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1700 BCE
The Ka'aba is Built
The Ka'aba was built by Abraham and his son as the house of God. This was a place for reverence and worship. (Islam) -
622
Islam Begins
The journey of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622, called the Hijra, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. (Islam) -
622
Qibla is Established as the Ka'aba
Muhammad, on making the hijra, establishes that the direction that people will face while praying will be the Ka'aba in Mecca. This is the direction that Muslims still face today, almost 1500 years later. (Geogadmin)
This provides a common point of prayer for all muslims, and allows the muslim followers to have a common direction of prayer. -
638
Wall Around Ka'aba is Built
'Umar ibn Al-Kattab built a wall around the Ka'aba, thus erecting the first structure for muslims on the site. This would be the beginning of the great mosque in Mecca. (Tesch)
This wall, and later the Great Mosque, would serve as the place of prayer for all pilgrims visiting the Holy City during the time of the Hajj each year. -
1571
Renovations Take Place
At some time in the 14th century, and again in 1571 by the Sultan Selim II, renovations to the Great Mosque take place, expanding the utility and capacity of the mosque to accommodate pilgrims coming to Mecca. The previously flat roof of the mosque was replaced with a series of small domes for aesthetic improvements as well. These parts remain some of the oldest still standing on the mosque. (Tesch) -
Mecca Becomes Part of Saudi Arabia
In 1926, the Sharifs of Makkah were overthrown by the Saudis, and Mecca was incorporated into Saudi Arabia. This was a big change for the city, which today boasts over 1 million residents.
This allows for greater funds to be devoted to improving the infrastructure in the city. There can be greater investment in the industry of hajj for the nation of Saudi Arabia. -
20th Century Expansion
Completed in 1973, the project added new construction around the Ottoman mosque, expanding the total area of the structure from about 290,000 square feet to about 1,630,000 square feet, and increasing its maximum capacity to 500,000. (Tesch)
This allowed for a dramatic influx of pilgrims, and greater comfort for those pilgrims that are coming to the mosque during the Hajj. -
Bus System Established in Mecca
To serve the residents of the metropolis of Mecca, a local bus system was created that ferries people around to various sites in the city and connecting towns. (Abdo)
Better transport makes for a better hajj experience, as well as a better experience for permanent residents of the city. The people that live in Mecca year-round are able to get around faster then from place to place. -
2016 Hajj
The Hajj Journey in 2016 saw a high of 1,862,909 pilgrims, according to the General Authority for Statistics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (General Authority for Statistics) The hajj is not getting smaller, and there continues to be a high influx of people to the city of Mecca for the few days that Hajj exists. -
Looking Ahead
As of this year, there are plans to update infrastructure and, by 2020, increase the capacity of Mecca for Hajj to nearly 2.2 million people. The bridge in Mecca will be able to handle 500,000 people at once, and in total over 3 million people over the course of the 12 days of Hajj. (Nehme)
These plans are going to make the Hajj a more accessible pilgrimage to more people each and every year. The Saudi Arabian government seeks to have a better experience for the people that desire the pilgrimage
