Bakkah

Bakkah is a place mentioned in surah 3:96 of the Koran. It is said to be the site of the first mosque, and therefore it is by some identified with the city of Mecca. Others also identify it with the Biblical "valley of Baca" from Psalm 84.

It is claimed by some that the Bible thus makes a reference to Mecca, but this identification is very controversial.

The relevant part of the Psalm follows:

5 Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

6 As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

Table of contents

1 Arguments for the identification of Baca with Bakkah 2 Arguments for the identification of Bakkah with Mecca 3 Arguments against the identification of Baca with Bakkah 4 Arguments against the identification of Bakkah with Mecca 5 Arguments against the identification of Baca with Mecca

Arguments for the identification of Baca with Bakkah

Baca was a place on a pilgrimage route, as was Bakkah according to some muslims. Also the names are very similar, possibly deriving from the same word.

Arguments for the identification of Bakkah with Mecca

Surah 3.96: For sure the first house ever to be select for the entire humanity was Bakkah. It was from this place the humanity was destined to get the guidance and the fundamental Law which would ensure the stability and nourishment for all.

It has been argued from this that the name Bakkah might very well have led to Mecca. This would be in line with Mecca being the site of the first mosque.

Arguments against the identification of Baca with Bakkah

The Hebrew Baca can be translated either as "weeping" or "balsam trees" (which grow in dry places). This means it could be a valley through which the pilgrims passed during their journey on their way to the temple at Jerusalem (Zion in the psalm), or it could be figurative, referring to the fact that even the dry deserts of the Middle-east through which the pilgrims pass are reason for joy as they near their destination. No matter the interpretation of 'Baca', it is clear this is en route to Jerusalem, and not some city in Arabia. Why would a jew from Judea or Galilee take an immense detour to Arabia to go to Jerusalem?

Arguments against the identification of Bakkah with Mecca

Why should not the Bakkah of surah 3:96 be linked to another place having a similar sounding name, rather than with Mecca?

Baka/Baca/Bakkah is a word often found in names related to rivers and wadis, such as Wadi al-Baka in the Sinai, and Baca on the wadi in the central Galilee area, west of Meroth. This shows there are many possible Bakkahs in the middle-east.

The change from initial B to initial M which should have produced Makkah (Mecca) from Bakkah is not standard in Arabic either, so this is an unexpected change.

Arguments against the identification of Baca with Mecca

Opponents claim that the Biblical Baca cannot be positively identified with Mecca.

According to them, the only link between Baca and the Bakkah of the Koran is a superficial similarity in name. The details about their locations (Baca near Jerusalem, Bakkah in Arabia) point against any identification of the places as being the same.