Makkah
(Mecca), Saudi Arabia
Jeddah (Jiddah), Saudi Arabia
At-Taa'if (Taif), Saudi Arabia
Al-Madeenah (Medina), Saudi Arabia
Al-Baahah (Baha), Saudi Arabia
Makkah
(Mecca), Saudi Arabia
Makkah
(Mecca), Saudi Arabia is the "Mecca" of the planet.
Makkah (Mecca) is regarded as the best place on earth by Muslims
all over the world, as millions perform their Hajj (Islamic
pilgrimage) to Makkah (Mecca) every year, and millions more
visit Makkah (Mecca) outside of Hajj season. Makkah (Mecca)
is host to many masjids, including the Ka'bah, the first house
of worship built to serve Almighty God. [ More
on the masjids of Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia ]
Makkah
(Mecca), Saudi Arabia, is also the place where the Prophet
Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) first began
receiving revelation from Almighty God, upon Jabal An-Noor,
"The Mountain of Light". The well of Zamzam is also
in Makkah (Mecca), as is the mountain of 'Arafat. [ See:
Studying Islam in Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia ]
Jeddah
(Jiddah), Saudi Arabia
One
of Saudi Arabia's most modern cities, if not the most modern,
Jiddah (Jeddah), Saudi Arabia, is only about a 40-minute drive
from Mecca. Jiddah's (Jeddah) residents and visitors can throw
a rug on the beach and watch the waves of the beautiful Red
Sea smash into the huge rocks bordering the shore lines, or
they can find a calmer spot where they can dip their feet
in, swim, or snorkle, wondering at the coral reef's fantastic
underwater life. More secluded sections of the Jiddah beach
are found in the south, where a family can privately picnic,
swim, or throw rocks into the Red Sea. Jiddah (Jeddah) hosts
King 'Abdul-'Azeez International Airport, and a number of
Western businesses and restaurants. Almost anything you are
used to from the West can be found in Jeddah (Jiddah), Saudi
Arabia.
At-Taa'if
(Taif), Saudi Arabia
Only
an hour from Mecca, Taif, Saudi Arabia, is a beautiful town
set high in the mountains, with a lot of parks and greenery
that make for an excellent quick get-away spot for a family
picnic or outing. Many Meccans retreat to Taif to get away
from Mecca's intense summer heat.
Al-Madeenah
(Medina), Saudi Arabia
A
little more than three hours away from Mecca is Al-Madeenah
(Medina, Saudi Arabia), the city of the Prophet (sallallaahu
'alayhe wa sallam). Upon entering the city, one notices
something special about the residents of Medinah - they are
extremely hospitable, a trait that Allaah allowed them to
keep since the time of their ancestors from the Ansaar. Prayer
in the Prophet's Masjid (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)
in Medina earns a reward 1000 times greater than in other
masjids (except in Mecca). The weather is also much cooler
than Mecca, you find many of the air conditioners in Medina
have a "heat" option for those semi-chilly winter
nights. [ Studying Islam
in Al-Madeenah (Madina), Saudi Arabia ]
Al-Baahah
(Baha), Saudi Arabia
Less
than four hours away from Makkah (Mecca), Al-Baahah (Baha),
Saudi Arabia, a quiet southern town in the mountains, hosts
a number of cattle farms and camping grounds. When driving
to Baha, the road from Taif leads you to the foot of the huge
mountain on which the town is found. You can look up and see
Baha far above you, yet the windy road that climbs the mountains
will take about an hour to ascend, and what a beautiful view
it is! You might feel suprisingly cold winds and see families
of monkeys or mountain goats as you wind and twist your way
up the mountains. Those afraid of heights will want to take
the less scenic road to Baha. Like Taif, it is much cooler
than Mecca in Baha, they even get snow sometimes in the winter
time!
[
Studying Islam in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia ]
[
Studying Islam in Al-Madeenah
(Medina), Saudi Arabia ]
[
More
pictures of Saudi Arabia ]
