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Wadi al-Qura (Arabic: وادي القرى, lit. 'Valley of Villages') is a wadi north of Medina in Saudi Arabia, mentioned in early Islamic sources. It was located on the main trade road between the Hejaz and Syria.

The wadi is tentatively identified with the modern Wadi al-'Ula region. The meaning of the name, "Valley of Villages", suggests the area contained several villages. The 10th-century geographer Istakhri noted it was one of the most populous and agriculturally productive areas of Arabia. The 9th-century historian Ibn al-Kalbi described it as highly fertile and dotted with villages throughout.

The wadi is referenced in many early Islamic texts. Several military expeditions took place there during the time of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. These include:

• the Expedition of Zaid ibn Haritha (Wadi al-Qura), where Muhammad sent Zayd ibn Haritha to survey the area and to monitor the movements of the enemies of Muhammad,
• the Second Expedition of Wadi al-Qura which Muhammad ordered to raid the inhabitants of Wadi al-Qura for revenge, because a number of Muslims were killed when they tried to raid the inhabitants previously, but failed.
• During the end of Muhammad's era the Third Expedition of Wadi al Qura was ordered, with the purpose of attacking the Jews of Wadi al-Qura to conquer their land

Recent discoveries of Geonic responsa have shown that there was a Jewish presence in Wadi al-Qura as late as the 11th century CE, and that they maintained correspondence with Rabbi Sherira Gaon and Rabbi Hai Gaon.

See also

• List of expeditions of Muhammad

References

1. Wensinck, AJ, "Kaynuka, banu", Encyclopaedia of Islam.
2. Power, Timothy (2012). The Red Sea from Byzantium to the Caliphate: AD 500–1000. I.B.Tauris. p. 115.
3. Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar, p. 206. (online)
4. Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar, p. 211. (online)
5. William Muir, The Life of Mahomet (2003), p. 394.
6. Mazuz, Haggai (2014). The Religious and Spiritual Life of the Jews of Medina. Koninklijke Brill. p. 100. ISBN 9789004266094. Retrieved 2016-06-22.

v t e Ottoman hajj routes

Syrian route 1. Sulaymaniyya Takiyya 2. Maydan 3. Kiswa 4. Khan Dannun 5. Ghabaghib 6. Sanamayn 7. Muzayrib 8. Mafraq 9. Birkat Zizia 10. Dab'a 11. Qatrana 12. Hasa 13. Unayzah 14. Ma'an 15. Fassu'a 16. Mudawwara 17. Dhat al-Hajj 18. Tabuk 19. Qalandariyya 20. al-Ukhaydir 21. Mu'azzam 22. Dar al-Hamra 23. Mada'in Saleh 24. Al-'Ula 25. Bir al-Ghannam 26. Zumurrud 27. Sawrah 28. Hadiyya 29. Nakhlatayn 30. Wadi al-Qura 31. Hafira

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