25 Facts About Medina

Medina is generally considered to be the "cradle of Islamic culture and civilization".

Medina is home to three prominent mosques, namely al-Masjid an-Nabawi, Masjid Quba?a, and Masjid al-Qiblatayn, with the Masjid Quba'a being the oldest in Islam.

Much like most of the Hejaz, Medina has seen numerous exchanges of power within its comparatively short existence.

Medina is home to several distinguished sites and landmarks, most of which are mosques and hold historic significance.

Medina has been inhabited at least 1500 years before the Hijra, or approximately the 9th century BCE.

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Medina was the most respected inhabitant of the city prior to Muhammad's arrival.

Alternatively, Lucien Gubbay suggests the name Medina could have been a derivative from the Aramaic word Medinta, which the Jewish inhabitants could have used for the city.

Under the first three caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, Medina was the capital of a rapidly increasing Muslim Empire.

Since then, Medina's importance dwindled, becoming more a place of religious importance than of political power.

Medina witnessed little to no economic growth during and after Ali's reign.

Mu'awiyah's governors took special care of Medina and dug the 'Ayn az-Zarqa'a spring along with a project that included the creation of underground ducts for the purposes of irrigation.

From 974 to 1151, Medina was in a liaison with the Fatimids, even though the political stand between the two remained turbulent and did not exceed the normal allegiance.

From 1151 onwards, Medina paid allegiance to the Zengids, and the Emir Nuruddin Zangi took care of the roads used by pilgrims and funded the fixing of the water sources and streets.

Medina funded the Bedouins who lived on the routes used by pilgrims to protect them on their journeys.

In 1256, Medina was threatened by lava from the Harrat Rahat volcanic region but was narrowly saved from being burnt after the lava turned northward.

Medina established a grand provision distribution center to distribute food and alms to the needy and Medina lived a period of security and peace.

Around this time, Medina started falling prey to a new threat, the Hashemite Sharifate of Mecca in the south.

Fakhri Pasha, governor of Medina, tenaciously held on during the Siege of Medina from 10 June 1916 and refused to surrender and held on another 72 days after the Armistice of Moudros, until he was arrested by his own men and the city was taken over by the Sharifate on 10 January 1919.

The old city's walls have been destroyed and replaced with the three ring roads that encircle Medina today, named in order of length, King Faisal Road, King Abdullah Road and King Khalid Road.

Medina is a desert oasis surrounded by the Hejaz Mountains and volcanic hills.

Medina is mentioned several times in the Quran, two examples are Surah At-Tawbah.

The Dar Al Madinah Museum opened in 2011 and it uncovers the history of Medina specializing in the architectural and urban heritage of the city.

Private universities at Medina include University of Prince Muqrin, the Arab Open University, and Al Rayyan Colleges.

Medina is served by the Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport located off Highway 340.

Bus transport system in Medina was established in 2012 by the MMDA and is operated by SAPTCO.

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