Mecca is the heart of Islam and the birthplace of Muhammad. It is the direction towards which Muslims orient themselves during prayer and is the place of worship that annually attracts about three million Muslims from all corners of the world. However, the significance of Mecca extends beyond religion. What happens in Mecca and how Muslims think about its political and cultural history has had and continues to have a profound impact on global events to this day.

In this fascinating book, Ziauddin Sardar reveals the importance of Mecca. Tracing its history from its beginnings as a "barren valley" in the desert to its evolution as a commercial city and its abrupt emergence as the religious center of a global empire, Sardar examines the religious struggles and uprisings in Mecca that have strongly shaped Muslim culture.

Connecting narratives from his own pilgrimage experiences in Mecca with those of others, Sardar offers a unique perspective not only on the spiritual aspects of Mecca – the passion, the ecstatic experience, and the longing it evokes – but also on the conflict between heritage and modernity that has characterized its history. His bibliography includes the narratives of Orientalist travelers such as Richard Burton and Charles Doughty, demonstrating the enchanting allure Mecca has exerted on the Western imagination. And, ultimately, he explores what this tension might mean for the future of Mecca.

An enlightened, lyrical, and witty blend of history, reportage, and memory, this extraordinary book reflects everything that is profound, enlightened, and curious about one of the most important religious sites in the world.