"Madinah Photos" a Medina Travel Page by arabian10

MADINAH

Madinah is the city of the Prophet, and also his burial places. It was the first Islamic city to support the Prophet (peace be upon him), and it joined him in fighting decisive battles which were instrumental in the victory of Islam and its subsequent spread.

This is the city of the Ansar, or 'Supporters' and their brothers the Muhajireen, or 'Emigrants', who together formed the first Islamic army which entered Makkah in triumph eight years after the prophet's Hijrah, or Migration. It was a city which loved the Prophet, and which he in turn loved. On its soil he built his sacred mosque, and it was here that he was buried.

Madinah was also the city of Orthodox Caliphs of Islam, who shouldered the responsibility of Jihad, or holy struggle, fighting against renegades and propagating Islam in the countries surrounding the Arabian peninsula.

It was the seat of the first Islamic state, and witnessed the Prophet's companions administering the affairs of the Moslem community, compiling the Holy Koran, and dispatching armies to Persia, Syria and Egypt.

It is now the city of the Second Holy Mosque, and the Monarch, government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia take pride in serving and developing it in keeping with its distinguished status in Islamic history.

LOCATION AND AREA:
Madinah is located in the north-western part of the Kingdom, to the east of the Red Sea, which lies only 250 km (155 miles) away from it. It is surrounded by a number of mountains: AL-Hujaj, or Pilgrims' Mountain to the West, Sala' to the north-west, AL-E'er, or Caravan Mountain to the south and Ohud to the north.

Madinah is situated on a flat mountain plateau at the junction of the three valleys of AL-Aql, AL-Aqiq, and AL-Hamdh. For this reason, there are large green areas amidst a dry mountainous region.

The city is 620 meters (2,046 ft) above sea level. Its western and southwestern parts have many volcanic rocks.

Madinah lies at the meeting-point of longitude 39-36' east and latitude 24-28' north. It covers an area of about 50 square kilometers (19 square miles).

CLIMATE:
Madinah is very hot in summer, but its weather is moderate in autumn and spring and mild in winter.

POPULATION:
In 1926, Madinah's population totalled 50,000. Its population today is approximately 500,000.

NAME:
Madinah has 95 names, including Taibah, Yathreb, Khaibar, AL-Madinah AL-Munawarah, AL-Mubarakah, AL-Mukhtarah, Dar AL-Abrar, Dar AL-Sunnah, Dar AL-Akhyar, Dar AL-Fateh, Dhat Al-Hirar, Dhat AL-Nakhl, AL-Barrah and AL-Jaberah.

THE PROPHET'S MOSQUE:
Islamic architecture, as we have previously mentioned, considers the mosque to be the heart and center of the residential district, with homes and public utilities built around it. The Mosque of the Prophet, the second holiest shrine of Islam, is the heart of Madinah and the center around which it has been planned.

BUILDING THE MOSQUE:
The Mosque of the Prophet was built after Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), and his companion, Abu Bakr, arrived in Madinah. The first thing the Prophet was anxious to do when he arrived was to build a mosque. This is narrated in detail in the Prophet's Seerah or biography, which says that Mohammed's camel halted in a certain place and would not go on. The Prophet (peace be upon him) dismounted and inquired who owned that particular piece of land. According to the Seerah, an Ansari called M'uath Ibn Afra'a said: "This land, O Prophet of Allah, is called the property of Sahl and Suhail, the sons of Amro. They are two orphans whom I brought up and I will pay them for it. You may build a mosque thereon."

After the purchase of the land, the Prophet ordered a mosque to be built. He took an active part in the building process, carrying adobe and stones and repeating these lines of Islamic poetry:

"O God, there is no real life but that of the Hereafter. May you bestow your mercy and blessing on the Ansar and the Emigrants."

The Mosque was built on a total area of 70 cubits by 60, or 4,200 square cubits. It was the second mosque to be built under Islam after the Mosque of Qubaa, which Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), had ordered Ammar Ibn Yasser to build.

In the seventh year after Hijrah, following the conquest of Khaiber, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) ordered the mosque to be reconstructed on a larger area, totaling 10,000 square cubits. The new mosque had three doors, one of which pointed in the direction of Jerusalem. When God ordered Moslems to turn their faces towards Makkah and closed the one pointing towards Jerusalem. The first prayer performed by the Prophet (peace be upon him), after his change of direction was the Asr, or afternoon prayer.

The mosque's foundation were built from stone, its walls from adobe, and its pillars consisted of date-palm trunks. It was seven cubits high, compared to the five cubits of the first mosque. Its roof was made of palm leaf stalks and palm leaves. Each side of the mosque was 100 cubits long.

HISTORICAL SITES:
In view of Madinah's historical role since the Migration of the Prophet, the municipality of Madinah has preserved and maintained its historical sites closely related with the events of the early days of Islam, which have been accorded the importance they deserve given Madinah's central importance within Islam.

The following are the most important historical areas of Madinah:

1. The Mosque of the Prophet, which serves as the spiritual and physical heart of Madinah.

2. The Mosque of Qubaa, the first mosque "founded on piety". The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Fahd ordered an expansion project to be carried out on this mosque, increasing its area from 1,300 square meters (1,560 sq yards) to 5,000 square meters (6,000 sq yards). This has now been completed, and the King has re-opened the Mosque.

3. the Sayyid AL-Shuhada, or 'Master of Martyrs' area, including the Ohud and Al-Rumat mountains where the battle of Ohud took place between Moslems, led by Prophet Mohammed, and pagans.

4. The AL-Qiblatain Mosque, where Allah ordered Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), to start praying towards the Holy Mosque in Makkah.

Other Mosques in Madinah include AL-Joma'a, AL-Ghamamah, AL-Fateh, AL-Mustarah, and a number of other mosques occupying a special place in the history of Islam so well-known to every Moslem.

Madinah New Photos

Madinah Old Photos