المكرمة مك�ة

Mecca Makkah

Makka al-Mukarrama

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Czech Republic

Area Area

 -  Total 2,149,690 km2 (14th)

 -  Total 78,866 km2 (117th)

829,996 sq mi  30,450 sq mi 

 -  Water (%) negligible  -  Water (%) 2

Population Population

 -  2007 estimate

27,601,038[1] (46th)  -  20081 estimate

▲10,424,926 (78th)

 -  Density 11/km2 (205th)  -  Density 132/km2 (77th)

29/sq mi 341/sq mi

GDP (PPP)   2007 estimate GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate

 -  Total $555.055 billion[2] (22nd)

 -  Total $250.057 billion[1] (39th²)

 -  Per capita $22,851[2] (38th)  -  Per capita $24,229[1] (35th)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Mecca It is the holiest city in Islam and plays a pivotal (klíčový, stěžejní) role in Islamic practices (zvyky) and traditions.

It surrounds the Kaaba, a shrine (svatyně) towards which all Muslims face during daily prayers.

Kaaba The Kaaba "Cube" is a cuboidal building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is the most sacred (posvátný) site in Islam. The building is at least a thousand years old, but according to Islamic tradition dates back to the time of Abraham (Ibrahim). The building has a mosque (mešita) built around it. It is towards the Kaaba which all Muslims around the world face during prayer, no matter where they are.

Mecca One of the Five Pillars of Islam requires every capable Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage (pouť) at least once in their lifetime. Multiple parts of the Hajj require pilgrims to walk several times around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed from above).

Five Pillars of Islam Shahādah - Profession of faithṢalāt - PrayersZakāh - Giving to the poorṢawm – Fasting (půst) during RamadanHajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca

ShahādahShahadah is professing oneness (ztvrzující jednota) of Allah and accepting Prophet Muhammad as his messenger to humanity. And saying: I testify that there is only one god Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger: but you must say that in Arabic.

ṢalātThe second pillar of Islam is Salat , the requirement to pray 5 times a day at fixed times during the day. The time of day to pray are at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and at night. Each salat is performed facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca. Salat is intended to focus the mind on Allah; it is seen as a personal communication with Allah, expressing gratitude and worship. According to the Qur'an, the benefit of prayer "restrains (potlačení) from shameful and evil deeds".

ZakāhZakaat or alms-giving, is the practice of charitable giving by Muslims based on accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all who are able to do so. It is considered to be a personal responsibility for Muslims to ease economic hardship (útrapy) for others and eliminate inequality.

ṢawmMuslims must abstain from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk during this month, and are to be especially mindful (dbalý) of other sins. The fast is meant to allow Muslims to seek nearness to Allah, to express their gratitude to and dependence on him, to atone (odpykat) for their past sins, and to remind them of the needy. During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, harsh language, gossip and to try to get along with each other better than normal. In addition, all obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided.

HajjThe Hajj is a pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah to the holy city of Mecca, and derives from an ancient Arab practice. Every able-bodied Muslim is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it. When the pilgrim is around ten kilometers from Mecca, he must dress in Ihram clothing, which consists of two white sheets. Both men and women are required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, as the Hajj is mandatory for both males and females. After a Muslim makes the trip to Mecca, he/she is known as a hajj/hajja (one who made the pilgrimage to Mecca).

The End