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"Districts
in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah"
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Al-'Aaliyah
(Al-'Awaali)
The name
Al-'Aaliyah
(the superior, or the high), is its historic designation. It is
situated from the east to southeast of Madinah, in a line extending
easterly from the Baqee'a (cemetery) to Harrah Waaqim in a southerly
direction, to the area adjacent to the Qubaa' district.
Prevalent in it were the
residential quarters of a number of the tribes of Al-Ansaar and a
permeation of date palm farms and groves. From its easterly
elevation, it gradually declines as it proceeds west, until it
becomes the level land upon which stands the Prophet's Mosque. The
buildings of the district advanced creepingly, until today, they
envelop most of the land that was once occupied by groves and farms
of date palms. It also called Al-'Awaali. Frequent references are
made to it in history books, which span the ages. Its residential
quarters and groves are mentioned in many narrations dating from
modern times and going back as far as the pre-Islamic era.
Before Islam, there were
confrontations in it between the tribes of Al-Aous and Al-Khazraj.
Some of the Makkan emigrants resided there. It was once a separate
village, like Qubaa', but then became connected to Madinah when it
flourished in the Al-Raashidi period. In the third century, it
contracted and declined like Madinah, eventually becoming detached
from it. For a second time, it became a mere group of farms and
residential quarters of families and workers. This was in particular
after the wall of Madinah was erected.
In the modern era, it
has become one of the districts of Madinah, crowded and congested
with residences. Annually, it receives thousands of visitors during
the Hajj and Umrah seasons, providing temporary housing for several
days, or weeks. |
Al-Ghaabah
Its location is east of
Madinah, west of Mount Uhud. Its earth is marshy, but able to exist
in it are the tamarisk plant and tamarisk tree, which is stunted in
growth. In its east, there is a big, famous pond at the versant of
Uhud, called Az-Zubair. It is mentioned in history books, where it
is said that Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awaam had purchased it for one
hundred and seventy thousand, his estate finally disposing of it for
one million six hundred. |
Al-Jorf
This district is
located in the northwest section of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. Its
land is a level plain, which from early on had groups of groves and
wells in it.
It is renowned for being
the site of B'ir Roomah, which had been purchased by 'Uthmaan bin
'Affaan (Allah be pleased with him), as an endowment for the
Muslims. Some historic sources attribute the name Al-Jorf to Tuba'a,
a king of Yemen, who passed by in this area during the pre-Islamic
period and designated the land with this name, however we do not
have any evidence as to the truth of this report. The Muslims
profited from the land of Al-Jorf by establishing farms in it. A
number of the Companions (Allah be pleased with all of them) of the
Prophet (Peace be upon him) were gardeners, or horticulturists.
In the era of
Al-Raashidi, they erected camps on the level earth to accomodate
warriors. Those who contributed to Jihaad (struggling for Allah),
gathered in Al-Jorf before proceeding to other areas which they
would open to Islam. The tents remained in it as the army was
preceeded by the banners and flags.
In current times, the
advance of residential dwellings has diminished the farms and
groves, until they have just about vanished. The state has protected
the groves in which lie B'ir 'Uthmaan and has established an
experimental farm in the property. |
Al-Manaakhah
This area was west of
the Prophet's Mosque. Its northern limit was from the trail which
led to Ash-Shaam, with that of the south at the start of Qurbaan.
Part of its northern
section was a field which was used for training horses and game
animals. Some of the time, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon
him) was in attendance urging both the skilled and the apprentices
on, so that they would improve. There were at times, competitions
between them. In this place of horse racing, a mosque, called the
Al-Sabaq Mosque, was built.
In a second section, the
Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), planned a market place for
the Muslims. This was during the first years after the emigration.
Its purpose was to extricate them from the dominant influence of the
Jews, in the other markets. He said: " This is your souq (market),
so don't restrict and don't derive tax from it ". The souq was
roofless (exposed to the elements), there were no structures
present. From the area called As-Sabaq to this site, trade in
commodities was established. Transactions were effected from morning
to the end of the day. The trader brought his merchandise in the
morning, carrying it back at the end of the day and returning with
it on the following day to resume business. During the period of the
Ummawi Khalifah, Hishaam bin 'Abd Al-Malik, a souq was built in the
area which consisted of large structures. The system dictated that
the shops form a permanent market. However, after the death of
Hishaam, the Madinans razed the buildings. They were re-erected a
second time during a later period and some of the beneficiaries
capitalised.
During the First World
War, when there was rationing in Madinah, Fakhri Baashaaa demolished
the souq. After that, a residential quarter was established in the
section close to the Prophet's Mosque. The ground floor of the
residences contained shops and commercial showrooms. They
disappeared during a project to improve and beautify the districts
encircling the Prophet's Mosque.
