Al Madinah Al Munawwarah

Heidi Mahmoud Kheyamy

27 Feb 2018

Al Madinah Al Munawwarah comes after Makkah as the second sacred city in the Islamic world. It witnessed the migration of the first Muslim converts and the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself. It contains the first mosque in Islamic History, and in it stands Mount Uhud. It is reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) cast a glance at Uhud and said: “Uhud is a mountain which loves us and we love it.” [Sahih Muslim 1393 b, Book 15, Hadith 577]

The Residents of Al Madinah

It was reported that the first residents of Al Madinah were Amalekites, the Jews and Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj tribes.

The Migration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) fled the city of Makkah, accompanied by Abu Bakr, and their destination was Al Madinah Al Munawwarah. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) arrived there on the twelfth of Rabee' Awwal.  On their way to Al Madinah the Prophet Muhammad built the first mosque in Islamic history in an area called Qebaa; after which, the mosque was named. He stayed there for four days, then, continued his journey to Al Madinah, and on Friday morning he arrived at the place of Bani Salem Bin Ouf. It was the time of the Friday prayer, so he prayed there the first Friday prayer in Islam and delivered the first Friday sermon at the mosque he built there.

The first act of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), after his migration to Al Madinah, was the establishment of his mosque (the Madinah Mosque) at the location where his she-camel first rested. The location was owned by two orphan boys who offered to donate it to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), but he refused and paid them twenty golden Dinars. [The life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by Ibn Hisham, Part two, Page 98]

Names of Al Madinah

The names of Al Madinah are numerous. The first name was Yathreb. It was the city’s name before Islam was introduced to the sacred city, as it was founded by a man called Yathreb. The name is mentioned in the Holy Quran: “And when a faction of them said, "O people of Yathrib, there is no stability for you [here], so return [home]." And a party of them asked permission of the Prophet, saying, "Indeed, our houses are unprotected," while they were not exposed. They did not intend except to flee.” [Al-Ahzab, 13]

Then it was named Al Madinah by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In addition to Yathrib, there are the names Taybah and Taabah which mean purified, as polytheists are not allowed to be there. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: “Allah named Medina as Tabbah.” [Sahih Muslim 1385, Book 15, Hadith 561]

Al Madinah Al Munawwarah is regarded as a sacred city, therefore, it is prohibited to cut trees or plants or hunt birds or animals there.

The Messenger of Allah’s affection to Al Madinah

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) held a great affection for Al Madinah, as mentioned in the Hadith by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): "O Allah! Make us love Madinah as You made us love Makkah, or more, and transfer the fever that is in it, to Al-Juhfa. O Allah! Bless our Mudd and our Saa' (kinds of measures). [Sahih al-Bukhari 6372, Book 80, Hadith 69] The Prophet Muhammad passed away in Al Madinah and was also buried there.