Religious Significance of the Historical Sites of Al-Hijr (Saudi-Arabia)
Madain Saleh (translated as Cities of [Prophet] Saleh and also known as cities of Al-Hijr in the Quran) is a collection of small sites located in North Western Saudi-Arabia near the town of Al-Ula. These sites were inhabited by the Nabataean civilization and the people of Thamud around 6 BC to 4 AD. Due to its historical significance and the magnificence of large tombs and structures that mark this area, the United Nations placed Madain Saleh on its World’s Heritage Sites list.
Al-Ula is a remote and sparsely populated town located about 400 kilometers north of the city of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwara (City of Prophet Muhammad) in western Saudi-Arabia and about 700 kilometers south of Petra, Jordan.
The significance of this area is due to the large tombs and dwellings that are carved with great skill in large mountains. The pictures below provide a sense of the magnificence of these structures.
