Once occupied by date palms, Masjid Al-Yahya now stands. It is located six kilometers from the center of Medina. Medina is the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca.
Now take a moment to appreciate the serenity surrounding Masjid Al-Yahya. This mosque is more than just a place of prayer. It is a testament to Medina’s rich Islamic history. Medina is formally known as Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. This means “The Luminous City”. It is also called Madinat Rasul Allah, meaning “City of the Messenger of God”.
Medina is where Muhammad established the Muslim community. This happened after his flight from Mecca in 622 CE. His body is entombed here. Pilgrims visit his tomb in the city’s chief mosque.
Medina sits 2,050 feet above sea level. It is on a fertile oasis. A lava field bounds it on the east. Arid hills of the Hejaz mountain range enclose the other three sides. Mount Uhud is the highest of these hills. It rises over 2,000 feet above the oasis.
The Prophet’s Mosque is in the city center. Muhammad helped build it. Non-Muslims cannot enter this sacred area. They can glimpse a view from outside. Caliphs improved the mosque complex.
The residents of Medina are Arabic-speaking Muslims. Most are Sunni Muslims. Medina is one of Saudi Arabia’s most populous cities. Many pilgrims settle here. Farming and pottery making are important occupations. Medina cultivates fruits, vegetables, and cereals. The city is famous for its date palms. They process and package the dates for export.
Mechanical pumps irrigate the land. These replaced old draw wells. An aqueduct supplies drinking water. Several wadis meet near Medina. They bring torrents of water during winter rains.
From 1908 to 1916, the Hejaz railway connected Medina and Damascus. World War I destroyed it. A railway has been built between Medina and Jeddah. Asphalt roads link the city with Jeddah, Mecca, and Yanbu. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport serves the city.
Jewish settlers lived in Medina before Islam. The main influx of Jews occurred after the Roman emperor Hadrian expelled them from Palestine. The Arab tribes of Aws and Khazraj occupied the oasis. By 400 CE, Jews dominated the population.
In 622, the Prophet Muhammad arrived in Medina. He was fleeing from Mecca. This event marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. Soon, the Jews were driven out of Hejaz. Medina became the administrative capital of the Islamic state. Damascus replaced it in 661.
The Ottomans controlled Medina after 1517. Their rule weakened before the Wahhabis took the city in 1804. A Turko-Egyptian force retook it in 1812. The Ottomans remained until Ibn Saud revived the Wahhabi movement.
Hussein ibn Ali revolted during World War I. He put the Hejaz railroad out of commission. Ibn Saud took the city in 1925. Today, Medina continues to modernize. It balances its historical significance with contemporary development.
Near Masjid Al-Yahya, you’ll find other mosques. At-Turki Mosque is 0.2 km away. Another mosque is 0.6 km away. Al Zahem Mosque is also 0.6 km away. Uhud Mosque is 3 km away. Al-Dowayan Mosque is 3.1 km away.
Remember Al-Yahya Mosque as a place of peace. It stands as a testament to Medina’s enduring legacy. It is a city that has shaped Islamic history.