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{{Infobox city|latitude=37.904405|longitude=26.687809|important_events=Battle of Wadi al-Qura|age=Pre-Islamic - Settlement of the people of Ad and Thamud|area=Approximately 2391 km²|image=وادی_القری.png|religions=Judaism and Islam|country=Saudi Arabia|features=Fertile valleys and carved mountains.|total_population=Population in 2022 was 60,103}}

'''Wadi al-Qura''' (AlUla) is a historical region in northwestern [[Medina]] in [[Saudi Arabia]], located on the trade route from [[Syria]] to [[Yemen]]. In ancient times, this area was inhabited by the people of Ad and Thamud, and in early Islam, it was a Jewish settlement. Wadi al-Qura witnessed important events such as the [[Battle of Wadi al-Qura]] and the passage of the [[Prophet (PBUH)]] during the [[Battle of Tabuk]]. [[Imam Ali (AS)]] also had endowments in this region. Today, AlUla, with its historical attractions like [[Madain Saleh]] (a UNESCO World Heritage site), has become one of Saudi Arabia's significant cultural tourism destinations.

== Name and Location ==
Wadi al-Qura, now known as Wadi AlUla,<ref>Al-Ma'alim al-Athir, p. 224.</ref> is a long valley 300 km northwest of [[Medina]] on the trade route from [[Syria]] to Hejaz.<ref>See: Hejaz in Early Islam, p. 83.</ref> To the south of this region lies [[Khaybar]], and due to its numerous interconnected villages, it became known as "Wadi al-Qura" (Valley of Villages).<ref>Marasid al-Ittila', vol. 3, p. 1087.</ref> This region, with an area of approximately 2391 square kilometers, had a population of 60,103 in 2022 CE and plays an important role in the development of Saudi tourism as an ancient oasis city.<ref>Official website [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=c561dc4e372ce7af&sxsrf=AE3TifNVn-8dLdsotflo7YYoyc87oRx2Jw:1763021132707&q=این+منطقه+با+مساحتی+حدود+۲۳۹۱+کیلومتر+مربع،+در+سال+۲۰۲۲+جمعیتی+بالغ+بر+۶۰٬۱۰۳+نفر+داشته+و+به+عنوان+یک+شهر+واحه‌ای+باستانی،+نقش+مهمی+در+توسعه+گردشگری+عربستان+ایفا+می‌کند.&source=lnms&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeoJTKjrFjVxydQWqI2NcOhYPURIv2wPgv_w_sE_0Sc6Q2Uz8zlVUFOE6tcDqfo9WH77bvrGoZD2Ke11BgIAarKxhD4VpNPH84x7f3V9oyKgzQ0iW1Dl12uPzRpMveNk-q8SGm7g&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEy-LC1e6QAxWkVaQEHTNcJsoQ0pQJegQIDhAB&biw=1022&bih=983&dpr=0.94 Saudi News]</ref>

== Ancient Times ==
In ancient times, Wadi al-Qura was the home of the peoples of [[Ad]] and [[Thamud]]. The important center of this region was "Qurh," where it is said the people of Ad perished.<ref>Mu'jam al-Buldan, vol. 4, p. 321.</ref> Al-Maqdisi reported in the fourth century AH that after [[Mecca]], there was no more prosperous place in all of [[Hejaz]] than the city of Qurh.<ref>Ahsan al-Taqasim, pp. 83 and 84.</ref>
[[File:وادی القری 1.webp|thumb|Al-Hijr or Madain Saleh]]
The historical city of "Al-Hijr" or "[[Madain Saleh]]" 22 km north of AlUla is another area in this wadi<ref>Al-Ma'alim al-Athir, p. 97.</ref> which is said to have been the dwelling place of the people of [[Thamud]]<ref>Mu'jam al-Buldan, vol. 2, p. 221; Marasid al-Ittila', vol. 1, p. 381; Tarikh Ibn Khaldun, vol. 2, p. 24.</ref> and is mentioned in the [[Quran]].<ref>Surah Al-A'raf, verse 74.</ref> This city is the first [[Saudi Arabia]]n site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.<ref>Official UNESCO website [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1293]</ref> Some sources attribute the emergence of Prophet Salih's she-camel from the mountain to this very region.<ref>Mu'jam al-Buldan, vol. 2, p. 221.</ref>

