Jabal al-Noor — Cave of Hira (Ghar Hira)

The Mountain of Light (Jabal al-Noor) rises above Mecca approximately 4 kilometers north of the Masjid al-Haram. At its summit is the Cave of Hira (Ghar Hira) — the small cave where the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) spent extended periods in solitary contemplation and worship before his prophethood, and where he received the first divine revelation in 610 CE. On the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadan, the Angel Jibreel (AS) appeared to the Prophet and commanded him: 'Iqra' — Read!' The first verses of Surah al-'Alaq (96:1-5) were revealed: 'Read in the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clinging substance. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous...' The Prophet descended the mountain shaken, and went to his wife Khadija (RA), who comforted him and took him to the scholar Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who confirmed his prophethood. The climb to the cave is approximately 200 meters of steep stone steps and takes 20-30 minutes. The cave itself is small — approximately 1.5 meters wide and 2.5 meters deep. It faces the qiblah direction.