Intellectual networks in the Islamicate world is one of the thriving subjects in historical studies. There seems to be two major ways of exploring this issue: examining individuals or exploring certain nodes that attracted people from other parts of the Islamic World. In this paper I would like to focus on Imam al-Yafi‘i (‘Afif al-Din ‘Abd Allah b. As‘ad al-Yafi‘i al-Yamani) , a 14th century Yemenite scholar and Sufi, who eventually dwelled in Mecca following a period of voyages to Egypt, Mecca and back to Yemen. In the literature he has not drawn much attention, but initial research shows that he was well-known and influential as a scholar of hadith, history and Sufism, a result of his some thirty year teaching career in Mecca. His renowned Mirat al-Jinan is a chronological history beginning from year 1 (Hijri) ending at the year 750. Especially in the later part of this work al-Yafi‘i seems to have included his observations and personal experiences, also with references to his contacts. By taking this work as my main source I would like to shed light on Imam al-Yafi‘i and his circle. This promises to be a significant attempt for two reasons: First, al-Yafi ‘i’s contacts such as his student Shah Nimat Allah-e Wali (d. 834/1431), a major Central Asian/Iranian Sufi leader, or, Najm al-Din Yusuf b. Abd al-Rahman al-Isfahani (d. 750/1349), one of the prominent individuals of Meccan religious scene in the mid-13th century, indicate that al-Yafi‘i was in the center of a set of connections that included noteworthy intellectuals and religious figures. Identifying those individuals connected with al-Yafi‘i is promises to shed light on one of the long forgotten, but in fact significant intellectual circles in Islamic history. Second, students of personal networks in Islamic history have generally looked at geographical centers other than the two holy cities. Since Mecca and Medina were centers attracting not only pilgrims but also scholars, we need to bring Mecca and Medina under focus as centers where minds met and intellectual exchange took place. My paper also aims to be a preliminary attempt to problematize Mecca as such.