Medinan

Medinan is an adjective and demonym relating to Medina, a city in the Hejaz region of present-day Saudi Arabia, and to its inhabitants. The term can refer to residents or natives of the city, including historical communities such as the Ansar (the Helpers who supported Muhammad) and the Muhajirun (the Emigrants from Mecca) who joined in Medina after the Hijra in 622 CE. Medina became the base of the Prophet Muhammad’s political and religious leadership and remained a central site in early Islamic governance; it houses the Prophet’s Mosque and the shrine associated with Muhammad and other companions.

In Islamic literature, Medinan is used to classify Qur’anic material and hadith associated with Medina. Medinan surahs are those revealed after the Prophet’s migration to Medina and tend to address civic law, governance, social justice, and community organization, often in contrast to Meccan surahs, which are typically concerned with faith and exhortation. The distinction reflects the differing social contexts of Mecca and Medina during the early Islamic period.

Today, Medina is regarded as the second holiest city in Islam, after Mecca, and remains a major religious and historical site. It is the capital of the Medina Province in Saudi Arabia and a destination for millions of pilgrims and visitors each year. The designation Medinan thus encompasses geography, historical demography, and Qur’anic-linguistic usage, all of which distinguish Medina’s role in Islamic history.