Books

PLACES MENTIONED IN THE QUR'AN

MOUNT SINAI

Remember when We made the covenant with you and lifted up the Mount above your heads: 'Take hold vigorously of what We have given you and pay heed to what is in it, so that hopefully you will guard against evil.' (Surat al-Baqara, 63 )

When Musa had fulfilled the appointed term and had set off with his family, he noticed a fire from one side of the Mount. He said to his family, 'Stay here, I can see a fire. Hopefully I will bring you back some news from it or a burning branch from the fire so that you will be able to warm yourselves.' But when he reached it a voice called out to him from the right hand side of the valley in the part which was full of blessing, from out of the bush: 'Musa, I am Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. (Surat al-Qasas, 29-30)

We called out to him from the right hand side of the Mount and We brought him near in close communication. (Surah Maryam, 52)

Tribe of Israel! We rescued you from your enemy and made an appointment with you on the right hand side of the Mount and sent down manna and quails for you. (Surah Ta Ha, 80)

And a tree springing forth from Mount Sinai yielding oil and a seasoning to those who eat. (Surat al-Mu'minun, 20)

You were not on the western side when We gave Musa the command. You were not a witness. Yet We produced further generations and ages passed. Nor did you live among the people of Madyan and recite Our Signs to them, yet We have sent you news of them. Nor were you on the side of the Mount when We called, yet it is a mercy from your Lord so that you can warn a people to whom no warner came before, so that hopefully they will pay heed. (Surat al-Qasas, 44-46)

And Mount Sinai. (Surat at-Tin, 2)

By the Mount (Surat at-Tur, 1)


VALLEY OF TUWA

Valley of Tuwa is the holy place where Allah spoke to Prophet Musa the first time and revealed to him that He had chosen him for Himself. It is the place where Prophet Musa, who noticed a fire and headed towards the fire leaving his family behind, was called out by a voice from out of the bush and was given miracles. The name of this holy place is cited in the Qur'an in two verses:
I am your Lord. Take off your sandals. You are in the holy valley of Tuwa. (Surah Ta Ha, 12)

When his Lord called out to him in the holy valley of Tuwa? (Surat an-Nazi'at, 16)


MASJID AL-HARAM - THE SACRED HOUSE –
THE ANCIENT HOUSE – KA'BA

The Ka'ba is referred to in the Qur'an by different names, including the Ancient House, the Sacred House and the Masjid al-Haram.

The House

And when Ibrahim built the foundations of the House with Isma'il: 'Our Lord, accept this from us! You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara, 127)

Safa and Marwa are among the Landmarks of Allah, so anyone who goes on hajj to the House or does 'umra incurs no wrong in going back and forth between them. If anyone spontaneously does good, Allah is All-Thankful, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara, 158)

The first House established for mankind was that at Bakka, a place of blessing and a guidance for all beings. In it are Clear Signs–Ibrahim's station (maqam). All who enter it are safe. Hajj to the House is a duty owed to Allah by all mankind – those who can find a way to do it. But if anyone disbelieves, Allah is Rich Beyond Need of any being. (Surah Al 'Imran, 96-97)

And We located the position of the House for Ibrahim: 'Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who circle it, and those who stand and bow and prostrate. (Surat al-Hajj, 26)

Masjid al-Haram

We have seen you looking up into heaven, turning this way and that, so We will turn you towards a direction which will please you. Turn your face, therefore, towards the Masjid al-Haram. Wherever you all are, turn your faces towards it. Those given the Book know it is the truth from their Lord. Allah is not unaware of what they do. (Surat al-Baqara, 144)

Wherever you come from, turn your face to the Masjid al-Haram. This is certainly the truth from your Lord. Allah is not unaware of what you do. (Surat al-Baqara, 149)

Wherever you come from, turn your face to the Masjid al-Haram. Wherever you are, turn your faces towards it so that people will have no argument against you – except for those among them who do wrong and then you should not fear them but rather fear Me – and so that I can complete My blessing to you so that hopefully you will be guided. (Surat al-Baqara, 150)

