Hira, Sacred cave on Mount Noor near Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Hira is a natural cave on Mount Jabal al-Nour, located about 270 meters above the plain of Mecca and opening onto a rocky slope. The entrance leads into a single chamber with uneven flooring, offering views over the dry highlands of the Hejaz region.
In the year 610, the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation through the Angel Gabriel in this cave during the month of Ramadan. Before that, the cave had been a retreat for meditation, and after this event it remained a central place in Islamic faith.
The name Hira marks the place where the first verses of the Quran were revealed according to Islamic tradition, so pilgrims pause here in silence. Visitors often sit in the same spot where the Prophet meditated, experiencing it as a space for personal contemplation.
The climb to the cave follows roughly 600 steps up Mount Jabal al-Nour and requires sturdy footwear and plenty of water. The ascent can take between one and two hours, depending on pace and breaks, especially in warm weather.
The narrow opening of the cave is shaped so that light enters the interior only at certain times of day, casting the space in shifting half-darkness. This natural play of light contributes to the particular mood that many visitors describe.
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