Cave of Hira (Jabal al-Nour)
AbrahamicIslamiccaveHejaz610 CE - 610 CE
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Location
Modern Name
Jabal al-Nour, near Mecca
Country
Saudi Arabia
Region
Hejaz
Coordinates
21.4575, 39.8581
Era
610 CE - 610 CE
Site Type
Cave
About
A small cave on the Mountain of Light (Jabal al-Nour) near Mecca where Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran from the angel Jibreel (Gabriel).
Significance
Site of the beginning of Quranic revelation (Laylat al-Qadr, 610 CE); the most spiritually charged moment in Islamic history.
History & Historical Arc
Muhammad regularly retreated to this cave for meditation before prophethood; on one such retreat the angel Jibreel appea…
Archaeological Notes
The cave is a natural feature approximately 3.7 m long and 1.6 m wide; no formal excavation has been conducted.
Key Features & Structures
- Narrow cave opening
- Prayer niche inside
Visitor Information
Accessible to pilgrims during Hajj and Umrah; roughly 45-minute climb from the base.
Related Figures
MuhammadJibreel (Gabriel)Khadijah
In the Bible
Source References
- Quran 96:1-5
- Sahih Bukhari 1:1:3