2011 Event Millions of Muslims begin Hajj, their annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca 1992 Death Yvonne Bryceland, actress (Road to Mecca), dies of cancer at 66 1990 Event Panic in tunnel of Mecca, 1,426 pilgrims trampled to death 1980 Event 63 beheaded in Mecca, Saudi Arabia 1979 Event Sji'ieten occupies great mosque of Mecca, 100s killed 1975 Event Gas stove explodes and starts fire killing 138 (Mecca Saudi Arabia) 1931 Death Hussein ibn-Ali, sjarif Mecca/king/kalief of Hedzjaz (1917-24), dies 1924 Event Wahhabietes under Ibn Saudi take Mecca 1924 Event Ibn Saud of Nedzhed captures Mecca 1325 Event Sheik Ibn Battuta begins 1st world trip, Tangiers to Mecca 622 Event Moslem Era begins-Mahomet begins flight from Mecca to Medina (Hejira) 599 Birthday Ali ibn Abi Talib, born in Mecca, the holiest meeting site of Islam, son-in-law, of prophet Muhammad, Muslim Sunni - Shi'a split occurred because Sunni's consider him 4th, last Rashidun, Shi'a's consider him first Imam, rightful successor to Muhammad 570 Event Religion of Islam (submission) founded in Mecca
