Mecca

Mecca, the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, is considered the holiest city in the Islamic world.  it is located in west saudi arabia near the coast of the red sea.  every year, thousands of true believers demonstrate their faith by making the hajj, a pilgrimage or journey to mecca.  in april of 1964, malcolm made this journey and was entitled to add the words "El Hajj " to his name.  to those who shared his faith he was known as el hajj malik el shabazz [see "Letters from Abroad" in Malcolm X Speaks, George Breitman ed. NY: Grove Weidenfeld Press, 1965,  p. 58].