Medina was once Yathrib

History proves to us that change is the only constant.

In this world full of diversity, it is impossible for anyone to say that what we are seeing today will remain there tomorrow or if it remains then in what form it will be. Every village and town in the world has changed its form and nature many times during its course of history. Many times this change happened due to nature and time and many times this change happened due to the expansionist nature of humans.

Well!

Medina is one of the most famous cities in the world. Millions of Muslims go on pilgrimage every year. For them, this city is one of the two holiest cities in the world.

But was Medina always Medina? Or has the name and nature of this city also changed like many cities of the world? Likeway, Prayag became Allahabad and is now called Prayagraj. Karnavati became Ahmedabad and the names of many towns and cities have been changing.

If I tell you that these buildings are from the city of Yathrib which was once a Jewish city and remained a Jewish city for about 1400 years, will you believe it? Do you know about the city of Yathrib or have you even heard its name?

Probably not.

But if I tell you that these pictures are of the buildings of the city of Medina, I am sure, you will easily believe it. We all must have seen these pictures many times on the news media or the Internet. Aren't we?

There was a time some 1400 years ago when the name of Medina was Yathrib. It was an important cultural and trade hub for the people who believed in the Jewish religion.

Then Prophet Muhammad came and he started the Crusades and this city became the origin of Islam and after the death of Muhammad Sahib, it was renamed as Medina.

The important thing is that Muhammad Sahib did not change its name during his lifetime and allowed the name of the city to remain Yathrib. Why? The clear reason is not known but it may have been emotional. Probably even after starting a new religion, he was attached to his roots which he did not want to leave. Kaaba is also an example of that emotional attachment.

But this was not suitable for the Islamic government and politics that came to power after his departure. They had to appear different (politics establishes legacies like this) so Yathrib was renamed as Medina!

So those who are saying that Israel did not belong to the Jews should remember that not only Israel but the entire Palestine (today's Jordan, Palestine and Israel) including the city of Yathrib also belonged to them.

Rajeev K Upadhyay