The Prophet ﷺ supplicated: "O Allah, make Al-Madinah beloved to us as we love Makkah — or more." That supplication was answered, and there is no Muslim of true faith in whom the desire to visit the City of Allah's Messenger ﷺ does not stir.
This book is for that love: the history of Al-Madinah, its sacred sites, and what actually happened there.
What the Book Covers
The different aspects of Al-Madinah, and the historical events that bear directly on its establishment, its sacredness and its religious weight. It highlights the sites that come to mind whenever the city is mentioned — the Prophet's Mosque, Quba Mosque and the rest.
A large part of the book is given to the Prophet's Mosque in particular, tracing the expansions and improvements from the time of Muhammad ﷺ through to the Saudi era. A reader who has stood in that building and wondered which parts are which will find the answer here.
More Than Fifty Pictures
The images are taken from original documented sources and range from old to new. That range is the point: photographs of the mosque before the modern expansions sit beside contemporary views, and the difference tells a story that text alone cannot. Printed in full colour throughout.
Sourcing
The book sought scientific trustworthiness by presenting only authentic Ahadith and reliable reports. That matters for Madinah more than for most subjects, since the city has attracted a considerable body of unsourced tradition about particular sites and their supposed virtues. Working from established narrations keeps a visitor from spending his time on things that were never legislated.
Who It Is For
Anyone travelling for Hajj or Umrah — read before you go, and the visit is a different experience. Anyone who has been and wants to understand what he saw. Researchers and regular readers alike; the book is a genuine addition to the Islamic library and readable without being slight.
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