Makka al-Mukarrama: rulings concerning the city

Makka is the name of the city that holds the Sacred House. Its names include Bakka, Umm al-Qura and al-Balad al-Amin, and the whole city and its surroundings are sanctuary. ¹

Honouring Makka is a duty, citing the Prophet ﷺ's words that God made it sacred and not people, so that no one who believes in God and the Last Day may shed blood or cut a tree in it. Bathing on entering is recommended; Ibn 'Umar would spend the night at Dhi Tuwa, bathe, and enter by day. Whoever enters for pilgrimage or visit must put on ihram from the stations or before them. ^{1 2}

Most jurists recommend staying in Makka; others dislike it. All agree that non-Muslims may not live or settle there, while they differ on passing through. ²

Some jurists forbid selling the houses of Makka and renting its homes, on a report that Makka is sacred and its houses may not be sold; others allow it, since the houses are owned by their owners. ²

Ibn 'Abbas, Ibn Mas'ud, Ahmad and Mujahid held that sins are multiplied in Makka as good deeds are. Later scholars read this as multiplying the gravity of a sin, not its number, and hold that even intending a sin there is punished. ³