Seerah Sites and Historic Landmarks in Madinah

Al-Jumuah Mosque: the first Friday prayer in Madinah

On his Hijrah route from Quba to Madinah the Prophet, peace be upon him, led the first Friday prayer, and this mosque was built at its spot and carries its name. It sits in the Quba area, so it pairs naturally with Quba Mosque in the same stop.

Rumah Well: Uthman's lasting charity

Madinah then had no other source of sweet water, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Who will buy the well of Rumah and place his bucket alongside the Muslims' buckets, in exchange for better than it in Paradise? Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, bought it with the core of his wealth and gave it to the Muslims (Jami at-Tirmidhi, 3703, graded hasan).

Al-Ghamamah Mosque and the Eid musalla

The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to go out to a prayer ground outside his mosque for the two Eid and rain prayers (Sahih al-Bukhari, 956), most often where Al-Ghamamah Mosque stands today, about 200 metres from the Prophet's Mosque courtyards. There he also offered the absentee funeral prayer for the Negus, may Allah be pleased with him. Prayers are held in the mosque today, and the official site lists visiting hours from 10:00 to 12:00; check current times before you set out.

The Trench and the Seven Mosques

At the foot of Mount Sal the Muslims dug the trench that defended Madinah in the Battle of the Confederates in 5 AH. Small mosques were later built at the site to mark those days, known earlier as the Mosques of Al-Fath and famous today as the Seven Mosques; the largest is Al-Fath Mosque, said to stand where the Prophet, peace be upon him, supplicated during the siege. The area lies about two kilometres north of the Prophet's Mosque and is ready to receive visitors around the clock, according to the official site; entry to the mosques themselves follows their opening times, so check the current instructions before you set out.

Wadi Al-Aqiq: the blessed valley

West of Madinah runs the valley of Al-Aqiq, where Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, say: Tonight a messenger came to me from my Lord and said: pray in this blessed valley, and assume ihram for Hajj and Umrah together (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1534). From this hadith the valley is known as the blessed valley.

Saqifat Bani Saidah

Here the Ansar gathered immediately after the Prophet's passing, in 11 AH, to deliberate on the succession, and the matter concluded with the pledge to Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him. The site lies west of the Prophet's Mosque, a short distance from Al-Ghamamah Mosque.

Baqi Al-Gharqad

The cemetery of Madinah's people since the Prophet's time, east of the Prophet's Mosque. Around ten thousand Companions are buried here, among them Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet's daughters and his son Ibrahim. The official site currently states that visits are open to men and children, best after the obligatory prayers, observing the sharia manners of visiting graves shown on signs at the site; check the current visiting instructions before you set out, as the rules may change.

Before you set out

Start in the morning, and agree with your trip provider on the sites you want and how long to stop at each. These are places of worship and remembrance before they are landmarks, so observe their etiquette, and check the current instructions for each site before visiting.

Sources

Ruh Al-Madinah (Madinah Region Development Authority): Al-Jumuah Mosque, Al-Ghamamah Mosque, The Trench, The Seven Mosques, Saqifat Bani Saidah, Baqi Al-Gharqad

Sahih al-Bukhari: 956 (the Eid musalla), 1534 (Wadi Al-Aqiq) - Jami at-Tirmidhi: 3703 (Rumah Well) - sunnah.com

Information reviewed on 3 November 2026.

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