Medina, located north of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, is considered the second holiest city for Muslims. At Muhammad’s time it was also at the epicenter of Islamic civilization.
Medina boasts numerous mosques and historical sites of note. Additionally, there are many cultural attractions. There’s something here for everyone in Medina; whether it’s exploring its rich culture or enjoying its nightlife!
1. Al-Madina Museum
Al-Madina Museum, established as part of an ambitious 1983 plan to transform Al-Hejaz railway station into a museum, is an iconic tourist attraction and popular visitor spot. Here you will find various artifacts that represent Medina’s unique history and heritage.
This museum houses over 2,000 rare artifacts that represent the culture and historical background of the city. Additionally, it provides a window into how a simple house has transformed into an Islamic mosque over time.
Madeena Al Qadeema area offers this museum that gives visitors the experience of going back in time, making for an immersive visit for anyone curious to learn about Medina’s history and culture.
The museum houses numerous historical pieces, including a selection of Umayyad gold dinars. Additionally, ancient stone plates, bone plaques and other fascinating objects can also be seen here.
2. Al-Balad
Even as one of the world’s most modern and prosperous cities, Medina remains an important historical landmark. As its birthplace of Islam is widely acknowledged and visited annually by Muslims undertaking Hajj pilgrimages, Medina remains an invaluable historical destination.
Masjid Al-Quba was constructed by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) upon his arrival to Madinah in 622 CE and remains one of Islam’s oldest and holiest mosques today.
Town authorities in this region are comprised of an alliance between Al Saud, who have political power as well as religious majority status, and Al ash-Sheikh – descendants of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab who founded Wahhabism – governing bodies who agree on sharing power equitably since the founding of Saudi State. This arrangement dates back to their initial settlement.
3. Al-Madina Gold Shops
Medina is the second holiest city of Islam after Mecca and home of Prophet Muhammad; today it serves as an important pilgrimage destination.
Apart from its religious center status, Makkah also holds important historical landmarks and tourist attractions – among these are Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, Masjid Al-Qiblatayn and The Green Dome among many others.
At the turn of the 20th century, Medina was under Ottoman control and played an essential part in World War I as it served as a battleground fought fiercely by Fakhri Pasha as governor of Medina for nearly three years.
Saudi Arabia has an ongoing track record of demolishing heritage sites associated with early Islamic history. The government has been particularly aggressive in this respect in Hejaz region – comprising two main Muslim cities of Mecca and Medina.
4. Al-Madina Mosque
Al-Madina Mosque is one of Islam’s most sacred sites and serves as the final resting place of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The mosque also houses the graves of numerous Muslims, including some notable figures such as members of Prophet Mohammed’s family and many companions as well as Muslim sages from throughout history.
As the hub of Islam, mosques play an essential role in its survival and expansion – thus being expanded multiple times throughout its history.
As soon as Muhammad moved from Makkah to Madinah, he set about building its inaugural mosque – almost everything else, such as housing for Muhajireen or setting up its initial government had to wait until this vital structure had been finished.
5. Al-Madina Souk
Walking through Al-Madina will transport you back in time, transporting you to an era when Medina was an ancient and vibrant metropolis that never stopped moving forward. Nowadays, however, Medina remains vibrant as an ever-evolving metropolis offering numerous restaurants, hotels, and shops for retail therapy.
This city is also well known for its many mosques and holy sites, the most notable being Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (The Prophet’s Mosque).
Medina’s history includes many significant landmarks. One such monument was the construction of this mosque by Muslims as an essential tool to promote Islamic culture and civilization, providing a place where people could gather without being persecuted or rejected for sharing their beliefs freely.