== Wadi al-Qura in Early Islam ==
After the peoples of [[Ad]] and [[Thamud]], Jews settled in this region and cultivated its lands. Then some Arab tribes such as Quda'a, Juhaynah, Udhra, and Baliy settled there. In [[early Islam]], Wadi al-Qura was one of the important Jewish centers in [[Hejaz]], and the Battle of Wadi al-Qura took place in this region.<ref>Hejaz in Early Islam, p. 84.</ref>

=== Battle of Wadi al-Qura ===
{{Main|Battle of Wadi al-Qura}}One of the most important historical events in Wadi al-Qura was the Battle of Wadi al-Qura in Jumada al-Thani of the seventh Hijri year. [[Muhammad|The Holy Prophet (PBUH)]], after conquering [[Khaybar]], headed to Wadi al-Qura and invited the [[Jews in Hejaz|Jews]] residing there to [[Islam]]. After the Jews refused to accept Islam, a battle ensued, and eventually, the Jews surrendered. The Prophet (PBUH) took their possessions as spoils; however, he left their lands and palm trees to them so that they would cooperate with the Muslims as tribute-payers.<ref>Al-Maghazi, vol. 2, pp. 709-711.</ref>

=== Prophet's Passage through Wadi al-Qura ===
[[Muhammad|The Prophet of Islam (PBUH)]] passed through this region during the [[Battle of Tabuk]] and prayed there.<ref>Hejaz in Early Islam, p. 83.</ref> It is reported that the Banu Urayd Jews brought a food called "Harisa" to the Prophet (PBUH) during this journey, and he ate from it.<ref>Al-Maghazi, vol. 2, p. 2006.</ref>

== Endowments of Imam Ali (AS) in Wadi al-Qura ==
[[Imam Ali (AS)]] had numerous properties and [[Endowments of Imam Ali (AS)|endowments]] in Wadi al-Qura, which he dedicated for the sake of God.<ref>Al-Rawd al-Nadir, vol. 4, p. 123; Nahj al-Sa'adah, vol. 2, p. 217.</ref> Among these endowments was a spring called "[[Well of the She-Camel]]" in the Birah region of Wadi al-Qura.<ref>Tarikh al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, vol. 1, p. 223.</ref>

According to historical reports, these endowments were subject to claims and disputes in later periods and were eventually restored to their endowed purpose.<ref>Tarikh al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, vol. 1, pp. 223 and 224.</ref> According to a narration from Imam Ali (AS), all properties located in the Wadi al-Qura region belonged to the children of [[Fatima Zahra|Fatima (SA)]], and its slaves would also be endowed.<ref>Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 7, p. 49.</ref>

== In the Works of Muslim Geographers ==
Ibn al-Kalbi, a historian (d. 204 AH), considered Wadi al-Qura the most prosperous region in the [[Arabian Peninsula]],<ref>Mu'jam al-Buldan, vol. 4, p. 338.</ref> and Muhammad al-Himyari in the ninth century AH described it as having many palm groves and springs, where the descendants of [[Ja'far ibn Abi Talib]] (known as al-Wadiyyin) resided.<ref>Al-Rawd al-Mi'tar, p. 602.</ref>

== See Also ==

* [[Madain Saleh]]
* [[Battle of Wadi al-Qura]]
* [[Endowments of Imam Ali (AS)]]

== Images ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:وادی القری 3.png|Modern AlUla city
File:وادی القری 11.jpg|Tourist attractions of Wadi al-Qura region
File:وادی القری 2.png|Tourist attractions of Wadi al-Qura region
File:وادی القری 4.png|Historical and old area
</gallery>

