HISTORICAL LOCKDOWNS OF THE HOLY CITY OF MAKKAH

With the COVID-19 pandemic, we are living through a difficult period in the history of the world, but we are fully confident at Anjum Hotel Makkah, that it will pass despite its cruelty, bitterness and difficulty.

Muslims around the world shudder seeing the pictures of Holy Haram, since it's almost always full of pilgrims making Tawaf and reading verses of the Quran.  

However, this is not the first time, that we witness the Masjid El Haram closure, here are some historical events that prevented Muslims from visiting the holy city in the last 1,400 years.

The Attack on Kaaba by Abraha 

In 570 AD, Yemeni governor Abraha organized a major military expedition to destroy Mecca to direct pilgrims to his cathedral and make Yemen the only destination for pilgrimage.

He reportedly aided his large army with one elephant. As they came close to the holy Kaaba, the elephant did not move further.The residents of Mecca, who were incapable and unprepared to stand against Abraha’s army, fled to the mountains. That year, people could not perform the pilgrimage in Makkah, fearing war.

Qarmatian Raid, 930

The annual Hajj pilgrimage was cancelled and prayers were suspended in Makkah, after the leader of the Qarmatian tribe, based in Eastern Arabia, attacked Mecca in unprecedented fashion. 30,000 people according to some accounts, were killed…It was a quite a big moment in the History of Islam.

Cholera outbreak, 19th century

Devastating cholera outbreaks several times throughout the 19th century resulted in the suspension of pilgrimages, including Hajj in 1837 and 1846.

After the disease returned in 1865 in Hejaz, it was decided that quarantine ports would be set up in places like Sinai and Hejaz to help limit the spread of the disease, as pilgrims set on their journey to perform Hajj. Between 1830 and 1930, there were at least 27 cholera outbreaks among pilgrims in Makkah.

Epidemic outbreaks

There were many outbreaks over the 19th Century, such as the plague, cholera and meningitis.

The spread of the plague epidemic in the Hejaz region in 1814 caused the death of about 8,000 people, and the pilgrimage was not allowed that year. An epidemic started again in the pilgrimage season of 1837, continuing until 1892. Nearly a thousand had died every day due to the highly fatal epidemic between this period.

Grand Mosque seizure, 1979

A Saudi armed group of 400 to 500 men seized the Grand Mosque between November and December 1979, forcing the mosque's closure for at least two weeks. The takeover was led by a former Saudi soldier, Juhayman al Otaybi, who was critical of the kingdom's ruling family, and called for a return to what he deemed the original Islam. The siege finally ended after Saudi forces retook the mosque.

As we envision and hope for a brighter future, Anjum Hotel Makkah looks forward to welcoming our pilgrims back with our Hijazi hospitality and personalized service – immersing you in a spiritual journey and celebrating the pilgrimage rituals.