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)
Many Muslims claim that this Psalm is about the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). Some even say that the springs being described is the Zamzam Well in the city of Mecca. But to prove that this Psalm refers to Mecca, an ayah from the Qur'an is used:
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'Inna 'awwal bayt wud.i a li an naas la 'allaze bi bakkah mubaarak(an) wa huda(n) li al aalamiin
The first House (of worsip) appointed for men was that at Bakkah: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: (Al-Imran 3:96)
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ov.rei be.e.mek ha.ba.kha ma.yan ye.shi.tu.hu gam-be.ra.khot ya.te mo.re:
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. (Psalm 84:6)
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While the word 'Bakkah' and 'Baca' sound the same, they are not. Bakkah is obviously another name for Mecca in Arabic. 'Baca' (in Hebrew) can mean "weeping" and "balsam trees". The NIV Self-Study Bible footnote on Psalm 84:6 states:
"84:6 Baca Means either "weeping" or "balsam trees" (common in arid valleys). The place is
unknown and may be figurative (see Ps 23:4) for arid stretches the pilgrims had to traverse."
However, there is an even more likely scenario. The Valley of Baca may be an actual valley. Let us examine some of these verses:
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va.yish.al od da.vid be.lo.him va.yo.mer lo ha.e.lo.him lo ta.a.le a.kha.rei.hem ha.sev me.a.lei.hem u.va.ta la.hem mi.mul ha.be.kha.im:
so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, "Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. (1 Chronicles 14:14)
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vi.hi ke.sham.a.kha et-kol ha.tse.a.da be.ra.shei ha.be.kha.im az te.tse va.mil.kha.ma ki-ya.tsa ha.e.lo.him le.fa.nei.kha la.ha.kot et-ma.kha.ne fe.lish.tim:
As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." (1 Chronicles 14:15)
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va.yish.al da.vid ba.a.do.nai va.yo.mer lo ta.a.le ha.sev el-a.kha.rei.hem u.va.ta la.hem mi.mul be.kha.im:
so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. (2 Samuel 5:23)
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vi.hi be.sham.a.kha ke.sham.a.kha et-kol tse.a.da be.ra.shei ha.be.kha.im az te.khe.rats ki az ya.tsa a.do.nai le.fa.nei.kha le.ha.kot be.ma.kha.ne fe.lish.tim:
As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." (2 Samuel 5:24)
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These verses from 1 Chronicles and 2 Samuel are both describing the same incident. These verses seem to establish a "Valley of Balsam Trees (Baca)". The Philistines heard that David had been anointed the king of Israel, and they decided to attack him (2 Sa 5:17). 2 Samuel 5:18 says that the Philistines "spread out in the Valley of Rephaim" (Rephaim is near Jerusalem). David then attacked the Philistines "in front of the balsam trees" (They are still near the Valley of Rephiam). It appears then, that the Valley of Baca is not in Arabia, but in the land of Israel; more specifically near Jerusalem and the Valley of Rephiam.
There are also many other reasons as to why the Valley of Baca does not refer to Mecca. The springs in Psalm 84 are claimed by some to be the Aab-e-Zamzam (Well of Zamzam). But this is simply not the case.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. (Psalms 84:6)
The verse clearly states that the springs were created by the pilgrims; the Aab-e-Zamzam in Mecca was not created by pilgrims. The water of the Zamzam Well in the Al-Haram ash-Shareef Mosque comes from a natural source and was not made by hajjis (pilgrims on the Hajj). According to Islamic tradition it is from this well that Hagar kept Ismail (Ishmael) alive. If this is true, then it shows that the well was around before the pilgrims, again dispelling any idea that they could have made it.
There are other areas of the Psalm that also show that it is not speaking of Mecca. The pilgrims destination is not Mecca, but the Temple in Jerusalem (Zion):
They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. (Psalm 84:7)
It makes no sense that the Jewish pilgrims would travel through Mecca in order to arrive at Jerusalem. It should be quite clear by now that Psalm 84 is not speaking of Bakkah or about the Hajj.
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Further Discussion:
Baca - Is it Mecca? (From the Answering Islam team)