alMadina

AlMadina is the Arabic term meaning "the city." In contemporary usage, it most often refers to Medina (Al-Madinah or Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah), the city in the Hejaz region of present-day Saudi Arabia that holds a central place in Islamic history and practice. The name is also used for other towns and districts across the Arabic-speaking world.

Medina is located in western Saudi Arabia along historic caravan routes. It rose to prominence as the destination of the Prophet Muhammad's hijrah from Mecca in 622 CE, a turning point in Islamic history. The city is home to the Prophet's Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi) and the historic Quba Mosque, and it was a center of early Islamic learning and governance.

Today, Medina is the capital of the Medina Province and functions as a religious and commercial hub. It receives large numbers of Muslim pilgrims undertaking Umrah, and it serves as a gateway for visitors to sacred sites in the region. The economy combines religious services, tourism, trade, and light industry, with infrastructure and services oriented toward both residents and pilgrims.

Beyond Medina, the name Al-Madina appears in many other places, including neighborhoods and towns in various Arab countries; spellings vary with transliteration, including Madinah, Medina, and Madina. The term retains its general meaning as "the city" and is used as a geographic and cultural identifier.