What is "mecca"

Arabic Makkah, sacred city of Islam, birthplace of Muhammad, which every Muslim must visit at least once. Origins have been proposed in Phoenician maqaq "ruined" or Arabic mahrab "sanctuary." Figurative sense of "any place one holds supremely sacred" (usually with lower-case m-) is in English from 1850. Related: Meccan.

n. (alternative form of Mecca English)

Mecca or Makkah ( ) is a city in the Hejaz in Saudi Arabia. It is the capital of that kingdom's Makkah Region. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level. Its resident population in 2012 was roughly 2 million, although visitors more than triple this number every year during the hajj ("pilgrimage") period held in the twelfth Muslim lunar month of Dhu al-Hijjah.

As the birthplace of Muhammad and the site of Muhammad's first revelation of the Quran (specifically, a cave from Mecca), Mecca is regarded as the holiest city in the religion of Islam and a pilgrimage to it known as the Hajj is obligatory for all able Muslims. Mecca is home to the Kaaba, by majority description Islam's holiest site, as well as being the direction of Muslim prayer. Mecca was long ruled by Muhammad's descendants, the sharifs, acting either as independent rulers or as vassals to larger polities. It was conquered by Ibn Saud in 1925. In its modern period, Mecca has seen tremendous expansion in size and infrastructure, home to structures such as the Abraj Al Bait, also known as the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, the world's third tallest building and the building with the third largest amount of floor area. During this expansion, Mecca has lost some historical structures and archaeological sites, such as the Ajyad Fortress. Today, more than 15 million Muslims visit Mecca annually, including several million during the few days of the Hajj. As a result, Mecca has become one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the Muslim world, despite the fact that non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city.

'''The Mecca '''formally Young Mecca, is a St. Lucian Hip Hop/Pop/ EDM artist and songwriter. Growing up on the island of St. Lucia, he was one of the brave to defy norms and to move towards a more urban musical art form despite the dominance of other genres like Soca and Calypso. Part of his early popularity arose from his performances at stage shows opening for regional and international acts.

Mecca (Makkah al-Mukarramah) is a city in Saudi Arabia and the holiest site in Islam.

Mecca or Makkah may also refer to:

• Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia, the province surrounding the city
• Mecca, California, a town in Riverside County, California, United States
• Mecca, Indiana, a town in Parke County, Indiana, United States
• Mecca, Ohio, an unincorporated community
• Mecca Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, United States
• Mecca-Cola, a cola-flavoured carbonated beverage
• Mecca Ointment, a first aid ointment, available in drug stores across Canada
• Mecca Leisure Group, a UK entertainment business
  • Mecca Bingo, a UK-based social and bingo club leisure company formerly part of Mecca Leisure, now owned by Rank Group
  • Mecca Dance Hall Tottenham, a former entertainment venue in Tottenham, London
• Milwaukee Exposition Convention Center and Arena, since renamed UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena
• "Mecca", a 1963 hit single by Gene Pitney
• Mecca, a 1996 album by the Memphis Pilgrims, a rock group led by Michael Falzarano
• Mecca, a 2009 album by Persia White
• Black mecca, a term in the United States for a city to which black people are attracted