Along the length of the
district, a traffic tunnel was excavated. The northern end of the
tunnel opened onto Sayyed Ash-Shuhadaa' Street, while the southern
end led to the beginning of the Qurbaan district. A square remained
of what was left of Al-Manaakhah with the old souq extending along
its pedestrian lanes, the rest devoted to services for the Prophet's
Mosque.
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Haarah
Al-Aghawaat
Haarah Al-Aghawaat was a
residential quarter in the vicinity of the Prophet's Mosque to its
east. Its history can be traced back several hundred years.
It was given this
appellation, as Al-Aghawaat (the Eunuchs) were residents of this
area. (Al-Aghawaat is the plural of the singular Agha. It is a
Turkish word meaning mister.) They were designated as servants of
the Prophet's Mosque, dedicated exclusively to its service. Their
origin is attributable to the era of Salaah Ad-Deen Al-Ayoubi. It
was he who dispatched the first group of them to the Two Holy
Mosques. An endowment devoted to them in Egypt, assured their
stipend, eventually becoming a limited system. Most of them had been
castrated. The result of their devoted, ascetic service was that
they acquired intense power and a high position in the hearts of the
people.
In the Al-'Uthmaani
period, they became an important class, with high rank in society,
wielding great influence and authority in the state. As a result,
the quarter in which they resided became one of the historic
districts of the city. The number of residential houses in the
district increased and were grouped in clusters of courtyards, each
courtyard having but a single entry. In them were resident the poor,
students and those devoted to worship.
This district was
characterised as being one of the oldest residential quarters. Most
of the structures in it were of one story, some of them were of two,
the rooms however, were high-ceilinged. They were constructed of
stone and mud, with low doors. Between the homes were narrow lanes,
some no wider than the span of two feet. This district disappeared
during the recent expansion project of the Prophet's Mosque, its
land absorbed by the mosque's surrounding plazas.
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Harrah
Al-Wabirah
Harrah Al-Wabirah is
also called Harrah Al-Gharbiyah because it is located on the western
side of Madinah. It is of less difficulty or roughness than that of
Harrah Waaqim. It is permeated with level areas of land suitable for
buildings, which have been erected in it. Also located in it are
several hills, which are situated in such a way as to naturally
facilitate the collection of rainwater.
It extends from
Qiblatain Mosque on its northern reaches and spreads southerly,
approximately to Qubaa' Mosque. It forms a natural impediment for
the defence of Madinah on its western approach. Part of its level
areas, on the southern side, were concentrated with date farms. Not
well known were the small gaps which permeated it, except for the
road on which the Prophet (Peace be upon him) first entered Madinah,
which is also the road upon which travellers left for Makkah.
During the modern era,
large portions of the land of the harrah were reclaimed, as
buildings advanced to it. |
Harrah Waaqim
Harrah Waaqim is also
called Al-Harrah Ash-Sharqiyah (the Eastern Lava Field). It is a
high plateau in the east of Madinah, consisting of a series of
knolls and flat plains. It is called 'harrah' because large parts of
its surface are covered with rocks and black volcanic stones, which
cause it to be intensely hot in the summer. It is narrated that the
name 'Waaqim' is attributed to a person or a group from Al-'Amaaleeq, who settled in it. It has also been narrated that the
intended semantic meaning linguistically of 'waaqim' is 'al-haajiz'
(the barrier).
The form of Harrah
Waaqim is a natural barrier which safeguards the eastern flank of
Madinah. From that, it is not inconceivable as it is difficult to
walk in it. It is not devoid of narrow passes, however they are able
to be protected.
On the western side of
Harrah Waaqim resided several old tribes who benefitted from the
natural protection and the wadies which descend from it. They are
associated with the name 'al-harrah' and of the bloody battle which
occurred in the year 63 A.H.. This was when most of the people of
Madinah repudiated their allegiance to Yazeed bin Mu'aawiyah and he
dispatched an army under the command of Muslim bin 'Uqbah. The
insurgents re-excavated the 'ditch' and entrenched themselves behind
it, but the army of 'Uqbah struck at the approach to the harrah. He
gave the rebels three days to return to compliance of their
allegiance to him, but they declined. The collective capacity of the
cavalry, under the command of Marwaan bin Al-Hakm had infiltrated
one of the breaches of the harrah, which was not widely known and
attacked those positioned behind the ditch, from the rear, taking
them by surprise. This was the reason for the armies success. What
transpired was a bloody massacre.
In the year 654 A.H., a
powerful volcanic eruption from one of the hills occurred in the
harrah, which persisted for nearly three months. The accumulations
of volcanic debris increased in the area.