But why should Allah not punish them now when they bar access to the Masjid al-Haram? They are not its guardians. Only people who guard against evil can be its guardians. But most of them do not know that. (Surat al-Anfal, 34)

How could any of the idolaters possibly have a treaty with Allah and with His Messenger, except for those you made a treaty with at the Masjid al-Haram? As long as they are straight with you, be straight with them. Allah loves those who guard against evil. (Surat at-Tawba, 7)

Do you make the giving of water to the pilgrims and looking after the Masjid al-Haram the same as believing in Allah and the Last Day and striving in the Way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah. Allah does not guide wrongdoing people. (Surat at-Tawba, 19)

You who believe! The idolaters are unclean, so after this year they should not come near the Masjid al-Haram. If you fear impoverishment, Allah will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (Surat at-Tawba, 28)

The Sacred House

You who believe! Do not profane the sacred rites of Allah or the sacred months, or the sacrificial animals, or the ritual garlands, or those heading for the Sacred House, desiring profit and good pleasure from their Lord. Once you are permitten (to go on your way), you may hunt. Do not let hatred for a people who debar you from the Masjid al-Haram incite you into going beyond the limits. Help each other to goodness and heedfulness. Do not help each other to wrongdoing and enmity. Have fear of Allah. Allah is severe in retribution. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 2)

Allah has made the Ka'ba, the Sacred House, a special institution for mankind, and also the sacred months and the sacrificial animals and the ritual garlands. That is so you will know that Allah knows what is in the heavens and in the earth and that Allah has knowledge of all things. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 97)

Our Lord! I have settled some of my offspring by Your Sacred House in an uncultivated valley. Our Lord! Let them perform prayer! Make the hearts of mankind incline towards them and provide them with fruits, so that hopefully they will be thankful. (Surah Ibrahim, 37)

The Ancient House

Then they should end their state of self-neglect and fufil their vows and circle the Ancient House.' (Surat al-Hajj, 29)
You have advantages in them till a fixed time, then their place of sacrifice is the Ancient House. (Surat al-Hajj, 33)


SAFA – MARWA

Safa and Marwa are among the Landmarks of Allah, so anyone who goes on hajj to the House or does 'umra incurs no wrong in going back and forth between them. If anyone spontaneously does good, Allah is All-Thankful, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara, 158)


MASJID AL-AQSA

Glory be to Him Who took His servant on a journey by night from the Masjid al-Haram to the Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, in order to show him some of Our Signs. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. (Surat al-Isra', 1)


MECCA

Mecca, mentioned in the Qur'an as the city where Ka'ba is located, is among the holy places. Other names used for Mecca in the Qur'an are Bakka and the Mother of Cities.

The first House established for mankind was that at Bakka, a place of blessing and a guidance for all beings. (Surah Al 'Imran, 96)

This is a Book We have sent down and blessed, confirming what came before it, so that you can warn the Mother of Cities and the people around it. Those who believe in the hereafter believe in it and safeguard their prayer. (Surat al-An'am, 92)

If you do not help him, Allah did help him when those who disbelieved drove him out (from Mecca) and there were two of them in the Cave. He said to his companion, 'Do not be despondent, Allah is with us.' Then Allah sent down His serenity upon him and reinforced him with troops you could not see. He made the word of those who disbelieved undermost. It is the word of Allah which is uppermost. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surat at-Tawba, 40)

Do they not see that We have established (Mecca) a safe haven while people all round them are violently dispossessed? So why do they believe in falsehood and reject the blessing of Allah? (Surat al-'Ankabut, 67)

Accordingly We have revealed to you an Arabic Qur'an so that you may warn the Mother of Cities and those around it, and give warning of the Day of Gathering about which there is no doubt: one group in the Garden, the other in the Blazing Fire. (Surat ash-Shura, 7)

It is He Who held their hands back from you, and your hands from them in the valley of Mecca, after giving you the upper hand over them. Allah sees what you do. (Surat al-Fath, 24)


MADINA (YATHRIB)

Madina is the city to which Muslims migrated under the leadership of Our Prophet. Those who migrated were called the "Muhajirun", and those who welcomed and settled the Muhajirun were called the "Ansar".

