarding it and its history was Imaam
Taqiyyud-Deen Al-Faasi Al-Makki may Allaah have mercy upon him (775 AH – 832
AH). In his book entitled “The Therapy for those who Harbour Affection for the
History of the Sacred City”, Imaam Taqiyyud-Deen may Allaah have mercy upon him
expressed his amazement at the fact that chronicling the history of Makkah had
halted after Imaams Al-Azraqi and Al-Faakihi may Allaah have mercy upon them.
This incited him to write many publications on the history of Makkah that took
different sizes; large, medium and small. One of the largest books he authored
was “The Treasured Necklace on the History of the SecureCity” which consisted of
eight volumes. Next in size came “The Therapy for those who Harbour Affection
for the History of the Sacred City” which consisted of two volumes, which he
later summarised in books such as “The Gift for the Honourable on the History of
the Sacred City” and others.
Thereafter, many scholars and schools of history arose which contributed to the
writing of the history and chronicles of Makkah such as, Aal Fahd and Aal At-Tabari,
and this has continued ever since, to include the contemporary.
The establishment of Makkah:
The history and building of Makkah is directly connected to Prophet Ibraaheem
may Allaah exalt his mention as he was the first person to settle his family in
it when he left his wife Haajar and his son Ismaa’eel may Allaah exalt his
mention there in compliance with the command of Allaah for him to do so.
Imaam Al-Bukhaari may Allaah have mercy upon him reported on the authority of
Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him in the long narration in which the
Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) informed
us that Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention once came with his wife Haajar
and his son Ismaa’eel may Allaah exalt his mention who was still a suckling
infant, from ancient Syria to Makkah. At that time, Makkah had no water and
nobody residing in it. Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention took them both
under the shade of a tree and left with them a bag of dates and a flask of
water, then headed back to ancient Syria. As he was leaving, his wife Haajar
called to him, saying: “Where are you going? How can you leave us in this
deserted valley that has neither humans nor anything else (in terms of life)?”
She repeated this a few times but he did not reply, so she asked: “Did Allaah
command you to do this?” Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention replied: “Yes”
Thereupon she said: “Then He shall never forsake us”.
Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention walked for a while and then stood upon a
small hill, raised his hands in supplication, and said, as Allaah informs us
saying (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 and provide for them
from the fruits that they might be grateful.” [Quran 14:37]
Allaah blessed Haajar and her son with the well of Zamzam, and then people came
from all directions and resided in Makkah. The first tribe to reside there was
the tribe of Jurhum among whom Ismaa’eel may Allaah exalt his mention grew up
and from whom he married.
Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention came many times to Makkah to check upon
their condition, and later Allaah commanded him to build the Ka’bah; Allaah says
(what means): “And [mention] when Ibraaheem (Abraham) was raising the
foundations of the House and [with him] Ismaa’eel (Ishmael), [saying]: ‘Our
Lord! Accept [this] from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.’” [Quran
2:127]
Allaah also says (what means): “And [O Muhammad], when We designated for
Ibraaheem (Abraham) the site of the House, [saying] “Do not associate anything
with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf (circumambulation of
the Ka’bah) and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.” [Quran
22:26]
Ibn Katheer may Allaah have mercy upon him said commenting upon this verse in
his famous book of history entitled “The Beginning and the End” in Volume 1,
page 135: “There is no authentic report from the infallible (i.e. Prophet
Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ))
informing us that the House (the Ka’bah) was built before Ibraaheem may Allaah
exalt his mention and whoever states that, relying upon this verse (for evidence
of that), has no basis for such a claim because what is meant by the verse is
that he was simply being informed of where the House was to be built.” In Volume
2 page 227 of the same book, he said: “The verses of the Qur’aan clearly
indicate that Ibraaheem was the first person to build it.”
Abu Tharr may Allaah be pleased with him narrated: “I asked the messenger of
Allaah: `O messenger of Allaah! Which mosque was the first built on earth?` He
sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) replied: “The
Sacred Mosque (in Makkah)” “I then asked: ` Which mosque was built next?` He
sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “The Aqsaa
mosque (in Jerusalem).” “Thereupon, I asked: `What was the period between the
building of the two mosques?` He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah
exalt his mention ) replied: “Forty years.”” [Al-Bukhaari]
These reports clearly highlight the virtue of Prophet Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt
his mention and confirm that he was the one who built the two mosques, and that
the period between the two was forty years.
Therefore, it becomes evident that the first thing to be established in Makkah
was the Sacred Mosque (i.e. the Ka’bah), and that the first water to gush forth
from it was Zamzam.
Thereafter, the offspring of Ismaa’eel may Allaah exalt his mention multiplied
in the area of Hijaaz (the province in which Makkah lies) and its surroundings,
and their families succeeded each other in caring for the Sacred House and
maintaining it for a long period of time, until the tribe of Khuzaa’ah took over
this responsibility. People remained upon the monotheism with which Prophet
Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention came until the time when, ‘Amr bin Lahy
Al-Khuzaa’i introduced idol worshipping in the Ka’bah.
The number of idols then increased in the Ka’bah and this phenomena spread all
around the Arabian Peninsula to the extent that the number of idols in the
Ka’bah reached three hundred and sixty, as stated by Al-Kalbi in his book “The
Idols”.
Due to numerous wars and tribal struggles, the well of Zamzam was buried and
people could no longer find it. Qusay bin Kilaab, a great-grandfather of the
Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )
forcefully took over the custody of caring for the Sacred House and maintaining
it from the tribe of Khuzaa’ah, as it had abused its authority. Qusay gathered
the scattered families of the Quraysh tribe, relocated them in Makkah, and
restored the sanctity of Makkah, which had been lost due to Khuzaa’ah’s misuse
of authority and because some of the Quraysh tribe had been placed in the
surrounding areas of Makkah in order to protect it.
This marked the beginning of an authority that glorified Makkah and which freely
offered all types of services to its visitors, such as food, water and the
cleaning and maintaining of the Ka’bah.
After ‘Abdul-Muttalib saw a dream in which he saw the exact spot of the buried
well of Zamzam, he had the area dug up and restored the well. Thus, the well of
Zamzam once again became the source of water to the pilgrims and visitors, as
well as to the residents of Makkah.
After this, a grave event took place during the time of ‘Abdul-Muttalib when
Abrahah the Ethiopian headed towards Makkah riding a huge elephant in order to
demolish the Ka’bah. This is why that year came to be known as “The Year of the
Elephant”, during which the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah
exalt his mention ) was born.
A city with such a magnificent history is worthy of having such an exalted
status and should, therefore, be glorified and honoured. It deserves to occupy a
special place in the hearts of its residents, as well as the Muslims in general.
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