About Jabal al-Nour and the Cave of Hira
About 5 km northeast of the Sacred Mosque, Jabal al-Nour is recognizable from afar by its peak shaped like a camel's hump. The Cave of Hira is near the top: the entrance is about 4 m long by 1 m wide, and the interior holds four or five people. Islamic tradition places the first revelation to the Prophet Muhammad there, with the verse that begins "Read, in the name of your Lord who created".
The climb has around 1,750 steps and takes from half an hour to three hours, depending on your stamina and how busy the trail is. The visit is optional and is not part of the rites of umrah or hajj. At the foot of the mountain, the Ministry of Tourism has been setting up a visitor center as part of its program for Islamic historic sites.
