Jabal Al Noor (Cave Hira ) Makkah 2023

Jabal noor climbing in 2023
Old step route (now this route closed by authorities and made good road so anybody can climb the jabal Al noor
History of Jabal al-Nour

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned 40 years old, he began to seek isolation from the evils of Makkah al-Mukarramah and would retreat to the Cave of Hira to worship Allah. Sometimes, he would bring food and water and spend several days in the cave at a time.

One day, while deeply engaged in worship amidst the darkness in the cave, the Archangel Jibril Sappeared, held him tightly and commanded him, “Recite!” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “I am not going to recite.” Again, Jibril squeezed him tightly and commanded, “Recite!” and the Prophet ﷺ responded in the same manner, “I am not going to recite.” Jibril held him a third time, squeezing him to the limit of human endurance, then released him, saying:

Read in the Name of your Lord Who has created, Who has created man from a clot. Read and your Lord is the Most Generous, He has taught by the pen, taught man that which he did not know.
[Surah al-Alaq, 96:1-5]
The first of the Quran was thus revealed to the Prophet ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ then recited these verses, and Jibril departed. The Prophet ﷺ memorized the revelation and returned home. He was shaken by the experience and asked his wife, Sayyidatuna Khadijah J, to wrap him in a blanket. He described what had occurred, expressing fear for his life. Sayyidatuna Khadijah comforted him, saying, “Allah will never forsake you. You are good to your family, help those in need, feed the poor, and look after guests.”

They sought counsel from Sayyidatuna Khadijah’s cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who was well-versed in the Torah and the Bible despite being old and blind. When Sayyidatuna Khadijah informed him of what had transpired, he responded, “This is the angel who came to Prophet Musa S. I hope I am alive when you proclaim your Prophethood and the people of Makkah drive you out, so that I may support you.” Shocked, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, “Will they really drive me out?” Waraqah confirmed, “Yes, this happened to all the Prophets before you, and the people turned against them.”

More information: Ghar-e-Hira
Please refer to this article for more information above the first revelation in the Cave of Hira.

After the commencement of his mission, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions would sometimes ascend Jabal al-Nour. Abu Hurayrah I reported:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was at Hira, him, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Talhah and Az-Zubair M, and the boulder (mount Hira) shook. So the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Be calm, for there is none upon you except a Prophet, or a Siddiq, or a martyr.’
[Narrated in Sunan al-Tirmidhi]
How to Get to Jabal al-Nour

If your tour operator hasn’t arranged your visit to Jabal al-Nour as part of a broader ziyarah tour of Makkah or if you’re going independently, you can reach the mountain by taxi. Taxis can be found near Masjid al-Haram and typically cost around 25 riyals. However, prices may be slightly higher during Ramadan and the Hajj season. Ensure to negotiate with the taxi driver to secure a fair price, as some drivers may initially ask for extortionate amounts.