Makkah, W-arab. Stadt im Hedjas (Saudi-Arabien), 550 000 Ew.; islam. Hauptwallfahrtsort, heilige Stadt der Moslems u. Keimzelle der islam. Religion; islam. Universität; Zentrum ist die Große Moschee El-Haram mit dem Zentralheiligtum des Islams, der Kaaba.
1. A city in western Saudi Arabia; as the birthplace of Mohammed it is the holiest city of Islam.
2. Town in Indiana (USA).
3. Unincorporated community in California (USA).
(Arabic Makkah) City in Saudi Arabia and, as birthplace of Mohammed, the holiest city of the Islamic world; In the center of Mecca is the Great Mosque, in the courtyard of which is the Kaaba, the sacred shrine containing the black stone believed to have been given to Abraham by the angel Gabriel.
It also contains the well Zam-Zam, associated by tradition with the biblical characters Hagar and Ishmael. Most pilgrims come via the port of Jiddah.