Makka or "makka"
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All sides of the debate on the historicity of Makka agree that the name Makka doesn't occur in any "pre-quranic" inscriptions. Those promoting the historicity of Makka are forced to bring the ONLY ONE reference by Ptolmey to an insignificant town by the name of Macoraba for the simple reason that they know very well that there is NO reference to Makka. Surely, if Orientalists had ANY archeological reference to a place named Makka prior to the revelation of the great reading they would have brought it by now and would have ended this debate.
According to classical Arabic dictionaries, the word "makka(t)" mainly means "destruction/wearing down", among other meanings. It is listed in classical Arabic dictionaries under either MKK or MK.
Al-Mo7it lists it under MKK, the meaning given is destruction and wearing down which is consistent with the context of standoff in 4824. It also lists the meaning of TMKK as an adversary's insistence on something, which is also consistent with the standoff in 4824.
Lisan Al-3arab lists it under MK and the meaning of MK(T) is given as "destruction" and TMK as "destroy".
Al-Wasit lists it under MK, the meanings given are sucking everything out, insisting on revenge from an adversary, and the thing, which is worn down or destroyed.
Al-Ghani lists it under MKK, the meanings given are sucking, insisting with demands on an adversary.
Here is a translation of 4824 using Classical Arabic dictionaries and the context of war from the verses to translate the word "makat"
- And it is He Who has restrained their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of destruction/wearing down after that He gave you the victory over them. And Allah sees well all that ye do.
I used Yusuf Ali's translation but while he left "maka(t)" un-translated I didn't. As you can see the clear classical Arabic meaning fits in the context of the military standoff in verse 4824.
Based on the context from the great reading/"quran", linguistic evidence from Arabic dictionaries, and the lack of any evidence supporting that there was a "pre-quranic" town by the name of Makka(t), the only logical unbiased conclusion is that "makka(t)" is simply a mundane common noun like thousands of others in the great reading/"quran".
Peace,
Ayman
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