Al Madinah
1
7.7
- proper noun
- Al Madinah is revered in Islam as the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.
Examples
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Thousands of pilgrims visit Al Madinah every year as part of the Hajj and Umrah.
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The modern city of Al Madinah blends ancient mosques with vibrant markets.
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I visited Al Madinah last summer.
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Have you ever been to Al Madinah?
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Al Madinah is a city that holds profound significance for Muslims around the world.
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As the second holiest city in Islam, Al Madinah attracts millions of visitors each year.
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The historical sites in Al Madinah reflect its rich Islamic heritage.
Synonyms
14
5.6
A western Saudi city that is Islam's second holiest place and holds the Prophet Muhammad's tomb
Surface Forms
Morphology
Al + Madinah
If a learner recognises 'Al' as the Arabic definite article ('the') and 'Madinah' as 'city', the literal sense 'the city' and that this is a place name is recoverable, so part of the meaning is transparent. However, the specific referent (the city in western Saudi Arabia, its status as the second holiest city in Islam and the site of Muhammad's tomb) is encyclopedic and not derivable from the constituents, so full comprehension requires prior cultural/lexical knowledge.
Etymology
Al Madinah comes from Arabic words meaning 'the city': Al is 'the' and Madinah is 'city'. When the Prophet Muhammad moved there and was later buried, the town became the main place for the early Muslim community and a holy city, so the name now refers to that important religious city.