Overview
Take a trip to Madinah on your Saudi Arabia vacation.
Madinah, literally Al Madinah or “The City” in Arabic, is the second holiest city in Islam, the cradle of Islamic civilization, and one of the largest cities in the nation. In the early 7th century, the Prophet Muhammad moved to Madinah from his birthplace of Makkah (Mecca) in the event known as the Hijra, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. The Prophet Muhammad transformed Madinah into the capital of his emerging Islamic Empire, built the first mosque in Madinah, and died and was buried here.
Unlike the holy city of Makkah, Madinah is open to non-Muslim visitors, who can trace its cultural and religious significance at its many historical monuments. Its many religious monuments include Quba Mosque, the oldest mosque in the world and one of the holiest sites in Islam. Only the Prophet’s Mosque, which is the site of the Prophet Muhammad’s grave, is off limits to non-Muslims. For travellers looking to explore history beyond Islam, Al Madinah Museum traces the city's history going back to pre-Islamic times.
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