The town has 618,000 inhabitants and it is revered from being the first place created on earth, as well as the place where the Ka'ba was built. Literally, Kaba in Arabic means a high place with respect and prestige. It also means ‘cube'. All Muslims are required to face in the direction of the Ka'aba five times every day when offering their prayers. The Ka'ba, the centre of Islam, is a rectangular building made of bricks. Around the Ka'ba is the Grand Mosque, al-Haram. After the grand construction the total area of Haram Mosque is three hundred and nine thousand square meter (309,000 sq. meter) and it has 4 main gates and 44 other gates and 9 minarets (7 old and 2 new). Haram Mosque can accommodate more then seven hundred thousand people at one time. Haram Mosque is fully air-conditioned A 450 meter tunnel takes chilled water to Holy Mosque of Haram, where air is passed through over pipes containing chilled water and then goes in side the mosque through large network of ducts. The water is then returned to the chilling station.

Around the mosque, in between the mountains, are the houses that make up the City of Makkah. Here was a central point on the caravan routes running over the Arabian peninsula at the time of Muhammad. Makkah was revered as a holy city even before the first revelations came to Muhammad. The town’s importance as a centre of religious teaching must not be exaggerated. Very soon in the beginning of the Muslim expansion, religious teaching moved to other places in the Muslim world. Makkah is important in two points: Centre of the compulsory pilgrimage, and a focal point for all Muslims.

Makkah is the city favoured by Allah, the city in which He gave mankind His message of inspiration, the city from which the light of Islam spread to the four corners of the world to enlighten people about Him and about submission to Him which is Islam. It is within the confines of Islam where one finds security, blessings and goodness.

There are many other mosques in and around Makkah apart from Masjid Nabawi. The Prophet Muhammad and his Companions prayed in these mosques.