Jabal al-Nour

Jabal al-Nour, the mountain of light, rises around 640 metres on the northeastern edge of Mecca, and near its summit is the cave of Hira, a small cleft in the rock where the Prophet Muhammad is held to have retreated to meditate and where the first verses of the Quran were revealed to him. Pilgrims climb it in large numbers, particularly during Umrah and around Hajj, on a stepped path up the steep flank that takes an hour or more and is hard going in heat. The cave itself is small, holding only a few people at a time, and queues form. The summit gives a view over Mecca. Visiting the mountain is not part of the required rites of either pilgrimage.

What you actually see

• The cave of Hira - the small cleft near the summit.
• The stepped path - the climb up the steep flank of the mountain.
• The Mecca view - the city seen from the top.
• Pilgrim traffic - the numbers climbing during pilgrimage seasons.

When to go

October to April for the climb; summer heat makes it dangerous and cases of heat illness are common. Early morning or after sunset is the usual choice. Pilgrimage seasons bring the biggest crowds.

Honest expectations

Mecca and therefore the mountain are closed to non-Muslims. The climb is steep and strenuous with little shade. The cave is very small and queues to enter it are long. Litter on the path is a recurring problem.

Nearby

Mecca lies below; Jeddah is west on the coast.