Medina, Saudi Arabia (from port of Yanbu March 31

 Holy City of Medina -

(from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia) - March 31

We spent one full day going to the holy city of Medina from Yanbu.

Medina is the second holiest city in Islam, after the holiest city of Mecca and is followed by the 3rd holiest city, Jerusalem.

Medina has been a destination for pilgrims for centuries.
The vast Prophet's Mosque (holds up to one million people) in the city center, aka Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, encases the green dome built above the tomb of Muhammad and other major prophets.

Medina is celebrated as the place from which Muhammad established the Muslim community after his flight from Mecca (622 ) and is where his body is entombed.

The Qiblatain, or Quba Mosque, the oldest mosque in the world, is known as the site where the Prophet Muhammad received the command to change the direction of prayer to Mecca.

Observant Muslims usually visit Muhammad Al-Baqi Cemetery in Medina, the oldest Islamic cemetery, which contains graves of many of many Islamic prophets. Sitting below Uhud Mountain and Archer's Mountain, they all have significance to the Islamic religion.

The rest of the area is occupied by the Hejaz Mountains, empty valleys, agricultural spaces, wild camels, older dormant volcanoes, much construction, and sand.

Outside Quba Mosque, oldest one

Uhud Mountain

Archers mountain

Womens prayer entrance to Mosque

Uhud Mountain, cemetery and Mosque

Insde exterior of Prophets Mosque

Prophets Mosque interior

Lunch stop in a hotel