Abu Qubays

Makkah Saudi Arabia, Syria

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Abu Qubays refers to two distinct places, one in Saudi Arabia and one in Syria. In Saudi Arabia, Abu Qubays (Jabal Abū Qubays) is a sacred mountain on the eastern side of Masjid al‑Haram in Mecca, Hejaz, rising to about 1,220 feet (≈372 m).

According to Islamic tradition, it was once called Al‑Amīn or “Treasure Cave” (Maḥārat al‑Kanz) because the Black Stone was kept there during the flood of Prophet Nuh, and it is also believed to be the mountain from which Prophet Muhammad performed the miracle of splitting the moon for the disbelievers of Makkah.

The mountain lies just east of the Kaaba, near the King Abdulaziz Gate of the Haram, and has been reshaped over time by roads, tunnels and palace construction, especially during the modern expansions of Masjid al‑Haram. In Syria, Abu Qubays is the name of a small village and fortress in the Hama region, northwest of the city of Hama, also known as Qal‘at Abu Qubays, which was historically a strategic stronghold in the area.