Medina

Examples of Medina in the following topics:

• Flight from Mecca to Medina

  • As Islam faced more political and religious opposition in Mecca, Muhammad and his followers migrated to Medina in 622 CE.
  • After several unsuccessful negotiations, he found hope with some men from Yathrib (later called Medina).
  • A delegation from Medina, consisting of the representatives of the twelve important clans of Medina, invited Muhammad as a neutral outsider to serve as the chief arbitrator for the entire community.
  • Muhammad instructed his followers to emigrate to Medina until nearly all of them left Mecca.
  • After eight days' journey, Muhammad entered the outskirts of Medina, but did not enter the city directly.

• Islam Ascendant

  • Upon his arrival in Medina, Muhammad unified the tribes by drafting the Constitution of Medina, which was a formal agreement between Muhammad and all of the significant tribes and families of Medina, including Muslims, Jews, Christians, and pagans.
  • An important feature of the Constitution of Medina is the redefinition of ties between Muslims.
  • The victory strengthened Muhammad's position in Medina and dispelled earlier doubts among his followers.
  • Abu Sufyan, the leader of the ruling Quraysh tribe, gathered an army of 3,000 men and set out for an attack on Medina.
  • In 632, a few months after returning to Medina from the Farewell Pilgrimage, Muhammad fell ill and died.

• Early Islamic Society

  • The Constitution of Medina, also known as the Charter of Medina, was drafted by Muhammad in 622.
  • It constituted a formal agreement between Muhammad and all of the significant tribes and families of Yathrib (later known as Medina), including Muslims, Jews, and pagans.
  • The precise dating of the Constitution of Medina remains debated, but generally scholars agree it was written shortly after the hijra (622).
  • Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet) in Medina, Saudi Arabia, is the 2nd most sacred Mosque in Islam.
  • Medina was the power base of Islam in its first century.

• Arabian Cities

  • Cities like Mecca and Medina acted as important centers of trade and religion in pre-Islamic Arabia.
  • Along with the port of Jidda, Medina and Mecca thrived through years of pilgrimage.
  • During the pre-Islamic period up until 622 CE, Medina was known as Yathrib, an oasis city.
  • Medina is celebrated for containing the mosque of Muhammad.
  • Medina is 210 miles (340 km) north of Mecca and about 120 miles (190 km) from the Red Sea coast.

• The Nomadic Tribes of Arabia

  • Immigration to the Arabian Peninsula began in earnest in the 2nd century CE, and by the 6th and 7th centuries there was a considerable Jewish population in Hejaz, mostly in and around Medina.
  • Before the rise of Islam, there were three main Jewish tribes in the city of Medina: the Banu Nadir, the Banu Qainuqa, and the Banu Qurayza.

• Islamic Architecture

  • The early mosques are believed to be inspired by Muhammad's home in Medina, which had served as the first mosque.

• Dates and Calendars

  • The Islamic calendar determines the first year in 622 CE, during which the emigration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra, occurred.
  • The first year was the Islamic year beginning in AD 622, during which the emigration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra, occurred.

• Sacred Ceremonies and Pilgrimages

  • Another important place for Muslims is the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia - the second holiest place in Islam - where Muhammad rests in Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet).

• Make Messages Easy to Remember

• Early Life of Muhammad

  • Muhammad's life is traditionally defined into two periods: pre-hijra (emigration) in Mecca (from 570 to 622 CE) and post-hijra in Medina (from 622 until 632 CE).