Mecca is not the city referred to in the Qur'an!

In order for Muslims to know anything about ancient Mecca, they have to refer to the Islamic Traditions, which include the Sira (the biography of Muhammad, written by Ibn Hisham in around 833 AD), the Hadith (the saying of Muhammad, the first which were written down by Al-Bukhari in around 870 AD), and the Tafsir and the Tahrikh (the commentaries and the histories, first written down by Al-Tabari in around 923 AD).

But, before we go to the Traditions, let's begin with the Qur'an, as it says quite a bit about what Muslims believe is Mecca; for instance:

(Note: none of the references below use the word “Mecca“. It is only implied that these refer to the city of Mecca, by Muslims)

-“The first sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Mecca)”? (Sura 3:96)

-Mecca is the “mother of all settlements” (Sura 6:92 & 42:7)

-Mecca was where Adam & Eve were thrown down to (Sura 7:24)

-Mecca was where Abraham lived in 1900 BC (Sura 21:51-71)

-Mecca was where Muhammad was supposedly born and lived until 622

-Mecca became the center for the Qibla in 624 (Sura 2:149-150)

Yet, the only reference to ‘Mecca’ in the Qur’an is in Sura 48:24…Why, if it is so important?

When we move on to the Traditions themselves, we find a lot of specific references concerning what this city 'where the prophet lived' was like, and the picture we get is a city which is green, and replete with vegetation.

Mecca, according to the traditions, and some Qur'anic verses is:

-In a valley, & parallel valley (Ibn Hisham; Al Bukhari 2:645, 2:685, 3:891, 2:815, 2:820, 4:227)

-With a stream (Al Bukhari 2:685)

-Outside is the ruins, and a pillar of ‘salt’ (Surah 37:133-138)

-With fields (Al Bukhari 9:337)

-Has Trees (Sahih al-Tirmidhi 1535), Grass (al Bukhari 9:337), fruit (Al Bukhari 4:281), Clay and Loam (Al Tabari VI 1079 p.6)

-Has ‘Olive Trees’ (Surah 6:141; Surah 16; Surah 80)

-With Mountains overlooking the Kaa’ba (Ibn Hisham; Al Bukhari 2:645, 2:685, 3:891, 2:815, 2:820, 4:227)

Yet, take a look at Mecca. It is not in a valley, and has none of these listed above, because it is too arid and dry.

Whoever compiled the Qur'an and the later Traditions either never went to Mecca, or they were writing about an entirely different city. I wonder which?

© Pfander Centre for Apologetics - US, 2021
(45,610) Music: 'happy child', by Aleksound, from Filmmusic-io

Qur'an!