Mecca, or Makkah, is the most sacred city in Islam, known as the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the home of the Ka’aba, the holiest site in Islam. It is the city that never sleeps, continuously echoing with the prayers of millions who visit for pilgrimage and worship. Allah has honored this land above all others, making it a sanctuary where certain actions permitted elsewhere are restricted in reverence to its sacredness. The Qur’an states: "The first House (of Prayer) established for mankind is the one at Bakkah (Mecca): a blessed place, a guidance for all worlds." (Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:96)