madina

Madina is a transliteration of the Arabic term al-Madina (المدينة), meaning "the city." It is used as a place name in several countries and as a feminine given name in Muslim communities. In English, the spelling Medina is common for some locations, but Madina appears in various transliterations.

The most prominent reference is Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, the city of Medina in the Hejaz region of present-day Saudi Arabia. Historically known as Yathrib before 622 CE, it became the destination of the Prophet Muhammad's Hijra and the capital of the early Islamic state. The city houses the Prophet's Mosque and the Qiblatain Mosque, and it remains a major religious and educational center. It is the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca, and it plays a central role in Islamic history and pilgrimage, especially for religious scholars and followers studying the life of the Prophet.

Beyond Saudi Arabia, Madina is used as a toponym in other countries—often as a district or neighborhood name. A well-known example is Madina, a district in Accra, the capital of Ghana, noted for its markets and residential areas. The name also appears as a feminine given name in many Muslim-majority societies.

See also Medina.