Final answer:
Mecca is associated with a universalizing religion, as it invites all Muslims worldwide to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage. The Kaaba, at the center of Mecca, holds significance as it is linked to the Prophet Adam and Abraham. Additionally, Mecca has historic importance as a trade center in Southwest Asia and North Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
Is Mecca, Makkah in Saudi Arabia, as a Site for Muslim Pilgrimage Universalizing or Ethnic?
Mecca, which houses the Al-Haram Mosque and Kaaba, is the most sacred site in Islam. As a site for Muslim pilgrimage, it is associated with a universalizing religion, which is a religion that attempts to operate on a global scale and to appeal to all people wherever they reside, compared to an ethnic religion that is identified with a particular ethnic or cultural group and does not seek widespread appeal. The pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, requiring Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake it at least once in their lifetime.
Three Interesting Facts about Mecca:
- The Kaaba, located at the center of Al-Haram Mosque, is believed to have been originally constructed by Adam and later rebuilt by the Prophet Abraham.
- Performing the Hajj includes a series of rituals such as circumambulation of the Kaaba, running between the hills of Safa and Marwah, and the symbolic stoning of the devil, which reenacts significant events in the life of Abraham.
- Mecca is not just an important religious center; historically, it has been a major hub for trade across Southwest Asia and North Africa, capitalizing on its position at the intersection of important trade routes.