Theme Week Saudi Arabia – Medina

Saturday, 29 April 2017 - 12:00 pm (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination:
Category/Kategorie: General
Reading Time:  7 minutes

Al-Masjid al-Nabawi - Mosque of the Prophet © Aymanzaid2/cc-by-sa-4.0

Al-Masjid al-Nabawi – Mosque of the Prophet © Aymanzaid2/cc-by-sa-4.0

Medina, also transliterated as Madīnah, is a city in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia that is also the capital of the Al Madinah Region. The city contains al-Masjid an-Nabawi (“the Prophet’s Mosque”), which is the burial place of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and is the second-holiest city in Islam after Mecca. Medina was Muhammad’s destination after his Hijrah from Mecca, and became the capital of a rapidly increasing Muslim Empire, first under Muhammad’s leadership, and then under the first four Rashidun caliphs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. It served as the power base of Islam in its first century where the early Muslim community developed. Medina is home to the three oldest mosques, namely the Quba Mosque, al-Masjid an-Nabawi, and Masjid al-Qiblatayn (“the mosque of the two qiblas“). Muslims believe that the chronologically final surahs of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad in Medina, and are called Medinan surahs in contrast to the earlier Meccan surahs. Similar to Mecca, non-Muslims are forbidden from entering the sacred core of Medina (but not the entire city) or the city centre by the national government. Today, Medina (“Madinah” officially in Saudi documents), in addition to being the second most important Islamic pilgrimage destination after Mecca, is an important regional capital of the western Saudi Arabian province of Al Madinah. In addition to the sacred core of the old city, which is off limits to non-Muslims, Medina is a modern, multi-ethnic city inhabited by Saudi Arabs and an increasing number of Muslim and non-Muslim expatriate workers: other Arab nationalities (Egyptians, Jordanians, Lebanese, etc.), South Asians (Bangladeshis, Indians, Pakistanis, etc.), and Filipinos.

As of 2010, the city of Medina has a population of 1,183,205. In addition to its Arab inhabitants, during the pre-Islamic era Yathrib was inhabited by Jewish tribes. Later the city’s name was changed to al-Madīna-tu n-Nabī or al-Madīnatu ‘l-Munawwarah (“the enlightened city” or “the radiant city”). Medina is celebrated for containing al-Masjid an-Nabawi and also as the city which gave refuge to him and his followers, and so ranks as the second holiest city of Islam, after Mecca. Muhammad was buried in Medina, under the Green Dome, as were the first two Rashidun caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar, who were buried next to him in what used to be Muhammad’s house. Medina is 210 miles (340 km) north of Mecca and about 120 miles (190 km) from the Red Sea coast. It is situated in the most fertile part of all the Hejaz territory, the streams of the vicinity tending to converge in this locality. An immense plain extends to the south; in every direction the view is bounded by hills and mountains. The historic city formed an oval, surrounded by a strong wall, 30 to 40 feet (9.1 to 12.2 m) high, dating from the 12th century CE, and was flanked with towers, while on a rock, stood a castle. Of its four gates, the Bab-al-Salam, or Egyptian gate, was remarkable for its beauty. Beyond the walls of the city, west and south were suburbs consisting of low houses, yards, gardens and plantations. These suburbs also had walls and gates. Almost all of the historic city has been demolished in the Saudi era. The rebuilt city is centred on the vastly expanded al-Masjid an-Nabawi. The graves of Fatimah (Muhammad’s daughter) and Hasan (Muhammad’s grandson), across from the mosque at Jannat al-Baqi, and Abu Bakr (first caliph and the father of Muhammad’s wife, Aisha), and of Umar (Umar ibn Al-Khattab), the second caliph, are also here. The mosque dates back to the time of Muhammad, but has been twice reconstructed. Because of the Saudi government’s religious policy and concern that historic sites could become the focus for idolatry, much of Medina’s Islamic physical heritage has been altered.

