Download Mecca

‫م ّكة المكرمة‬
Mecca
Makkah
Makka al-Mukarrama
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi
Arabia
Czech Republic
Area
-
Area
2
Total
2,149,690 km (14th)
-
2
Total
78,866 km (117th)
829,996 sq mi
-
Water (%)
negligible
30,450 sq mi
-
Water (%)
Population
2
Population
[1]
1
-
2007 estimat
e
27,601,038 (46th)
-
2008 estimate
▲10,424,926 (78th)
-
Density
11/km2 (205th)
-
Density
132/km2 (77th)
29/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
341/sq mi
2007 estimate
GDP (PPP)
-
Total
$250.057
[1]
billion (39th²)
-
Per capita
$24,229 (35th)
-
Total
$555.055
[2]
billion (22nd)
-
Per capita
$22,851 (38th)
[2]
2007 estimate
[1]
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 faith
Ṣalāt - Prayers
Zakāh - Giving to the poor
Ṣawm – Fasting (půst) during Ramadan
Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca
Shahādah
Shahadah 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.
Ṣalāt
The 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".
Zakāh
Zakaat 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.
Ṣawm
Muslims 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.
Hajj
The 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