The mountain of Thor (Mecca). Mount Thor is a mountain located in the south of Mecca, where the Cave of Thor (the place where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sought refuge during the migration to Medina) is situated. This mountain is three kilometers away from the Masjid al-Haram and is opposite Mount Noor and the Cave of Hira. Location of Mount Thor:
Mount Thor has an elevation of 759 meters above sea level and is situated in the south of Mecca, along the route to Yemen. It is located three kilometers from Masjid al-Haram and is opposite Mount Noor and the Cave of Hira(1). •( Kurdī, Muḥammad Ṭāhir. Al-Tārīkh al-qawīm.vol2.p384). This mountain is composed of rocks with golden, silvery, and coal-like colors.(2)( Ibrāhīm Rafʿat Pāshā. Mirʾāt al-ḥaramayn.vol1.p63)
The current mountain location
Today, with the city's expansion, Mount Thor is situated amidst several streets named Thor Street, Taif Road, and Kudi Road.(3)** And there are multiple ways for ascending and descending the mountain.(4) •( Fākihī, Muḥammad b. Isḥāq. Akhbār Makka fī qadīm al-dahr wa ḥaīthih.vol4.p203
Reason for Naming:
It is said that Thor ibn Abd Manat was born in the foothills of this mountain, and from that time, this place became famous as Thawr Aṭḥal. Later, the name Thor prevailed over it.(5) (Ḥamawī, Yāqūt b. ʿAbd Allāh al-. Muʿjam al-buldān.vol2.p86/87,, • Dīyārbakrī, Ḥusayn b. Muḥammad. Tārīkh al-khamīs fī aḥwāl ʾanfas al-nafīs.vol1.p324 This mountain is also mentioned by the name Abu Thawr.(6) •( Ibn Jubayr, Muḥammad b. Aḥmad. Riḥla Ibn Jubayr.p83) It is possible that the southern view of it resembles a bull (Thawr).(7)( • Bilādī, ʿĀtiq b. Ghayth al-.Muʿjam al-Maʿārif al- Jughrāfīyya.p72) Or the collective residence of a group called Bani Thawr in this mountain and its surrounding areas.(8)( • Āl-i Basām, ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān. Khazāna al-tawārīkh al-najdīyya.vol9.p218) May be the reason for this naming.
Cave of Thawr This mountain is renowned among Muslims and is considered sacred, as the Prophet sought refuge in a cave on this mountain for several days during his migration to Medina, escaping from the pursuit of polytheists.(9)** On top of the mountain, there are two caves close to each other, both considered hiding places of the Prophet (peace be upon him) during his migration to Yathrib (later known as Medina). Considering the guidance of Abu Bakr and Amer ibn Fuhayrah, the guide of the journey, it can be said that the larger cave served as the location of concealment. Verse 40 of Surah At-Tawbah, in which Allah reports the support of the Prophet and his companion, refers to this event and the cave.(10)( Ibn Kathīr, Ismāʿīl b. ʿUmar. Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya.vol6.p184,,, Maqrizī, Aḥmad b. ʿAlī. Imtāʿ al-asmāʾ. Edited by Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd al-Namīsī.)
Narratives About Mount Thor:
In a narration, Mount Thor is mentioned as the place where Abel (Habil) was killed.(11 • Ibn Zahīra, Muḥammad Jārullāh. Al-Jāmiʿ al-laṭīf fī faḍl-i Makka wa ahluhā wa bināʾ al-Bayt al-Sharīf'.p301,,, Kurdī, Muḥammad Ṭāhir. Al-Tārīkh al-qawīm li Makka wa bayt Allāh al-karīmvol1.p392) According to some narrations, Mount Thor is considered one of the remnants of a mountain that disintegrated after the manifestation of the power of God upon Prophet Moses (peace be upon him).(12)( • Fākihī, Muḥammad b. Isḥāq. Akhbār Makka fī qadīm al-dahr wa ḥaīthih.vol4.p82,,,, • Khārazmī, Muḥammad b. Isḥāq al-. Ithara al-targhīb.vol2.p311) And it is also counted as one of the mountains attached to the seventh layer of the Earth.(13 • Marjānī, ʿAbdullāh al-. Bahjat al-nufūs wa al-asrārvol1.p336). In another narration, this mountain is said to have called the Prophet (peace be upon him) towards itself and reported sheltering seventy prophets.(14)( • Ibn Zahīra, Muḥammad Jārullāh. Al-Jāmiʿ al-laṭīf fī faḍl-i Makka wa ahluhā wa bināʾ al-Bayt al-Sharīf.p300).
The Recommendation of Praying on Mount Thor: Mount Thor is known as a place where prayers are answered, especially during the noon, according to some beliefs(15)( • Khārazmī, Muḥammad b. Isḥāq al-. Ithara al-targhīb.vol1.p236). It is recommended to perform prayers in the Cave of Thawr.(16)( Fākihī, Muḥammad b. Isḥāq. Akhbār Makka fī qadīm al-dahr wa ḥaīthihvol4.p35). Sheikh Morteza Ansari, the esteemed Shiite scholar, has mentioned a special prayer in his rituals to be recited on Mount Thor.(17)( • Hajj Research Center. Adʿīyya wa ādāb-i Makke-yi mukarrama..p204/205)