== Footnotes ==
{{Footnotes}}

== References ==
{{References}}
*'''Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Ma'rifat al-Aqalim''', Maqdisi Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad (d. 380 AH), Beirut, Dar Sader, undated.
*'''Atlas Amakin Makkah al-Mukarramah wa Madinah al-Munawwarah''', Deputy for Education and Research of the Office of the Supreme Leader, unknown place, unknown publisher, undated.
*'''Imta' al-Asma' bima lil-Nabi min al-Ahwal wa al-Amwal wa al-Hafadah wa al-Mata''', Maqrizi Ahmad ibn Ali (d. 845 AH), edited by Muhammad Abd al-Hamid al-Nimisi, Beirut, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah, 1420 AH.
*'''Ansab al-Ashraf''', Baladhuri Ahmad ibn Yahya (d. 279 AH), edited by Suhayl Zakkar and Riyad Zirikli, Beirut, Dar al-Fikr, 1417 AH.
*'''Bihar al-Anwar''', Allamah Majlisi (d. 1110 AH), Tehran, Islamiya Publications, undated.
*'''Tarikh Ibn Khaldun (Diwan al-Mubtada' wa al-Khabar...)''', Ibn Khaldun Abd al-Rahman (d. 808 AH), edited by Khalil Shahadah, Beirut, Dar al-Fikr, 1408 AH.
*'''Tarikh al-Madinah al-Munawwarah''', Ibn Shabbah Numayri Umar (d. 262 AH), edited by Fahim Muhammad Shaltut, Qom, Dar al-Fikr, 1410 AH.
*'''Al-Rawd al-Mi'tar fi Khabar al-Aqtar''', Himyari Muhammad ibn Abd al-Mun'im (d. 900 AH), edited by Ihsan Abbas, Beirut, Maktabat Lubnan, 1984 CE.
*'''Al-Rawd al-Nadir''', Zayd ibn Ali (?), commentary and editing by Husayn Siyaghi, Beirut, Dar al-Jil, undated.
*'''Futuh al-Buldan''', Baladhuri Ahmad ibn Yahya (d. 279 AH), Beirut, Dar wa Maktabat al-Hilal, 1988 CE.
*'''Furu' al-Kafi''', Kulayni Muhammad ibn Ya'qub (d. 329 AH), edited by Muhammad Husayn Rahimian, Qom, Nashr Quds, 1388 SH.
*'''Al-Maghazi''', Waqidi Muhammad ibn Umar (d. 207 AH), edited by Marsden Jones, Beirut, Mu'assasat al-A'lami, 1409 AH.
*'''Marasid al-Ittila' ala Asma' al-Amkinah wa al-Biqa''', Ibn Abd al-Haqq Abd al-Mu'min ibn Abd al-Haqq (d. 739 AH), edited by Ali Muhammad al-Bajawi, Beirut, Dar al-Jil, 1412 AH.
*'''Marasid al-Ittila' ala Asma' al-Amkinah wa al-Biqa''', Sharab Muhammad Muhammad Hasan (15th century AH), Beirut, Dar al-Shamiyah, 1411 AH.
*'''Makarim al-Akhlaq''', Tabarsi Hasan ibn Fadl (6th century AH), translated by Ahmad Ahmadzadeh, Qom, Nur al-Zahra, 1390 SH.
*'''Mu'jam al-Buldan''', Yaqut Hamawi (d. 626 AH), Beirut, Dar Sader, 1995 CE.
*'''Nahj al-Sa'adah fi Mustadrak Nahj al-Balaghah''', Mahmudi Muhammad Baqir (d. 1427 AH), Tehran, Ministry of Culture, 1418 AH.
*'''Hejaz dar Sadr Islam''', Ali Salih Ahmad, translated by Abd al-Muhammad Ayati, Tehran, Mash'ar, 1375 SH.{{End}}
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