There is no better destination to visit during the month of Ramadan than Medina, the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca.

A place for contemplation and worship, Medina attracts travellers with its culture and history, and is Qatar Airways’ fourth destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Medina’s importance in history is attributed to its location on the Hejaz caravan routes that linked the southwestern parts of the Arabian Peninsula with Egypt and Syria. It was named Al Medina Al Monawarah, or the ‘Enlightened City’, following Islam. It is the city that embraced the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) during his struggle with his opponents, and where the Prophet (PBUH) built the first mosque and established the first Islamic community.

When visiting Medina you can envisage the images of the Battle of Badr – a key battle in the early days of Islam and a turning point in Prophet Mohamed’s (PBUH) struggle with his opponents. Looking towards Mount Uhud, you can almost see the glistening swords reflecting the sun, and hear the sound of the Uhud battle where Hamza and his companions were killed.

The city is home to the first mosque in Islam, established in AD 622, known as Masjid Quba, and later restored by Qaitbay, the Egyptian ruler, in AD 1487.
In Medina, follow the story of the Prophet (PBUH), who upon settling there built another mosque, known as the Prophet’s Mosque, Masjid Al Nabawi; a simple structure supported by the trunks of standing palm trees, it became the centre of community life at that time. The mosque was later extended; at present it can accommodate more than two million worshippers. The tomb of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) became part of the mosque and so were the tombs of Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab, the first two caliphs of Islam.

Masjid Al Qiblatain is another mosque of historical importance to Muslims. It is where the Prophet (PBUH) changed the direction of prayer (Qibla) from Jerusalem to Mecca.

At present, the city has a vibrant financial and commercial centre with modern shopping malls, especially in the area surrounding the Holy Prophet’s Mosque plaza. The city is rich with luxurious hotels, which provide comfort to Medina visitors.