The Mountain of Light, where the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the Cave of Hira.
Why it matters
The place where the revelation of the Qur'an began. Seeing the mountain brings the story of the first revelation, and Sayyidah Khadijah's comfort to the Prophet (peace be upon him), to life.
Read the history
Before prophethood, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would retreat to the small Cave of Hira near the top of Jabal al-Nour for days of worship and reflection. Sahih al-Bukhari reports that it was here that the angel Jibril came to him with the first revelation: “Read, in the name of your Lord who created” (al-Alaq 96:1-5).
The cave faces the direction of the Kaaba and is reached by a steep climb of around 600 metres in height, which takes most people one to two hours.