During the current
period, buildings appeared in all areas of the harrah, due to modern
machines capable of clearing wide swaths of land in it, to erect new
residential neighborhoods. |
Qubaa'
Wadi Raanoonaa'
runs through Qubaa', which is a district in the southern part of the
city of Al-Madinah. At one time, it was a separate village which lay
on the trail of the caravans arriving from Makkah. With the
inevitable increase in inhabitants and their dwellings, the village
spread towards Madinah, eventually becoming connected to it. It is
narrated that it was called Qubaa' because of the well that was in
it. It is also said that the people saw an evil omen because of the
graves in it and called it Qubaa'.
Qubaa' is distinguished
by an abundance of subterranean water, as well as is the surrounding
area. Its soil is fertile and as a result there are numerous farms
with groves of date palms and those for the cultivation of grapes.
It was during a recent period that configurations of groups of
houses became prevalent in the areas in-between the farms, taking on
the semblance of small quarters (neighborhoods).
A special feature are
the grounds around the historic mosque, the original structure
having been designed by the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)
when he reached here and who also shared in erecting it. It is the
first mosque that was built in Islam and is mentioned in many hadith
which evince its benefits. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon
him) selected Saturday as the day in which he visited it from time
to time and also visited some of his companions there.
The buildings of Qubaa'
currently stretch in all directions the result of which, is that the
farms and groves have decreased in number and size. What remains,
however, contributes to the beauty of the district, for spread
throughout are excellent conditions of moist air.
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Qurbaan
Qurbaan is one of the
main districts situated close to the Prophet's Mosque. It is located
between Al-'Awaali and Qubaa', those districts forming its eastern
and western limits, respectively.
In past times, Qurbaan
was a group of farms, with some residences. It was not famous by
this name, yet it had been retained in old books which had been
written about features of Madinah. It is mentioned by Professor
Hamad Al-Jaasir, in the appendix to his book �Al-Mughaanim
Al-Mutaabah�, the name of the village being 'Qurbaan' (p. 454 and p.
456). It is possible that in later times it had so many residences
in it that it was known by this name. Before relying on, or
concluding from the information in this book, Qurbaan was a group of
successive farms and groves, in them the residences of the farmers
and their workers. Eventually progress saw the advance of buildings
to it. There is not surviving from its farms, but little.
Qurbaan is distinguished
by the fact that the buildings that have recently appeared in it are
relatively immense. Its main thoroughfare has become a commercial
market replete with shops selling housewares, electrical supplies
and many sundry restaurants. |
Yathrib
Yathrib was the first
site of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. It has been narrated that it was
called by this name, as the founding of Yathrib is ascribed to one
descendant of the Prophet, Nuh (Upon him be peace), whose name was
Yathrib bin Qaaniyah bin Muhalaa'eel. He had left Baabel with a
group from his community to search for a land in which to resettle.
When they came upon and beheld this location they were favourably
impressed, so they halted here and gave their leader's name to this
place.
It is mentioned in
geographic studies that Yathrib was a fertile area surrounded by
wadies and that it encompassed wells, springs and trees. It is
located in the area between the western pool area and the Shuhaada'
cemetery west of Uhud.
When the last
emigrations reached it, there appeared residential clusters spread
out in the area of what is between Al-Harrah Ash-Sharqiyah and Wadi
Al-'Aqeeq. Those societies entered the area whose name was Yathrib.
This was in spite of the fact that there were intervals of time and
distant lands between them.
When the Messenger of
Allah, Mohammed (Peace be upon him) migrated to it from Makkah, he
changed its name. He called it Al-Madinah (the City), also referring
to it as Taabah (Pleasant) and Taibah (Goodness), (etc.). He
prompted the importance and urged the necessity of, refraining from
using the name Yathrib, for he said: " He who says of Al-Madinah,
Yathrib, should seek the forgiveness of Allah, the Great and
Almighty ". It is possible that the reason for this is the
linguistic evidence that the word Yathrib is derived from the word
for rebuke, reprimand, imperfection and immorality. The result was
that he restrained and curbed the use of Yathrib because of evidence
of (life in) Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah in the period before the
advent of Islam. |
Zughaabah
Its site is located near
Madinah, situated at the end of Al-'Aqeeq, west of the grave of
Hamzah (Allah be pleased with him). Here are the termini of some of
the wadies of Madinah. Emptying into it are the streams of
Al-'Aqeeq, Waadi Qunaah and But'haan. Here also is the field where
the Quraish encamped during the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwah
Al-Khandaq). |
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All
the information above is taken from the web-site:
www.al-madinah.org
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