Some of the desert Arabs around you are hypocrites and some of the people of Madina are obdurate in their hypocrisy. You do not know them but We know them. We will punish them twice over and then they will be returned to a terrible punishment. (Surat at-Tawba, 101)

It was not for people of Madina, and the desert arabs around them, to remain behind the Messenger of Allah nor to prefer themselves to him. That is because no thirst or weariness or hunger will afflict them in the Way of Allah, nor will they take a single step to infuriate the disbelievers, nor secure any gain from the enemy, without a right action being written down for them because of it. Allah does not let the wage of the good-doers go to waste. (Surat at-Tawba, 120)

And a group of them said, 'People of Yathrib, Your position is untenable so return!' some of them asked the Prophet to excuse them, saying, 'Our houses are exposed,' when they were not exposed; it was merely that they wanted to run away. (Surat al-Ahzab, 13)

They say, 'If we return to Madina, the mightier will drive out the inferior.' But all might belongs to Allah and to His Messenger and the believers. But the hypocrites do not know this. (Surat al-Munafiqun, 8)

Those who were already settled in the abode (Madina), and in faith, before they came, love those who have migrated to them and do not find in their hearts any need for what they have been given and prefer them to themselves even if they themselves are needy. It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful. (Surat al-Hashr, 9)

If the hypocrites and those with sickness in their hearts and the rumour-mongers in Madina do not desist, We will set you onto them. Then they will only be your neighbours there a very short time. (Surat al-Ahzab, 60)

EGYPT

We revealed to Musa and his brother: 'Settle your people in houses in Egypt and make your houses places of worship and perform prayer and give good news to the believers.' (Surah Yunus, 87 )

The Egyptian who had bought him told his wife, 'Look after him with honour and respect. It's possible he will be of use to us or perhaps we might adopt him as a son.' And thus We established Yusuf in the land to teach him the true meaning of events. Allah is in control of His affair. However, most of mankind do not know. (Surah Yusuf, 21)

And when you said, 'Musa, we will not put up with just one kind of food so ask your Lord to supply to us some of what the earth produces – its grains, cucumbers, garlic, lentils and onions,' he said, 'Do you want to replace what is better with what is inferior? Go back to Egypt, then you will have what you are asking for.' Abasement and destitution were stamped upon them. They brought down anger from Allah upon themselves. That was because they rejected Allah's Signs and killed the Prophets without any right to do so. That was because they rebelled and went beyond the limits. (Surat al-Baqara, 61)

And thus We established Yusuf in the land so he could live in any place he pleased (in Egypt). We grant Our grace to anyone We will and We do not allow to go to waste the wage of any people who do good. (Surah Yusuf, 56)

Then when they entered into Yusuf's presence, he drew his parents close to him and said, 'Enter Egypt safe and sound, if Allah wills.' (Surah Yusuf, 99)

Pharaoh exalted himself arrogantly in the land (in Egypt) and divided its people into camps, oppressing one group of them by slaughtering their sons and letting their women live. He was one of the corrupters. (Surat al-Qasas, 4)


IRAM

Iram of the Columns whose like was not created in any land. (Surat al-Fajr, 7-8)


BABYLON

They follow what the satans recited in the reign of Sulayman. Sulayman did not become disbeliver, but the satans did, teaching people sorcery and what had been sent down to Harut and Marut, the two angels in Babylon, who taught no one without first saying to him, 'We are merely a trial and temptation, so do not become disbelievers.' People learned from them how to separate a man and his wife but they cannot harm anyone by it, except with Allah's permission. They have learned what will harm them and will not benefit them. They know that any who deal in it will have no share in the hereafter. What an evil thing they have sold themselves for if they only knew! (Surat al-Baqara, 102)