One of Islam’s most important customs is the pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina, which is nearly 450 km long and has historical, spiritual, and religious importance. This journey symbolizes the Hijrah of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W) in 622 AD, which established an Islamic state and began the Islamic calendar. During the Umrah, the Prophet insists that the trip from Mecca to Medina symbolizes the millions of Muslims praying daily, faith, dedication, commitment, and the richness of Islamic tradition.
The Hijrah is about leadership, and it is not just a geographical movement because it is about a turning point in the history of Muslims – a move from unjust treatment to human rights, from challenge to cheerfulness. For centuries, Muslims have performed this journey as a component of the journey to Hajj or Umrah. They find themselves spiritually overcoming this path linked with the struggle of the Prophet and the bottom line of Islam. Anyone who has experienced travelling by road, railway, or air from Mecca to Medina today can witness that this journey is still spiritually uplifting. But the style has evolved over the years.
Journey From Mecca To Medina
1. Geographical Information, Mecca to Medina
Location:
- Mecca: It is situated at 21.4° N latitude and 39.8° E longitude in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia.
- Medina is about 450 km (280 miles) north of Mecca, at 24.5° N latitude and 39.6° E longitude.
Altitude:
- Mecca: Situated almost at an altitude of 277 meters, 909 feet above sea level.
- Medina: Located at 620 meters or 2,020 feet above sea level, it is slightly higher than the Sam Nujoma settlement.
Weather:
- Mecca: hot, dry summers, average temperatures of 30-45 degrees Celsius, and cool winter temperatures of 18-30 degrees Celsius. There are little falls, mostly as drizzles in the winter only.
- Medina: It also has a hot desert climate, but based on the city’s average altitude, it is a bit cooler than Mecca. The summer climate ranges from 30° to 42 °C, while the winter climate ranges from 12° to 25 °C.
2. Distance Guide, How to Travel from Mecca to Medina
By Road
Buses
- Travel Time: Approximately 5-6 hours.
- Cost: It costs from $27 to $40, depending on the bus operator and class of service offered.
- Convenience: Buses are used frequently because they are cheap to hire, offer comfortable seating, and are convenient for long journeys.
Cars
- Travel Time: Approximately 4- 5 hours.
- Cost: Around $50 to $140 per day, excluding fuel costs.
- Convenience: This can be more suitable than ordinary buses, particularly in a group or with your family. However, it is both a blessing and a curse for some because one has sometimes to navigate and, at other times, deal with traffic jams.
By Trains
- Travel Time: Approximately 2.5 hours.
- Cost: It costs between $40 and $67 per vehicle, depending on the class and time of the booking.
- Convenience: Haramain High-Speed Railway is one of the most convenient and comfortable stations. The train stations are well arranged, and it is possible to find that the trains run on time.
By Air
- Travel Time: Approximately 1 hour ( excluding check-in and security arrival times).
- Cost: Generally, it costs from $80 to $160, depending on the class and time of the booking.
- Convenience: Flying can take a shorter time as a mode of transport but involves time for checking in and waiting at the airports. It favours users who favour speed at the cost of other elements.
Summary
- Buses are cheaper and more comfortable but are slower than other means of transport.
- Trains are comfortable and fast, offering all sorts of facilities that a modern traveller would need.
- Cars have more freedom and flexibility and must be pre-planned.
- Flight is the fastest means of transport but is expensive.
3. The Historical Hijrah (Mecca to Medina) Route
The journey from Mecca to Medina represents the Hijrah of the Prophet Muhammad in 622 AD, the year of the formation of the first Islamic state and the start of the Islamic calendar. Despite being extremely painful and seriously risky, the path has since gained respect and recognition as the symbol of believing in Allah, patience, and the foundation of the Muslim people.
Recorded Places of Interest along the Hijrah Route
- Cave of Thawr (Ghar Thawr):
The Cave of Thawr, near Mecca, is where the Holy Prophet Muhammad and Abu Bakr stayed for three days during the hijrah. According to tradition, a spider web and pigeon laid eggs at the cave entrance, and the Quraysh thought nobody had visited the place for a long time.
- The Journey Through the Desert:
After emerging from the Cave of Thawr, the Holy Prophet Muhammad and Abu Bakr travelled through the desert. They moved along the difficult coastal path at night, which included extreme heat and a lack of water, to ensure they were not spotted.
- Quba:
Quba, near Medina, was the Prophet Muhammad’s first station after his desert trip. There, he built Islam’s first mosque, the Quba mosque. To this day, many Muslims visit this mosque when in Medina.
- Medina (Yathrib):
The last place of migration, Medina or Yathrib, warmly welcomed Prophet Muhammad and became the first Islamic state with the Prophet’s migration directive. It also functioned as the headquarters of Islam’s expansion across the Arabian Peninsula.
4. Top Attractions to Visit in Mecca and Medina
Mecca
Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque)
The home of the Kaaba is one that every Muslim faces while praying. It serves as the religious centre for the Haj and Umrah.
