Khurshid Akhtar Khan Medina, as a place of tranquillity and serenity, is the city whose residents (known as Ansaar) opened their hearts, minds, and their homes for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and a handful of the faithful when they migrated from Makkah in 622 AD - the Gregorian year that became the first year of the Muslim calendar called Hjra. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) spent the last 10 most productive years of his life in Medina, during which the teachings of Islam spread like wild fire, and the Muslims consolidated and grew from strength to strength. Makkah is the birth place of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), where he spent the first 52 years of his life (570-622 AD) that were formative and most difficult. The pilgrims feel a sense of awe as they enter the Holy City of Makkah. Khana Kaaba, believed to be the first building on earth built by Adam (AS) under Allahs command and rebuilt by Hazrat Ibrahim and Ismail (AS) at the same location on the old foundations, is located here. Over 300 idols were stored in the Kaaba during the period of jahiliya. Tribes of all faiths from all around the Arabian Peninsula would converge once a year to perform Haj in Makkah that was declared a sanctuary where no violence was permitted within 20 miles. This allowed Makkah to become a thriving trade centre in addition to its importance as a sacred place of pilgrimage. It is the benevolence of Allah Almighty that Makkah has not only retained, but also enhanced its significance till this day and will continue to do so till eternity. The Holy Prophet (PBUH), accompanied by more than 10,000 Muslims, returned as a victor to his hometown to perform Haj - that came to be known as Haj-ul-Wida (being his last). He entered the Kaaba to pray, after the idols stored there were destroyed. He proceeded to Mina and Arafat, where he offered prayers and delivered the farewell Khutba on the ninth day of Zil Haj - the day he received the last revelation, and stayed briefly in Muzdalfa on his return journey to Makkah. These steps of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) are retraced in the specified order for the complete pilgrimage of Haj. The Prophet (PBUH) stayed for 19 days in Makkah after Haj and returned to Medina that is his final resting place. The Kaaba is a large masonry structure standing on a 10-inch marble base. It is approximately 43ft high with sides measuring approximately 36ft x 42ft. The four corners of the Kaaba point towards the four cardinal directions of the compass. In the eastern corner is the Hajr-i-Aswad, at the northern corner is Rukn-ul-Iraqi, at the western Rukn-ush-Shami, and at the southern is the Rukn-ul-Yamani. The Kaaba is opened twice a year for the ceremony of ghusal, during which Muslim dignitaries are invited to participate, while the Governor of Makkah himself washes the Kaaba with Zamzam and rose water. The Kaaba is surrounded by the magnificent Masjid-al-Haram that is the most sacred site for us Muslims. This mosque was originally built on wooden columns that were replaced by marble columns, extending the prayer hall and adding minarets. The mosque caught fire in 1939 and was subsequently rebuilt in six years, using granite and timber sourced from nearby mountains. It was renovated in 1570 and again in 1620 when the flat roof was replaced by domes decorated with calligraphy and support columns were introduced. Later, Safa and Marwa were included in the mosque itself, more minarets and domes were added and modern facilities like air conditioning, escalators and drainage system were incorporated. The present capacity of the mosque is 800,000 inside and in excess of one million outside. More renovation projects are in progress planned till 2020. Devotees travel to Makkah around the year from all over the globe to pray, for the annual pilgrimage of Haj, and to perform Umrah. May Allah bless all of us with the opportunity to present ourselves at the Haram and the Masjid-i-Nabvi to kneel and bow our heads in utmost humility The writer is an engineer and an entrepreneur. Email: k.a.k786@hotmail.com