Al-Madeenah Al-Munawwarah - I

09/12/2007| IslamWeb

Located in the Western coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the region known as Hijaaz, about 90 miles East of the Red Sea shores, and 290 miles north of Makkah, Madeenah, the city of the Prophet Muhammad has a very dear place in the heart of every Muslim. Al-Madeenah Al-Munawwarah, Al-Barrah, Al-Jaberah, and Taybah, are just a few of the 100 or so names Muslims have given their beloved city that stands as the second most sacred and significant place in Islam after Makkah.

Its history is so rich and its role is so central in Islam that no other city or place could come close to it.

Madeenah houses the Mosque of the Prophet and is the Prophet's burial place. It also has the first Mosque ever built in Islam, the mosque of Qubaa, which the Prophet personally helped design and build. It is the city of the Ansaar (among the inhabitants of Madeenah), who gave everything they had in support of Allah's Message; it is the capital of the first Islamic Government of the rightly guided Caliphate; it is the place that preserved Islam, and spread its message to the whole world, and still does the same today. Prophet Muhammad said: "Indeed, faith retreats to (and takes refuge in) Madeenah just as the snake returns to take refuge in its hole." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Madeenah is the city of Hijrah (emigration), and is full of proud Islamic moments and memories, the city whose dates (the fruit) cure from disease, and whose people have the softest hearts and are of the best characters. These are some of the reasons why Muslims love Madeenah and dream of visiting it someday.

The main purpose of the visit would, of course, be to visit the Prophet's Mosque; he said: "Do not set out for a journey to any Masjid (intending to earn blessings or special reward of prayer) other than the three Mosques: Al-Masjid Al-Haraam (in Makkah), Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem), and my Masjid." [Al-Bukhari]

Once we are in Madeenah, we should maximize our benefit by visiting other important Islamic sites, gaining knowledge of our religion, and by strengthening our faith in Allah.

Even though most of Muslims will visit Madeenah as part of their Hajj pilgrimage trip, visiting it is not part of the rites of neither Hajj nor ‘Umrah (minor pilgrimage). It is the special virtue and significance associated with this unique place, Al-Madeenah Al-Munawwarah, which beckons and motivates Muslims to make the time and come in droves from all corners of the globe to reap all the blessings they can.

Know Your History

It is necessary for all Muslims, especially those who are visiting Madeenah, to learn certain aspect of its history, because this learning prepares them to further understand and appreciate the role and significance of Madeenah of our beloved Messenger .

How could one visit the so many historical sites and places in the Madeenah area if one did not know about them to begin with? How would one appreciate and love those places, the events that occurred in them and the people associated with those events without learning the available facts about them before arriving in Madeenah? In fact, one may not even be able to gain the spiritual advantage of `being there' without such knowledge. What guarantees one that he/she will not make a mistake, or even commit a sin while visiting some of these places if one is not sure which practices are permitted and which ones are not? What places you should give priority to such that you do not leave Madeenah without visiting them? What is the best place to make prayer when inside the Prophet's Mosque? What type of supplication one should say in the Baqee' burial site?

It is true that most Muslims must have heard, sometime during their childhood, of some aspects, names and events that are part of Madeenah's rich, intriguing history; perhaps that is why many of us grow up passionately connected to this beloved site. For example, we all know of the Prophet's Mosque or the battle of Badr, and we get a strong feeling of belonging when we actually visit these places. But as many would testify based on personal experience, a good knowledge of the history associated with such places could definitely turn the visit into a life changing spiritual event.

Authentic sources and history references about Madeenah, printed and digital, abound. It is recommended that those planning to visit Madeenah, especially along the Hajj trip, take time to read a few sources, choose the places to visit and familiarize themselves with what is needed for them to make the most of the visit, instead of spending the time there at the hotel waiting to go to Makkah on schedule for Hajj. If the experience of those who go to Hajj is of any value, reading a booklet while in the plane to Madeenah would not be an adequate preparation, even for a meaningful discussion with your guides to those places.