The city is not only adorned with mesmerising views but also houses various historical places that the pilgrims can visit during their pilgrimage journey or on vacation. Before the rise of Islam, this city was originally known as Yathrib and was renamed as Madinat an-Nabi (the Prophet’s City or city of the Prophet) after Prophet Mohammad’s death and later as al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (The Enlightened City). Not only is it the city with the fourth highest population but is also the capital of Madinah Province of Saudi Arabia.

Besides places of religious significance, the city has a lot to offer to pilgrims and other tourists. Let’s look at some of the most important and popular places to visit in Madinah.

Religious Places to Visit in Madinah

1. Al-Masjid An-Nabawi: The Prophet’s Mosque or Al-Masjid An-Nabawi was the second site built by the Holy Prophet in the first year of Hirja when he emigrated from Makkah to Madinah. The mosque inhabits the tomb of Prophet Muhammad, which can be recognised by a bright green coloured dome in the southeast corner of the mosque. This is the second most visited Islamic site after Masjid-e-Haram in Mecca. Millions of people visit the mosque during their Umrah and Hajj journey and offer their prayers. It is generally open regardless of time or date.

Abu Huraira (one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad) reported Prophet Muhammad saying: “Prayer in my mosque is more excellent than a thousand prayers observed in other mosques except the Masjid al-Haram.”

2. Quba Mosque: Located 6 km away from Madinah, the Quba Mosque was built in the village of Quba. It is believed that this might be the first mosque in the world that is in existence from the time of the Holy Prophet in the 7th century CE. Prophet Muhammad visited this mosque when he was emigrating from Makkah to Madinah. He spent 14 days in the mosque while waiting for Ali (his son-in-law) to arrive in Madinah. This is the second-largest mosque in Madinah after the Prophet’s Mosque. One can observe large gatherings in the mosque in the mornings as a lot of visitors and worshippers visit the mosque throughout the year.

3. Masjid al-Qiblatayn: The Mosque of the Two Qiblas or Masjid al-Qiblatayn is the site where the Holy Prophet received the instructions to change the direction of prayer (Qibla) from Jerusalem to Makkah. Sawad bin Ghanam bin Kaab built this mosque in 623 CE, and it is amongst the few mosques to have two mihrabs (niche indicating the qibla).

Historical Places in Madinah

4. Jannat-al-Baqi: The Garden of Heaven or Jannat-al-Baqi, is amongst the first cemeteries of Madinah. This is the resting place of various scholars, companions and the Prophet’s family, including Hazrat Imam HasanIbn Ali (his grandson) and Hazrat Fatima-al-Zehra (his daughter). It is believed that the Prophet himself chose this spot to be a cemetery. Al-Baqi (an Ansari companion) was the first person to be buried here. He died soon after the Prophet migrated to Madinah.

The cemetery is opened after Fajur and Asar prayers, and the best way to enter it is through gate no. 1 of Masjid-e-Nabwi.

5. Mount Uhud: Located about 4 km away from the Prophet’s Mosque, Mount Uhud is an important Islamic landmark as this was the site where the Battle of Uhud was fought in 625 CE. There is a cemetery near the site where the martyrs of the battle are buried. The cemetery contains 70 martyrs, including Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, Prophet Muhammad’s uncle.

Read More: Popular Places To Visit In Madinah During Umrah

Beautiful Places to Visit near Madinah

6. The Desert of Saleh: This desert is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Madinah. With gigantic tombs and graves, it has several drawings and inscriptions on its walls. This is a must-visit tourist attraction in the city as it is also considered a UNESCO World’s Heritage site with the best-preserved remains of the lost Nabataean Kingdom. It is located south of Al Nafud and is an incredible sight in the entire Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It is recommended to leave your hotel early so that you can drive up to the place in time and thoroughly explore the site.

7. Wadi e Jinn – Al Baida: Only 41 km away from the city, the valley is mystical and casts a mysterious effect on the cars, allowing them to move without any effort from the driver. Locals believe that the place has the power of Jinn, and a few have claimed to hear sounds that belong to them. However, geologists call it a phenomenon of reverse gravity.

Family Places in and around Madinah

8. Yanbu Beach: In the port city of Yanbu-al-Bahr, 120 miles away from Madinah, this mesmerising beach is famous for picturesque views, fun water games and blue landscapes. Travellers can enjoy jet skiing, scuba diving and sailing or adore the traces of fishermen houses that were built traditionally. It is an important port and an ideal retreat from the busy city life.

9. Al-Madinah Museum: This is the very first museum that was built in the city of Madinah. It portrays the history of Islam and also holds various archaeological collections, rare images of the city and visual galleries. There are at least 2000 artefacts depicting the rich and vibrant Islamic heritage in the museum. It is located on King Abdul Road in the Madinah Knowledge Economic City. It is the oldest museum in the city and presents the rich Islamic heritage along with the details of Prophet Muhammad’s life.

Madinah museum timings are from 11 am to 7 pm. It is open from Saturday to Thursday, and is closed on Friday. Entry fee us SR25 ($6.70).

10. Al Noor Mall: This mall witnesses around 150,000 visitors every week. One can find everything from Armani suits to traditional Arabic dresses. This mall houses a combination of restaurants, international retail and Spark’s Family Entertainment area.

