Jabal an-Nour (Arabic: جبل النور, translit. Jabal an-Nūr, lit. 'Mountain of Light' or 'Hill of Illumination') is a mountain near Mecca in Saudi Arabia's Hejaz region. The mountain houses the famed Ghar Hira or Hira cave. The mountain and the cave hold tremendous significance for Muslims throughout the world, as the Islamic prophet Muhammad is said to have received his first revelation which consisted of the first five ayats of Surah Al-Alaq from the archangel Gabriel. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Makkah. The cave is quite small: four arm-lengths deep by 1.75 arm-lengths wide The mountain itself is barely 640m tall; nonetheless two hours are needed to make the strenuous hike to the cave.

Since this is where Muhammad is said to have received the first verses of the Quran, the mountain was given the title "Jabal-al-Nour". "Jabal" in Arabic means mountain and "Nour" or "Noor" means light or enlightenment. This experience is sometimes identified with the beginning of revelation; hence the present name. As for the exact date of the first revelation of the 21st of Ramadan at night, i.e. August, 10, 610 C.E. or exactly 40 lunar years, 6 months and 12 days of age i.e., 39 Gregorian years, 3 months and 22 days. [more...]

Jabal al-Nour