“Aware”… the stories of history told by the majestic palm trees and doum trees
Some moments of life are unforgettable, including looking carefully as you climb the mountains of the village of “Madraka”, and walking under the shade of its palm and dum trees, over an area of 14 kilometers in a village that is not like other villages, and you inhale and clutch your limbs at all the chronicled stories, so that your thoughts enter into conflict with… Your heart beats rapidly, and you are confused as to which one should curb the rush of astonishment, as you hear that the first person to reside in this village located east and north of Mecca, was the Prophet Seth bin Adam.
“Madraka” embraces palm trees and doum trees (Municipality)
Be patient while crossing, and do not leave the place without writing your name in its corners. What is available to you today may not be available tomorrow. Release your passion, scatter in the four directions the questions of the places, and erase from your memory enough to store historical accounts of “Madraka” that “Dhul-Qarnayn” passed through, and which was present in the Assyrian era (911 – 612 BC) under the name “Madrakatu.” At that time, it was ruled by the Arab Prince Shalmaneser (858 – 824 BC), and it found a place in Greek history, which indicated that it was an economically rich region with great influence for the Arab tribes.
Adding to the aesthetics of “Aware” are the differing accounts of historians about its name. Some of them went to the incident of Amr bin Mudar bin Elias, who caught a camel from the people and fought them over it by killing them. The site where the fight took place was called “Madrika”, and Amr bin Elias bore this name out of pride in his fighting the group and recovering his camels. As for the author, Yaqut Al-Hamwi, he said that the first people to inhabited it were the Quraysh Al-Zawahir; In both cases, historians confirm the ancient history of the village, especially since this incident is consistent with the linguistic dictionary, and means “realized.” That is, catching up and mastering something or realizing the breadth of knowledge.
“Ain al-Nabi” is one of the vital sites (municipality)
“Madrika” entered Islam in the seventh year of the Hijra, when a delegation from its people visited Medina to pledge allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace). The village later hosted the “Al-Khattab” Mosque, whose construction is attributed to the second Caliph, Omar ibn Al-Khattab, upon his return from Hajj.
“Madraka” not only covered the pages of history, but also remained tall, writing her name in books whose pages never ended. The region is a mountain chain that narrows and expands in several locations, interspersed with valleys and reefs, descending from east to west, mountains and highlands to the south and west, and harat (plural of hara, which is a geographical phenomenon in which the surface of the earth is covered with igneous rocks and volcanic eruptions) to the north and east, and a fertile basin in the middle and bottom of the valleys. Which makes it a tourist outlet to enjoy forests of trees, and a valley that divides it into two halves, winding and curved in many locations.
“The Eye of the Prophet” which the Messenger cut out for one of his companions (Al-Baladiya)
“Madraka” is known as the bride of northern Mecca, and is famous for its agricultural and animal baskets. Its terrain is diverse, including flat land, hills, agricultural areas, and spacious mountains with large valleys. It contains stunning views, economic potential, and tourist hubs, and is easily accessible via a route used by pilgrims, Umrah pilgrims, and vacationers. This feature added a commercial and tourism dimension to the village, especially since it is located between 3 major governorates, namely Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh. Which contributes to a greater flow of researchers in aesthetics and history.
“Abu Hammat” is one of the sites you would like to visit (Baladiya)
In this context, the mayor of Madrakah, Engineer Yassin Al-Dhubyani, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the municipality undertakes several tasks that serve the residents of the region, and provides its direct services to improve the lifestyle, so that the village becomes a destination for visitors. He explains that the municipality serves 3 centres, namely “Madaraka”, “Rahat”, and “Al-Qafif”, which receive great official attention within the “Kingdom’s Vision 2030”, which focuses on building a vibrant society that is proud of its history and roots, and a prosperous economy that is reflected in the citizens.
He points out that “Madaraka” received great and direct support from the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and since the era of the first founder, King Abdul Aziz, who established its first emirate in 1344 AH for the desert and its tribes. From then until today, it has witnessed qualitative and developmental changes in all paths.
“Al-Qurain Al-Abyad” is a large alabaster mountain from which the marble of the Holy Mosque in Mecca is extracted (Municipality)
Al-Dhubyani continues talking about “Madraka”: “It is linked to historical events that the village witnessed thousands of years ago. It gained its importance with these events, due to its important geographical location in the middle between Mecca and Jeddah, in addition to its picturesque nature and beautiful climate throughout the year.
“Madraka” is distinguished by its beautiful nature and climate (Municipality)
One of the familiar sites is “Al-Raja’ Water”, which is a place of water into which 5 valleys flow. It witnessed the “Al-Raja’” incident during the era of the Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), and it is characterized by the flow of water throughout the year. There is also “Al-Qurain Al-Abyad”, a large alabaster mountain located in Harrat Madrakah, from which the marble of the Holy Mosque in Mecca is extracted. In addition to the “Qalat Al-Utaybiyat”, which are deep rock basins in which water collects throughout the year, and is a gathering place for caravans on the road to Mecca.
Valleys and streams running in “Madrakah” throughout the year (Municipality)
As for the “Ain al-Nabi”, which continues to this day, its mouth is Wadi Al-Ma’ala Barhat, and it was mentioned in biographical books that the Prophet Muhammad (may God’s prayers and peace be upon him) gave it to one of the companions. Likewise, the “marshmallow pebble”, which is a rock with a resting place carved into it, approximately 4 meters in diameter, open on 3 sides, and overlooking Wadi Alaq.
If you finish the tour, you must head towards Wadi Bahrat Rahat, “Abu Hammat”, which is a spring that runs throughout the year surrounded by Hammat and basil trees, and around which there are many ancient archaeological inscriptions.
