Jabal al-Nour

Jabal al-Nour, the Mountain of Light — the peak north-east of Makkah whose cave of Hira received the first verses of the Quran.

• Where: about 5.0 km from Masjid al-Haram in a straight line, on its north-east side (21.45600, 39.85900)
• City: Makkah

History

Before his mission the Prophet ﷺ would withdraw to this mountain for days of quiet worship. In Ramadan of 610 CE, at the age of forty, the angel Jibril came to him in the small cave near the summit with the words "Read, in the name of your Lord who created" (Quran 96:1–5). The revelation of the Quran began here.

The peak is about 640 m above sea level and rises some 280 m above the road. Today the only way up is the paved path that starts inside the Hira Cultural District (opened 2023) at the mountain's eastern foot; the older steps are closed. The climb of about 1.35 km takes about an hour. The district also houses the Revelation Exhibition, which tells the story of the first revelation with a recreation of the cave for those who cannot climb.

What to do there

• Climb early in the morning or after Asr; carry water and wear shoes with grip.
• At the top, the cave is on the far side of the summit — a narrow passage leads to it; be patient in the queue and let the elderly pass.
• Visit the Revelation Exhibition at the base for the history in several languages.

Tips for pilgrims

• The climb is hard in heat; people with heart or knee problems should use the exhibition instead.
• Ask the taxi for "Hayy Hira ath-Thaqafi" (Hira Cultural District), not the old An Nur Street steps: the climb starts only in the district, and the return taxi is easiest from its car park.
• Vendors on the path sell water and tea; take small change.

Nearby places

• Cave of Hira — 190 m away
• Hira Cultural District — 970 m away
• Path to the Cave of Hira (start) — 1.0 km away
• Revelation Exhibition — 1.1 km away

Sources

• Hira Cultural District

Open Jabal al-Nour on the UmrahMap 3D map for walking or driving directions, or see all Ziyarah places in Makkah.

Text by the UmrahMap content team from the sources listed; updated 2026-09-26. This text is still being reviewed by scholars. Visiting rules and opening hours can change — check locally.

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