By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Introduction: The Claim Examined
Muslim apologists frequently argue that the Bible prophesies or references the city of Mecca, asserting that “Baca” in Psalm 84:6 is a cryptic mention of Mecca, called “Bakkah” in the Qur’an (Surah 3:96). At first glance, the similarity in the two names seems striking—but a careful, honest reading of the biblical and Qur’anic texts exposes this as a misguided and unsustainable claim.
The Biblical Context of “Baca”
Let us look directly at the relevant passage:
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.”
(Psalm 84:5-6, NIV)
This passage describes pilgrims journeying to the sanctuary of the Lord—a context steeped in Jerusalem Temple worship, not an Arabian setting. The entire psalm radiates a longing for the dwelling place of Yahweh, repeatedly referencing “your house,” “your altar,” and “Zion” (Jerusalem), not Mecca or the Ka‘bah.
Contradictory Details
Let us weigh the evidence:
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God’s Dwelling Place:
The sanctuary in Psalm 84 is where God’s presence is said to dwell (v.1, v.4). Nowhere in Islamic doctrine is Allah believed to literally “dwell” in the Ka‘bah; this concept is utterly foreign to Islamic theology, which strictly rejects all forms of anthropomorphism. By contrast, the Old Testament consistently presents the Temple in Jerusalem as the locus of God’s special presence among His people (1 Kings 8:10-13, 27). -
The Altar:
Psalm 84 mentions drawing near to the altar (v.3). There is no altar in Mecca’s Ka‘bah as part of any sacrificial system, but the altar is central to both tabernacle and temple worship in ancient Israel (Exodus 27:1-8). The Qur’an never describes Bakkah as a place of sacrifice or an altar to Yahweh. -
Inhabitants and Roles:
The psalmist blesses those who “dwell in your house” (v.4)—a reference to the priests and Levites residing within the temple precincts. The Ka‘bah is empty, uninhabited, and guarded, not lived in or managed by priests with biblical duties. There were doorkeepers for the Temple (2 Kings 25:18); no such official role exists for the Ka‘bah in Islamic tradition. -
Destination: Zion, Not Mecca:
The pilgrimage in Psalm 84 has a clear destination: Zion, one of Jerusalem’s hills and a synonym for the city itself (v.7). It is geographically, historically, and theologically nonsensical to suggest the pilgrims of Israel would make a detour through Arabia on their way to Jerusalem! -
Hebrew vs. Arabic Terms:
While Hebrew “Baca” (בכא) and Arabic “Bakkah” (بكة) sound similar, this is a superficial connection. The root of “Baca” is linked to weeping (“the Valley of Weeping”) or to balsam trees common to dry places, not to a specific city. The word for “pilgrimage” in Psalm 84:5 is not “hag” (Hebrew חג), related to festival, but from a root meaning “highway” or “path,” simply denoting the journey to Jerusalem.
The Valley of Baca: Real or Figurative?
Whether Baca refers to a literal valley near Jerusalem or is a poetic expression for hardship and sorrow, its purpose is clear: it marks a stage on the route to Jerusalem. Some Jewish sources place it north of the city. Nowhere in the Bible is there any implication that Baca is remotely connected with Mecca, which is over 1,000 kilometers to the south and across the Sinai wilderness. Nor does the biblical narrative allow for such an implausible detour.
The Error of Superficial Similarity
The attempt to equate “Baca” with “Bakkah” relies only on a similarity of sound, not on substantive historical, geographical, or theological data. Many locations in the Ancient Near East bear similar names (e.g., Wadi al-Baka in Sinai, a valley called Baca in Galilee), yet no one claims these are Mecca.
Why the Confusion?
The primary reason for such claims is the effort to retrofit Islamic revelation into biblical prophecy—a recurring theme among some Islamic polemicists. The motive is clear: if Islam can claim biblical roots, its status as a true continuation of Abrahamic faith is bolstered. But this effort here is contradicted by the biblical evidence itself.
Conclusion: The Claims Do Not Stand
A close, honest reading shows that Baca of the Bible is not the Bakkah of the Qur’an. The biblical psalm speaks of Israelite pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem’s Temple, not of any pre-Islamic sanctuary in Arabia. Attempts to conflate the two are unsupported by scripture, history, or theology. In fact, such efforts demonstrate the dangers of forcing a text to fit a predetermined theory, rather than letting the text speak on its own terms.
Let fair-minded seekers of truth see this as a cautionary example. The Christian and Jewish scriptures do not mention or anticipate Mecca as a place of pilgrimage—neither in Psalm 84 nor anywhere else.
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