Medina - Al-Masjid al-Nabawi - The Mosque of the Prophet © flickr.com - Omar Chatriwala/cc-by-2.0 Shaza Al Madina Hotel © Shazaalmadina/cc-by-sa-3.0 Modern Medina © Adiput Al-Masjid al-Nabawi - Mosque of the Prophet © Aymanzaid2/cc-by-sa-4.0 Al-Masjid al-Nabawi - Mosque of the Prophet © Aymanzaid2/cc-by-sa-4.0 Al-Masjid al-Nabawi - Mosque of the Prophet © flickr.com - Omar Chatriwala/cc-by-2.0 Al-Masjid al-Nabawi - Mosque of the Prophet © Mardetanha/cc-by-sa-3.0 Mount Uhud © Adiput Quba Mosque © Adiput
<
>
Medina - Al-Masjid al-Nabawi - The Mosque of the Prophet © flickr.com - Omar Chatriwala/cc-by-2.0
Historically, Medina is known for growing dates. As of 1920, 139 varieties of dates were being grown in the area. Medina also was known for growing many types of vegetables. The Medina Knowledge Economic City project, a city focused on knowledge-based industries, has been planned and is expected to boost development and increase the number of jobs in Medina. The city is served by the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport which opened in 1974. It handles on average 20–25 flights a day, although this number triples during the Hajj season and school holidays. With the increasing number of pilgrim visiting each year, many hotels are being constructed.

Saudi Arabia is hostile to any reverence given to historical or religious places of significance for fear that it may give rise to shirk (idolatry). As a consequence, under Saudi rule, Medina has suffered from considerable destruction of its physical heritage including the loss of many buildings over a thousand years old. Critics have described this as “Saudi vandalism” and claim that in Medina and Mecca over the last 50 years, 300 historic sites linked to Muhammad, his family or companions have been lost. In Medina, examples of historic sites which have been destroyed include the Salman al-Farsi Mosque, the Raj’at ash-Shams Mosque, the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery, and the house of Muhammed.

Here you can find the complete Overview of all Theme Weeks.

Read more on Shaza Makkah, Wikitravel Medina, Wikivoyage Medina and Wikipedia Medina. Learn more about the use of photos. To inform you about latest news most of the city, town or tourism websites offer a newsletter service and/or operate Facebook pages/Twitter accounts. In addition more and more destinations, tourist organizations and cultural institutions offer Apps for your Smart Phone or Tablet, to provide you with a mobile tourist guide (Smart Traveler App by U.S. Department of State - Weather report by weather.com - Global Passport Power Rank - Travel Risk Map - Democracy Index - GDP according to IMF, UN, and World Bank - Global Competitiveness Report - Corruption Perceptions Index - Press Freedom Index - World Justice Project - Rule of Law Index - UN Human Development Index - Global Peace Index - Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index). If you have a suggestion, critique, review or comment to this blog entry, we are looking forward to receive your e-mail at comment@wingsch.net. Please name the headline of the blog post to which your e-mail refers to in the subject line.




Recommended posts:

Share this post: (Please note data protection regulations before using buttons)

Haram esh-Sharif or Temple Mount in East Jerusalem

Haram esh-Sharif or Temple Mount in East Jerusalem

[caption id="attachment_221974" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © Andrew Shiva/cc-by-sa-4.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Known to Muslims as the Haram esh-Sharif ("the Noble Sanctuary", or "the Noble Sanctuary of Jerusalem") and the Al Aqsa Compound, and to Jews as Temple Mount ("Mount of the House [of God, i.e. the Temple in Jerusalem]"), is a hill in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Old City of Jerusalem that for thousands of years has been venerated as a holy site in Christianity, Islam and Islam, and Judaism alike. The ...

[ read more ]

Theme Week Lebanon - The seaside town of Jounieh

Theme Week Lebanon - The seaside town of Jounieh

[caption id="attachment_150810" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Casino du Liban © Yoniw[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Jounieh is a coastal city about 16 km (10 mi) north of Beirut, Lebanon and is part of Greater Beirut. Jounieh is known for its seaside resorts and bustling nightlife, as well as its old stone souk, ferry port, and gondola lift (le téléphérique), which takes passengers up the mountain to the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa. Above Jounieh, and on the way to Harissa, a small hill named Bkerké, overlooking...

[ read more ]

Theme Week Bangladesh - Dhaka

Theme Week Bangladesh - Dhaka

[caption id="attachment_201048" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Rose Garden Palace © Bazaan/cc-by-sa-3.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world, with a population of 18.89 million people in the Greater Dhaka Area. Dhaka is the economic, political and cultural center of Bangladesh. It is one of the major cities of South Asia, the largest city in Eastern South Asia and among the Bay of Bengal countries; and one of the ...

