Medina, the city of the prophet Muhammad ﷺ, is the second-holiest place in Islam. It is the burial place of the Prophet ﷺ and was the city that offered him refuge when he was forced to make hijrah (migration) from Makkah.
Despite this, Islam entered the city before the Prophet ﷺ even arrived. Some men from the Khazraj tribe traveled to Makkah, and the Prophet ﷺ invited them to Islam. They embraced Islam and returned to their homeland as preachers of Islam. This led to Islam spreading in many of the homes in Medina.
After about a year, 12 residents of Medina took part in the Baiah (pledge) with the prophet ﷺ. The prophet ﷺ later sent Musab bin Umair to Medina so he could teach the Quran and other aspects of Islam to the residents of Medina.
The prophet ﷺ eventually made Hijra (migration) and settled in Medina in 622 CE. During this time, the three oldest masjids (mosques) were established. These included Masjid an-Nabawi, Masjid e-Qiblatyn, and Masjid e-Quba. This gave the Muslims a chance to regroup without the oppression of the pagans in Makkah. In turn, the Muslims are also given permission to defend themselves in battles and wars, which led to the battles of Badr, Uhud, and more.
Even after the conquest of Makkah in 630 CE, the prophet ﷺ continued to live and eventually died in Medina. Today, this city is dear to every Muslim’s heart. It has historically been one of the main hub of knowledge in the Islamic world and as we love our Prophet ﷺ, we love his city.