Madinah (Medina)
Suggest editThe City of the Prophet
Madinah al-Munawwarah (the Radiant City) is the second holiest city in Islam, located in the Hijaz region of present-day Saudi Arabia approximately 400 kilometers north of Makkah. Known before Islam as Yathrib, the city was transformed forever by the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during the Hijrah in 1 AH (622 CE). It became the political, spiritual, and social center of the first Muslim community, the seat of Islamic governance through the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and the burial place of the Prophet himself (peace be upon him). Visiting Madinah and the Prophet's mosque is among the most beloved acts for Muslims worldwide, though it is not a ritual obligation of Hajj.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) made du'a for Madinah: "O Allah, make Madinah beloved to us as You made Makkah beloved, or even more. O Allah, make it sound for us and bless us in its sa' and mudd." (Bukhari and Muslim). He also said: "Madinah is a sanctuary from such-and-such to such-and-such. Its trees should not be cut and no heresy should be innovated in it." (Bukhari). The city and its haram carry a sanctity recognized across all madhabs.
The Hijrah and the Birth of the Muslim Community
The Hijrah — the migration of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the early Muslims from Makkah to Yathrib — marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar and the establishment of the first organized Muslim society. The Ansar (helpers) of Madinah, primarily from the tribes of Aws and Khazraj, welcomed the Muhajiroun (emigrants from Makkah) with extraordinary generosity. The Prophet (peace be upon him) forged bonds of brotherhood (mu'akhat) between the Ansar and Muhajiroun, creating a community of faith that transcended tribal identity. Shortly after arrival, he established the Constitution of Madinah — a document organizing the rights and responsibilities of Muslims, Jews, and other communities living in the city.
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi — the Prophet's Mosque — was the first structure the Prophet (peace be upon him) built upon his arrival in Madinah. The site was chosen where his camel knelt, and it was purchased from two orphan boys and built by the hands of the Prophet and his companions. In its early form it was a simple structure of palm trunks and mud brick. Prayer in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi carries the reward of one thousand prayers performed elsewhere — except for Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, which equals one hundred thousand. The mosque has been expanded many times since the era of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) and today accommodates over a million worshippers.
Within the mosque is the Rawdah ash-Sharifah — the Noble Garden — the space between the Prophet's grave and his minbar (pulpit). He said: "Between my house and my minbar is a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and my minbar is on my cistern." (Bukhari and Muslim). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is buried in what was formerly 'A'ishah's (may Allah be pleased with her) chamber, adjacent to the mosque. Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) are buried beside him. Visiting and sending peace upon the Prophet at his grave is a confirmed Sunnah.
Masjid Quba and Other Notable Sites
Masjid Quba — built upon the Prophet's arrival in Madinah before he reached the city center — holds the distinction of being the first mosque constructed in the history of Islam. The Quran refers to it as the mosque founded on piety (At-Tawbah 9:108). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever purifies himself in his house then comes to Masjid Quba and prays in it, he will have the reward like that of 'Umrah." (Ibn Majah). The Battle of Uhud was fought on the outskirts of Madinah; the hill of Uhud itself was called by the Prophet (peace be upon him) a mountain that loves the believers and is loved by them. The graves of the martyrs of Uhud, including Hamzah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him), are there. Baqi' al-Gharqad is the main cemetery of Madinah, where thousands of companions, members of the Prophet's family, and early Muslims are buried. Visiting it and supplicating for the dead is Sunnah.
Modern Madinah remains a city of profound spiritual atmosphere. While it has grown into a modern urban center, the presence of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi continues to draw millions of Muslims each year who come to pray, seek closeness to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and drink in the blessed environment of the city he loved.