What is the most reviewed and highest-rated place on Google Maps?
The Eiffel Tower in Paris?
Times Square in New York City?
Hollywood in Los Angeles?
Definitely not!
As you read this, the most reviewed place on Google Maps has a 4.9-star rating with more than half a million reviews.
Visiting it is free.
But it requires one thing.
And without that one thing, the place means… nothing.
⭐ Almost Half a Million Reviews Say the Same Thing
Here’s what people write, again and again:
“The most sacred place on earth, offering an unparalleled spiritual experience.”
“The most crowded place in the world, yet it brings you peace.”
“Words fail here and emotions take over.”
“A dream come true.”
“Breathtaking and spiritually enriching beyond words.”
The reviews go on and on.
I’ll link the Google Maps page at the end so you can read them yourself.
But the real question is:
Why does this place move people so deeply?
Why do people want to visit this place?
What’s the reason?
The Requirement to visit this city?
You must be Muslim to enter this city.
This is not because of exclusivity, but because without being a Muslim, the experience means nothing.
Even if someone could sneak in, walk around, and take photos—without understanding what this place represents, it becomes just stone, marble, and crowds.
Meaning is not found with the eyes alone.
It’s found with the heart.
A Place for Everyone — From Everywhere
One of the most beautiful truths about this place is this:
It’s not for Arabs.
It’s not for one race.
It’s not for one culture.
You’ll see people from every corner of the world—Black, white, brown, Asian, Latino.
Most visitors aren’t even Arab actually.
Because Islam is not a religion of a region.
It’s a religion for humanity.
The City That Never Sleeps
Makkah is truly a city that never sleeps.
Go outside at 3:00 a.m., and you’ll see thousands upon thousands of people walking, praying, sitting quietly, reflecting.
Why?
Because when you’re there, sleep feels like a loss.
You want to be close.
You want to stay.
You want to pray.
You want to sit near the Kaaba—the black cube at the center of it all.
Not because Muslims worship the Kaaba. We don’t.
But because of the divinity of the place and feeling closeness to Allah (God).
And every Muslim, from every corner of the globe, faces this spot when he or she prays.
People from Alaska in the U.S., China, Brazil, Australia all face this place.
If the earth could be seen from above as a plate, you would see circles upon circles of people—all facing the same direction, the same exact place.
For Muslims, the entire world revolves around this point.
A History That Grounds the Soul
In Islamic tradition, the Kaaba was first built by Adam, and later rebuilt by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).
When Islam began, Muslims prayed toward Jerusalem.
Later, a verse in the Qur’an was revealed commanding the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to turn toward Makkah.
And from that moment on, direction was unified—not physically, but spiritually.
Why Millions Keep Coming Back
Every single day, tens of thousands arrive to perform Umrah.
The mosque can hold up to 4 million people.
Rain or heat.
Weekday or weekend.
It doesn’t matter.
People come for one reason:
To disconnect from the world and reconnect with God.
Makkah isn’t beautiful in the worldly sense.
No forests.
No beaches.
No green landscapes or beautiful mountains like Switzerland or Hawaii.
And that’s exactly why it’s powerful.
People don’t go for scenery.
They go for purification.
They spend thousands of dollars—not for luxury, but for a few days of closeness to God.
And almost everyone leaves with the same feeling:
Sad to leave it.
Eager to return.
Body vs. Soul
When I was there, I barely slept.
Maybe two to three hours a night.
Not because I couldn’t—but because sleeping felt like wasting time.
Physically, it’s tiring.
Mentally, it’s intense and uplifting.
But spiritually? It’s unmatched.
You don’t feel empty.
You feel complete.
You feel like nothing else matters and time disappears.
And in that space, you’re reminded of a simple truth:
The body will die; the soul remains forever.
So people choose soul over comfort.
Purpose over pleasure.
Eternity over ease.
A Reminder for All of Us
If we spend our lives doing good,
promoting good,
avoiding evil,
and standing against injustice—
then perhaps, after this life ends,
God will reward us with a place so beautiful, so peaceful, so perfect—
that no eye has ever seen and no heart has ever imagined.
That place is Jannah (Paradise).
One Last Thought
Makkah is where Islam began.
Where the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed.
And where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born.
But Islam didn’t grow there.
It grew from Madinah.
And that’s a story for another time.
If this reflection moved you,
subscribe to the newsletter, share your thoughts, and read the reviews yourself here:
Sometimes the most powerful places on Earth aren’t the ones we visit for fun—but the ones that change who we are.
Thank you for reading!
Much love,
Z
Want to listen to the podcast episode? Click on the link below. 🎧
