Cave of Hira
Makkah Al-Mukarramah
Cave of Hira
The cave where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to seclude himself, located on Jabal al-Nour (The Mountain of Light).
The Cave of Hira is the cave where the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad ﷺ, used to seclude himself before his prophetic mission and the descent of Jibril with the Quran. It is the sacred place where the revelation first came down to the Prophet. The Cave of Hira is located in the east of Makkah, on the left of one heading to Arafat, at the peak of 'Jabal al-Nour' (The Mountain of Light) or 'Jabal al-Islam,' at an altitude of 634 meters. It is located approximately 4 kilometers away from the Holy Mosque.
Description of the Cave
The Cave of Hira is a small gap in the mountain with its entrance facing north. Its length is four cubits and its width is one and three-quarter cubits. It is a compact space that can only accommodate four or five people sitting at the same time. The person entering the Cave of Hira naturally faces towards the Kaaba. In the past, a person standing on the mountain could see Makkah and the Kaaba clearly, although after the construction of the upper floors of the Haram, this direct line of sight is no longer possible. The very first verses of the Noble Quran were revealed here, commencing the divine revelation with the verse:
"Read in the name of your Lord who created"
Poetry and the Cave of Hira
Jabal al-Nour is considered one of the most famous mountains of Makkah, located in the eastern part towards the north. It houses the cave where the Messenger of Allah ﷺ worshipped, and where the first noble verses were revealed. Its significance was captured by ancient poets. The poet Awad ibn al-Ahwas says about it:
"By the One whose sacred precincts Quraysh makes pilgrimage to, And by what Hira has gathered, Are we not the most noble of the two races in journey, And the greatest of them in lighting a fire in the belly of Hira?"
History and Prophetic Traditions
It is narrated in prophetic traditions that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once climbed the peak of the mountain with some of his closest companions. The mountain suddenly shook beneath them. The Prophet ﷺ addressed the mountain, saying: 'Be still, Hira, for there is no one upon you except a Prophet, a Truthful one, or a Martyr.' Today, the cave remains a profound symbol of contemplation and divine connection, containing almost no vegetation except for a very small amount of resilient flora.