Mount Arafat
Mount Arafah is a small granite hill about 20 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of Mecca. This is the site where Prophet Muhammad delivered the Farewell Sermon during his Hajj.
Mount Jabal al-Noor:
A mountain approximately 7 kilometres and 4 miles away from the city, famous for the Cave of Hira, through which the Prophet communicated with the Almighty Allah for the first time.
Cave of Hira
The Cave of Hira, situated at Jabal al-Noor Mount, is where Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w began to receive the revelations of the Quran from the Angel Jibril.
Abraj Al-Bait Towers:
The hotel, Mall, and Makkah Royal Clock Tower are part of a huge government-owned complex near Masjid al-Haram.
Maqam Ibrahim
A pillar of stones beside the Kaaba is believed to be the area that Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) used while constructing the Kaaba.
Zamzam Well
It is a well, said to have rushed out for Hajra and her son Isma’il in the region of the Masjid al-Haram.
Hira Cave Museum
This museum near Jabal al-Noor informs visitors about the history and importance of the Cave of Hira and Muslims’ formative years.
Medina
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque)
The Prophet Muhammad constructed Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. It holds the Prophet’s tomb and is the most revered mosque, the focus of ziyarat.
Quba Mosque
The first mosque constructed in Islamic history is about 5 Kilometres South of Medina. It is highly revered and visited by pilgrims.
Mount Uhud
A mountain about 5 kilometres (3 miles) north of Medina, known for the Battle of Uhud, between the early Muslims and the Quraysh.
Masjid Al-Qiblatain
It was also referred to as the Two Qiblahs Mosque. It is recorded that the direction Muslims had to face during prayer (Qiblah) was changed from Jerusalem (Baitul Maqdis) to Mecca (Kaaba).
Al-Baqi Cemetery
A graveyard just beside the Prophet’s Mosque where many of the companions and family members of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as the early generations of Muslims, are buried.
Medina Museum
Located close to the Prophet’s Mosque, this museum exhibits the history of Medina and its role during the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
6. Hotel Accommodations in Mecca and Medina
Mecca
| RATING | HOTELS | 2024 COSTS PER NIGHT |
| 5 Star | Hilton Makkah Convention Hotel | $140 – $200 |
| Anjum Makkah Hotel | $100 – $150 | |
| Al- Safwah Hotel First Tower 1 | $150 – $200 | |
| 4 Star | Al Massa Grand Hotel | $100 – $170 |
| Elaf Bakkah Hotel | $40 – $80 | |
| Mercure Makkah Aziziah | $30 – $70 | |
| 3 Star | Worth Elite Hotel | $50 – $90 |
| Three Points Musalli Makkah | $40 – $70 | |
| Nada Al Deafah Hotel | $60 – $120 |
Medina
| RATING | HOTELS | 2024 COSTS PER NIGHT |
| 5 Star | Madinah Hilton Hotel | $140 – $180 |
| Taiba Madinah Hotel | $110 – $150 | |
| Pullman Zamzam Madina | $100 – $140 | |
| 4 Star | Hotel Sundarban Al Madinah | $30 – $70 |
| Valy Hotel | $110 – $140 | |
| Season Star Hotel Madinah | $120 – $ 150 | |
| 3 Star | Maien Taiba | $90 – $130 |
| Hayah Plaza Hotel | $30 – $90 | |
| Hayah Al Waha Hotel | $30 – $80 |
Relative Research: Haridwar to Kedarnath, Sacred Passage Car Journey
People may ask
1. Why is it important to travel from Mecca to Medina?
The journey symbolized the historical significance of the Hijrah of the prophet Muhammad (S. A. W. W) in 622 AD when Muslims began their Islamic calendar and formed an Islamic nation.
2. what are the principal ways of getting from Mecca to Medina?
There are roads for buses and private cars, railways, and air travel. All three modes differ in terms of time taken, cost, and ease.
3. What landmarks can be observed along the Hijrah route?
The Cave of Thawr, Quba Mosque, and Yathrib(Medina) were involved in the Prophet’s migration.
4. What are the best places of interest for tourists in Mecca and Medina?
The Holy Kabaah is Mecca’s most popular tourist attraction, followed by the Mountain of Arafat and the Cave of Hira. Medina is also an important city for the Islamic religion, and It has many famous places of interest, including Al-Masjid an-Nabawi and Quba Mosque.
5. Are accommodations available in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina?
The two cities have 3- to 5-star hotels, depending on how they are rated and situated.
Bottom lines
The journey from Mecca to Medina is a significant historical and religious journey that points out the Hijrah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and establishes an Islamic state. Some of the sites along this route are religious, and this makes it a good journey for Muslim people. Today’s travellers have certain choices in the means of transport available to them, and each has its advantages. Both the cities are full of religious and historical sites and have possible accommodations ranging from luxury to budget. It is a great honour and a spiritual journey for millions of Muslims around the globe.
