Cave Hira (Ghar-e-Hira) is a small cave near the top of Jabal al-Noor. Before his prophethood, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would spend long periods here in solitude and reflection, away from the idol worship of Makkah.
The first revelation
It was in this cave, in the month of Ramadan, that the angel Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Prophet ﷺ with the first words of the Qur’an: “Read in the name of your Lord who created…” (Surah al-Alaq, 96:1–5). The Prophet ﷺ returned to Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) trembling, and she comforted and supported him. This moment began the message of Islam.
What the cave is like
- A narrow cave, only large enough for a few people at a time.
- It can be crowded, so be patient and give others their turn.
- From the mountain you can see views of Makkah and the Haram.
Visiting etiquette
- This is a place of history and reflection — keep it respectful and quiet.
- Do not treat the cave as a place of worship rites; there is no required act here.
- Read the practical climbing advice in our Jabal al-Noor guide before you go.
Getting there
A private taxi takes you from your Makkah hotel to the base of Jabal al-Noor and can continue to other Makkah Ziyarat places. Press Book this tour above to see the fare.