Wikimedia CommonsCulture
Abrahamic — Islam
Location
Medina Province, Saudi Arabia
Key Figures
Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr (first Caliph), Umar (second Caliph), Aisha (Muhammad's wife), Islamic community (Ummah)
Cultural Sensitivity Notice
Medina is accessible to visitors of all faiths, though non-Muslims cannot enter the Prophet's Mosque itself. Mythic Grounds encourages respect for the living worship community.
The Myth
The story as told by the culture
Medina (Al-Madinah, 'the City') is the city of refuge and community. When Muhammad and his followers were persecuted in Mecca, they undertook the Hijra (emigration) to Medina in 622 CE, the event that marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, Muhammad established the first truly Islamic community (umma) — not merely a religious movement but a complete social and political order based on quranic principles.
The Prophet's Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Nabawi) was built by Muhammad himself with the participation of his followers. It is the second holiest mosque in Islam (after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca) and is characterized by its simplicity and grandeur. The Green Dome, built centuries after Muhammad's death, marks the chamber where Muhammad is entombed — his final resting place.
Walking the corridors where Muhammad walked, praying where he prayed, and standing before his tomb is considered a profound spiritual experience for Muslim pilgrims. The mosque's interior design emphasizes the presence of the Prophet without venerating him as divine (in contrast to Christian veneration of saints) — it is a space of remembrance and connection to Islamic origins.
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Myth types
The Place
The physical location today
Medina sits on an oasis in northwestern Saudi Arabia, surrounded by lava fields (harrat). The city is a pilgrimage destination for Muslims worldwide and is one of the world's holiest sites. Al-Masjid al-Nabawi is the dominant structure, a vast mosque with an open courtyard that can accommodate hundreds of thousands of worshippers.
The Green Dome, sheathed in brilliant green glazed tiles, rises prominently above the mosque's structure. The dome marks the prayer chamber of Muhammad and his first two successors (Abu Bakr and Umar). The mihrab (prayer niche) and minbar (pulpit) are positioned with precise orientation toward Mecca.
The surrounding city includes hotels, shops, and residential areas serving the continuous stream of pilgrims. Mount Uhud, site of an early Islamic battle, lies nearby and is a pilgrimage site. The Masjid Quba (Quba Mosque), where Muhammad first arrived and which he frequently visited, stands in the outskirts.
Visit information
Access
Accessible to visitors of all faiths; non-Muslims cannot enter mosque itself
Nearest city
Medina, Saudi Arabia
Notes
Non-Muslims can visit Medina and walk around the mosque's exterior, but cannot enter the prayer space. Visitors should dress modestly. Five daily prayer times restrict full mosque access. The city welcomes pilgrims year-round, with significant numbers during Hajj season. Hotels and services are abundant and modern.
The History
What archaeology and scholarship tell us
The Prophet's Mosque was founded in the year of the Hijra (622 CE) on land owned by two young men whom Muhammad freed and then purchased. The original structure was simple — a roofed area made of mud bricks and palm wood, with Muhammad's quarters attached. Over centuries, the mosque expanded dramatically.
After Muhammad's death in 632 CE, the mosque became the spiritual center of Islam. Successive Islamic dynasties expanded and beautified the structure — the Umayyads added the pulpit (minbar), the Ottomans expanded the courtyard and added the porticoes, the Saudis have undertaken modern expansions and renovations to accommodate ever-increasing pilgrim numbers.
The Green Dome was constructed centuries after Muhammad's death (first built in the 1400s, rebuilt multiple times). Muslim tradition prohibits the veneration of graves or images of the Prophet, so the dome marks rather than venerates his presence. In modern times, Medina (along with Mecca) has become a major pilgrimage destination with millions visiting annually, particularly during the Hajj season.
Sources
Watt, W. Montgomery. Muhammad at Medina (1956). Oxford University Press. Classic study of Prophet Muhammad's life in Medina and the establishment of the Muslim community
Tier 1Lapidus, Ira M.. A History of Islamic Societies (2002). Cambridge University Press. Broader historical context for Medina's role in Islamic civilization
Tier 2Nearby Sites
Islamic era — 622 CE (Hijra) to present
Mythic Grounds acknowledges that many sites documented here are sacred to Indigenous peoples and living cultural communities. We strive to present information respectfully, drawing only from published and authorized sources. If you are a member of a community represented on this site and believe any content is inaccurate or culturally inappropriate, please contact us.