MEDINA

It is known as the second holiest site in all of Islam, located in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia. The long version of its Arabic name for Medina, Madinat Rasul Allah, means “City of the Prophet Allah”, as to the short form, al-Madina, only means “The City”. Muhammad fled to Medina after getting kicked out of Mecca.

In 622, Muhammad acted as a governor to the people of Yathrib (now Medina), where he brought unity to the divided people and converted them to follow the Islamic religion. It granted him a firm base of loyal followers. The Masjid al-Nabawi, the Mosque of the Prophet, is located there as well. It was built on Muhammad’s old house and is where he was buried. Masjid al-Quba, the Quba Mosque, was the first mosque built in Islam and located in Medina.