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City in Saudi Arabia with
500,000 inhabitants, situated in Hijaz, in western Saudi Arabia.
The city was originally called Yathrib, but after Muhammad and the
Muslim community fled Mecca in 622, Yathrib was chosen as the new
headquarter, 330 km north of Mecca. Soon the city was called 'City of
the Prophet', 'madînatu n-nabiyy'. From this place Muhammad's
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community grew in
strength, size and importance. After 8 years they had grown strong
enough to force Mecca to give in.
Muhammad did visit Mecca after this, but he died in 632 in Yathrib.
Muhammad was buried here, and a mosque was built around his grave. His
daughter Fatima and the Caliph Omar, the second Caliph, would later
also be buried here.
Medina was the capital of the Muslim community until 661, when
Damascus became the capital of the Ummawiyys.
Soon after the death of Muhammad, people started coming to Medina, to
pay respects at his grave. Despite the objections of the Ulama, this
tradition has grown in importance, and today all those who has the
means, try to visit Medina after doing the hajj in Mecca |
MECCA
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