Are Mecca and Becca the same places? Same meaning?

Question

As we know the word Mecca is mentioned only once in Koran. But ayah 3:96 is mentioning a place that is called Becca. I'm wondering if there is any difference between Becca and Mecca.

Becca: 3:96

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ [٣:٩٦]

The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]

Mecca: 48:24

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ عَنْهُم بِبَطْنِ مَكَّةَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَنْ أَظْفَرَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا

And it is He Who has restrained their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makka, after that He gave you the victory over them. And Allah sees well all that ye do. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]

Can we REALLY assume that Mecca and Becca are the same places?

Answer 1

The source of the sounds (vocal organ) of the alphabetical letters ‘b’ and ‘m’ is one and the same: the lips. So by the passage of time ‘Makkah’ replaced ‘Bakkah’. It can thus be appreciated that the original and ancient name of the place was ‘Bakkah’.

In the Quran when it is mentioned as a place of the ancient times (3:96) it has been named as ‘Bakkah’. When it is mentioned in the perspective of the period contemporary with the Prophet of Islam (48:24) it is called Makkah.

The referenced article further mentions:

King David had actually and naturally used the word ‘Bakkah’ in his Psalm. Because the words ‘Bakah’ and ‘Bakkah’ were written in the Hebrew script in the same way, it got the pronunciation of ‘Baca’ or ‘Bakah’ instead of the correct pronunciation of ‘Bakkah’ in the later Jewish ages. This ‘Bakkah’ was the ancient name of ‘Makkah’ and was given to it by Abraham. Originally the city was called by this name. Here are some of the Arab authorities to elaborate it:

One of authorities is the dictionary ‘Lisān al-‘Arab’ which explains:

‘Both [Makkah and Bakkah] are the names of the city; and [the alphabetical letters] “B” and “M” succeed (can replace) one another.’

Reference: The Actual Site of Baca/Bakkah

Answer 2

Becca is an area within Mecca. It's the kaba and the area that surrounds it, where pilgrims circumambulate. This area is called "Becca" which means to crowd/gather.

Becca is located in the city of Mecca. But sometimes they're used interchangeably.

Answer 3

Muslims are completely mistaken regarding the identity of Bakka. Bakka can never be another name for Mecca.First of all, during King David's time, the present city of Mecca did not exist at all; it came into existence only in the 4th century AD. Secondly, King David resided in Jerusalem which was far away from Mecca in Arabia. In my estimate, the Biblical Becca is a place near Jerusalem and has nothing to do with Mecca. Therefore, when Sura 3:96 talks about the first house of worship, it must refer to the Temple in Jerusalem and not any other place in far away Mecca.

Answer 4

In Koran it is written: Gods rasul/nebi Muhammed was send to a society, where no prophet had been send before! The society where nebi Muhammed had been send to had no book before (none of the books send to Moses, Jesus, David,...). (read Koran 32,3 ; 36,6 ; 34,44)

It is logical: Gods rasul Abraham (the builder of God's first house for every human!!!; Koran 3,96) was a prophet, he could NOT had been send to a place, where Muhammed centuries later was send to!