It is amazing that Makkah, situated in a barren and dry area of the Arabian Peninsula, turns to be the destination of thousands of students, scholars, authors and writers.


Many of us ignore the fact that environment plays a great role in our actions and reactions. It is evident that the place where writers confine themselves while writing has a great impact on the output, yield and the work in general.


Makkah, being a holy site and the cradle of Islam, was and still is the destination of many scholars where they find peace, calm and spiritual sentimentalism.


Yagoot Al-Hamawi, the great Arab writer, has indicated in his book, Ma’ajam Al-Udaba that the writer of Al-Hayawan, Abu Othman, used to list all his books on the index page of any work he completed so as to be a reference for those who are interested in them.


Makkah thus has been an important place for many a writer and works have been done partially or completely in Makkah by those who settled there or came here for this specific reason - writing.
It is amazing that Makkah, situated in a barren and dry area of the Arabian Peninsula, turns to be the destination of thousands of students, scholars, authors and writers. Subsequently, Makkah has become a treasure trove of books and great works written in this holy city. We also see a number of writers who claim that they either started writing a book in Makkah, or finished part of it here or completed the whole work in Makkah and still others who say that they travelled to Makkah to be close to the Holy Mosque where they can ensure internal satisfaction, peace of mind and a spiritual climate.


It is also of interest to indicate that the great Muslim writer, Jamaluddin ibn Hisham Al-Ansary (708-761 H) had compiled a book about grammar, but it was snatched away from him by bandits. Al-Ansari waited for almost a year, then he came back to Makkah as a pilgrim and remained here to write his great work, Mughani Alabib a’an Kotob Ala’arib.


Furthermore, Al-Fairouzabadi (729-817 H) writes in his book, Al-Qamous Al-Muhait that he asked Allah Almighty to make such a book a source of knowledge for all readers because it was done in or around the holy Mosque.


It has been reported that many writers pray or praise Allah following every sentence, line, page or chapter they finish as an indication of their thankful attitude to Allah.


In conclusion, writers who lived or travelled to Makkah for writing, compiling or implemen-ting their works were pleased by being close to the holy Mosque thus enjoying such spiritual environment. It was reported by Al-Gafti that the great Muslim writer Abdulrahman bin Ishaq Al-Zejaji (40-400 H) wrote his great work Al-Jumal, in Makkah, he used to walk around the holy Mosque seven times a week once he finished a section or a chapter thus praying to Allah to forgive him for any error or mistake or incorrect thoughts.