Medina: The Fertile Oasis That Became the Heart of the Islamic Community

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Located in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, Medina is far more than a historical site. It is the second holiest city in Islam, where the Prophet Muhammad established the first Muslim community after his 622 CE migration from Mecca. Today, it remains a center of profound spiritual significance.

Medina, historically known as Yathrib, sits 2,050 feet above sea level on a fertile oasis, surrounded by arid hills of the Hejaz range. Its landscape is defined by Mount Uḥud, the site of a pivotal 625 CE battle where the Prophet Muhammad was wounded. The city’s core is the Prophet’s Mosque, a structure Muhammad helped build. Over centuries, it has undergone extensive renovations, including 19th-century gold-leaf mosaics by Sultan Selim II and the iconic green dome painted in 1839 by Sultan Mahmud II.

The city’s religious landscape is dense with history. Beyond the Prophet’s Mosque, sites like the Qubāʾ Mosque—the first in Islamic history—and the Mosque of the Two Qiblahs, which marks the shift of prayer direction from Jerusalem to Mecca, draw constant visitation. While the city has modernized, incorporating infrastructure like the Haramain High Speed Railway, it retains a distinct character. The old city wall was dismantled, and the historic pilgrim camping ground was merged into the urban fabric, yet the area remains closed to non-Muslims.

Economically, Medina balances its role as a pilgrimage destination with agriculture, particularly its famous date palms. The city is also an educational hub, home to the Islamic University of Madinah, founded in 1961. While the Saudi conquest of 1925 led to the removal of elaborate tomb monuments at the al-Baqīʿ cemetery, the city continues to serve as a living testament to early Islamic history, with ongoing projects like the Humanizing Medina program aiming to improve walkability and sustainability for its 1.4 million residents.

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