[ read more ]

Theme Week Potsdam - The Einstein Tower

Theme Week Potsdam - The Einstein Tower

[caption id="attachment_25274" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]The Einstein Tower is an astrophysical observatory in the Albert Einstein Science Park in Potsdam, Germany built by Erich Mendelsohn. It was built on the summit of the Potsdam Telegraphenberg to house a solar telescope designed by the astronomer Erwin Finlay-Freundlich. The telescope supports experiments and observations to validate (or disprove) Albert Einstein's relativity theory. The building was f...

[ read more ]

Koroni in Messenia

Koroni in Messenia

[caption id="attachment_225785" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Koroni harbour © C messier/cc-by-sa-4.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Koroni or Corone is a town and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylos-Nestoras, of which it is a municipal unit. Known as Corone by the Venetians and Ottomans, the town of Koroni (pop. 1,397 in 2011) sits on the southwest peninsula of the Peloponnese on the Gulf of Messinia in southern Greece, 56 km (35 mi) ...

[ read more ]

Theme Week French Riviera - Grasse and Menton

Theme Week French Riviera - Grasse and Menton

Grasse [caption id="attachment_151915" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Parfurmerie Fragonard - Parfum Museum © Christophe.Finot[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Grasse is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department on the French Riviera. The town is considered as the world's capital of perfume. It obtained two flowers in the Concours des villes et villages fleuris contest and was made "Ville d'Art et d'Histoire" (town of art and history). Grasse is the center of the French perfume industry and is known as the world's perfume...

[ read more ]

Velden am Wörther See

Velden am Wörther See

[caption id="attachment_153243" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Velden Castle © Johann Jaritz[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Velden am Wörthersee is a market town in the district of Villach-Land in the Austrian state of Carinthia. Situated at the western shore of the Wörthersee lake it is one of the most popular holiday resorts of Austria. Originally a mansio at the Roman road between Villach (Sanctium) and Virunum it was first mentioned in a 1263 deed as Campus and in 1410 as Velben. In medieval times it belonged to the ...

[ read more ]

Theme Week Istanbul - Hagia Sophia

Theme Week Istanbul - Hagia Sophia

[caption id="attachment_27005" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © Dennis Jarvis/cc-by-sa-2.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Hagia Sophia ("Holy Wisdom") is a former Greek Orthodox patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum (Ayasofya Müzesi) in Istanbul. From the date of its construction in 537 until 1453, it served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire. Th...

[ read more ]

The Norwegian Sky

The Norwegian Sky

[caption id="attachment_168186" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Norwegian Sky in Freeport, Bahamas © Blackfist/cc-by-sa-4.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Norwegian Sky is a Sun-class cruise ship owned and operated by Norwegian Cruise Line. She was originally ordered by Costa Cruises as Costa Olympia from the Bremer Vulkan shipyard in Germany, but she was completed in 1999 by the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany for the Norwegian Cruise Line under the name Norwegian Sky. Between 2004 and 2008 she sailed as Pride of Aloh...

[ read more ]

Palace of Wolfenbüttel in Lower Saxony

Palace of Wolfenbüttel in Lower Saxony

[caption id="attachment_169016" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © Losch/cc-by-sa-3.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Among the castles in Lower Saxony, the one in Wolfenbüttel is a prominent one. It is not only the second largest of its kind, it also houses the only ducal apartments in Lower Saxony dating back to the High Baroque. This huge four-wing building used to be the Brunswick-Lüneburg dukes' residence for more than 400 years. The still existing magnificent façade and the prestigious apartments built between 1690 and 1740...

[ read more ]

Return to TopReturn to Top
Jeddah Montage © MrJoker07/cc-by-sa-4.0
Theme Week Saudi Arabia – Jeddah

Jeddah is a city in the Hijaz Tihamah region on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major...

© Romazur/cc-by-sa-4.0
Notting Hill Carnival in London

The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event that has taken place since 1966 on the streets of Notting Hill,...

Historic Shubra Palace © Mmasudtu/cc-by-sa-4.0
Theme Week Saudi Arabia – Ta’if

Ta'if is a city in Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia at an elevation of 1,879 m (6,165 ft) on the...

Schließen