The mall is open from 10 AM to 11 PM from Monday to Thursday and Saturday to Sunday. On Fridays, it is open from 1:30 AM to 11 PM.

All these beautiful places bustle with tourists during the month of Ramadan. If you are planning a Madinah trip for next Ramadan, here’s a glimpse of what to expect during Ramadan in Madinah.

Places To Visit In Madinah FAQs

The post Top 10 Tourist Places To Visit In Madinah appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

During Umrah pilgrimage, devotees have to perform three main ritual acts:

• Tawaf, which is circumambulating The Holy Kaaba in an anticlockwise direction;
• Sa’i, walking seven times forward and backward between Marwah and Safa Hills;
• Halq, wherein the male pilgrims shave or shorten their hair

After completing these three acts, a pilgrim leaves the state of Ihram: the sacred state a Muslim must assumed in order to perform the Hajj or Umrah, and completes the journey to Umrah.

Performing Umrah with complete rituals usually takes only a few hours. If you have more time to spend in the holy city of Mecca, you can visit really beautiful places of attraction. They are serene, sacred, and located in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Best Places to Visit During Umrah In Makkah

While in the city of Makkah, there are many places in Makkah and Madinah that are worthy of a visit. Out of the many here are the top 12 points of attraction that one must see.

1. Masjid-Al Haram

Well-known as the Great Mosque of Makkah, Masjid-Al Haram surrounds Makkah’s Kaaba. It is one of the must visit places during Umrah as at the epicenter of this mosque, Muslims offer their prayers to Allah facing the holy Kaaba. In fact, pilgrims start-off the holy journey of Umrah from here. A key rite performed at this pilgrimage is circumambulating the Kaaba, one of the most spiritual things to do during Umrah.

2. Jabal al-Nour

Also known as ‘Hill of Illumination’ or ‘Mountain of Light’, Jabal al-Nour is famous for a cave named Gar-e-Hira. As per the Islamic literature, this is the place where the holy words of Allah were first revealed to Prophet Muhammad through the angel Jibreel. This is why Hira Cave is one of the significant places to visit during the Umrah journey.

3. Mount Arafat

Quite renowned as Jabal ar-Rahmah or Jabal Arafat, Mount Arafat is visited by scores of Muslims during the Hajj pilgrimage. This is where pilgrims offer prayers to Allah and perform various rituals.

4. Jannat-al-Mu’alla

One of the most significant cemeteries for Muslims, Jannat-al-Mu’alla is where many ancestors and relatives of Prophet Muhammad are said to be resting in peace. It is located to the north of Al-Masjid Al-Haram; the distance is about a kilometer, which can be walked in 15 minutes. Most people visit this cemetery to pay their respects to the deceased souls.

5. Masjid-e-Ayesha

The second-largest mosque in Makkah, Masjid-e-Aisha (also called Masjid e Taneem) is one of the oldest establishments in the city, which makes it a must-visit place during Umrah pilgrimage. It is situated close to the holy Kaaba. Here, pilgrims can enter the sacred state of Ihram.

6. Maktaba Makkah-al-Mukarramah

The birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, Maktaba Makkah-al-Mukarramah is located in She’eb Banu Hashim in Makkah. Previously a mountain, this place has been converted into a national library. To know some interesting facts about the history of Maktaba Makkah-al-Mukarramah, watch the video below:

Video Credit – Yedikıta Dergisi

7. City of Mina

Also known as ‘City of Tents’, the City of Mina offers temporary accommodation to Hajj pilgrims in air-conditioned tents. It is situated in close proximity to Masjid-al-Haram, thus can be easily visited during the holy journey of Umrah.

Most Sacred Places to Visit During Umrah In Madinah

8. Masjid-e-Nabawi

Located in the holy city of Madinah, this stunning mosque of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is one of the most sacred places to visit after Umrah pilgrimage. According to the Islamic culture, this place is the resting place of Prophet Muhammad.

It is one of the largest mosques around the world, and is visited by millions of pilgrims every year. Praying at this holy mosque is among the best things to do during Umrah.

9. Masjid-al-Quba

Situated on the outer area of Madinah, the Quba Mosque is known to be the first mosque in the history of Islam. Witnessing a huge footfall throughout the year, this mosque is one of the most sacred places to visit during Umrah. Also the second-largest mosque in the sacred city, this place witnesses large gatherings during the holy month of Ramadan.

10. Mount Uhud

One of the best things to do during Umrah pilgrimage is visiting the historic place of Mount Uhud in Madinah. It is the site of the Battle of Uhud, and is a place of high significance in the Islamic culture. Graveyards of fighters, who laid down their lives in this battle, can be found near this site.

11. Dar Al-Madinah Museum

The foremost museum in Madinah, Al Madinah Museum boasts of rare artefacts and archaeological collections, all of which capture the heritage of this holy city. The beautiful museum offers a glimpse into the rich culture of Islam.

12. Masjid al-Qiblatayn

A beautiful mosque situated in the holy city of Madinah, Masjid al-Qiblatayn is the place where Allah commanded Prophet Muhammad for changing the direction of the Qibla to Mecca from Jerusalem. The mosque was in the Islamic year 2 AH (623 CE) by Sawad ibn: meaning son of Ghanam ibn Ka’ab.

Incorporating these sacred places to visit during Umrah in the itinerary, gives a sense of completion to journey to the house of Allah.

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