Madinah Encircled by Volcanoes: Will History Repeat Itself?

Over 2,000 Dormant Volcanoes in Saudi Arabia

You might be surprised to learn that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is home to over 2,000 dormant volcanoes in its western region. There are also 12 vast lava fields, known as al-\ḥarras, stretching from north to south along the Red Sea coast. Scientists estimate these lava fields began forming around 25 million years ago.

Madinah’s Volcanic Terrain

The region of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah contains the largest portion of these volcanic fields and dark basaltic craters. Historically, the most recent eruption occurred at Mount al-Malsaa (جبل الملساء), southeast of Madinah, in 654 AH (1256 CE). This eruption lasted several days and sent lava flowing for 23 kilometers (about 14 miles). In fact, the longest tongue of lava halted approximately 8.2 km (about 5 miles) from the Prophet’s Mosque. The volcanic field formed by that eruption became known as Ḥarrat Rahāṭ.

Ibn Kathir describes this volcano in his work Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah (The Beginning and the End), saying:

“That fire continued, blazing like a great mountain in height and breadth. Stones flew up into the sky and fell back down. It hurled fiery boulders like thunder, and it stayed like this for days. Then it paused for a while before resuming its hurling of stones behind and in front of it, building up two mountains in the process. Every day in the last part of the night until daytime, it would give off a tremendous sound.”

What Is a Ḥarrah?

A ḥarrah (الحَرَّة) is a geographic phenomenon where the earth’s surface is covered by igneous rocks and volcanic lava flows. When lava lies near the surface, the heat remains close to the ground, sometimes forming visible volcanic craters.

Prophetic Hadith on the Fire in the Hijaz

Both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim narrate on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“The Hour will not come until a fire appears in the land of the Hijaz, lighting up the necks of camels in Busra (in Syria).”

Notice how the Prophet (peace be upon him) said “a fire will emerge,” indicating it is not an ordinary fire that burns on the surface but one that emerges from beneath the earth—in other words, a volcanic fire, which is far more intense than normal flames, as it can even melt rock.

This interpretation is further supported by another narration reported by Ibn ‘Adī in Al-Kāmil, on the authority of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), which states:

“The Hour will not come until a valley of fire flows through one of the valleys of the Hijaz, lighting up the necks of camels in Busra.”

A “valley of fire” is indeed a perfect description of lava pouring across the ground during a volcanic eruption. Remarkably, this prophecy came to pass exactly 776 years ago, when Madinah experienced earthquakes followed by an erupting volcano in 654 AH, deep within its eastern lava field (al-ḥarrah ash-sharqiyyah). Historical and modern sources, including Google Earth imagery, clearly show traces of this event. The glow reached Busra in southern Syria, illuminating the necks of camels there.

Firsthand Accounts from Classical Scholars

Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani details this event in Fath al-Bārī, quoting Al-Qurtubi in At-Tadhkirah:

“The fire in the Hijaz appeared in Madinah, beginning with a great earthquake on the night of Wednesday, the third of Jumada al-Akhirah in the year 654 AH. It continued until Friday morning. Then, a fire burst forth by Qurayzah near the lava field… It melted everything in its path like a river—red and blue—raging with a sound like thunder, taking rocks before it, so it came close to Madinah… Its glow was seen as far away as Tayma, where people could write letters at night by its light…”

Abu Shamah recounts letters sent from Madinah documenting loud sounds like thunder, continuous earthquakes, and a massive lava flow that reached nearly 19 km (about 12 miles) in length and 6.4 km (4 miles) in width. It ran across the terrain, melting and dislodging stones as it advanced. People from Yanbu (ينبع) on the coast also witnessed the towering flames that soared skyward.

Ibn Kathir (d. 771 AH) echoes these descriptions, citing letters from Shams ad-Dīn ibn Sinān (the judge of Madinah) to scholars in Damascus. He describes how the earthquakes began with thunder-like sounds, then an eruption that resembled “an immense city aflame.” Lava rivers formed, sometimes as deep as a person’s height, blackening after cooling but glowing red-hot before solidifying.

Modern Reflections: Signs and Lessons

Today, whenever tremors occur around Al-‘Is (العيص) and nearby areas in the Madinah region, memories resurface of the continuous earthquakes and fiery eruption east of Madinah. Surat az-Zalzalah (The Earthquake) in the Qur’an mentions the earth shaking and emerging with its burdens—a phrase that can hint at volcanic activity, although Allah knows best the full extent of its meaning.

According to one researcher at the Commission on Scientific Miracles in the Qur’an and Sunnah, these verses subtly point to two modern scientific facts only confirmed in the mid-20th century, after extensive global data collection:

1. 1. The linkage between earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

1. 1. The existence of heavier, denser materials within the earth’s core compared to its surface.

This scientific marvel highlighted by the Qur’an, along with the prophecy fulfilled by the eruption in 654 AH, brings to mind another prophetic statement that has not yet occurred:

“The Hour will not come until the land of the Arabs returns to being meadows and rivers.”

(Sahih Muslim)

Could future earthquakes and volcanic activity be precursors to such a transformation, reshaping the Arabian Peninsula into lush pastures and waterways? Only time will tell, as we observe these geological events unfold by the will of Allah.

The history of Madinah’s volcanic eruption stands as a remarkable sign—both a natural phenomenon and a fulfilled prophetic tradition. It reminds us of the mighty power of Allah and the accuracy of Islamic prophecies, calling believers to reflect on the signs of the Day of Judgment. As we contemplate the possibility of history repeating itself, we must remember that faith, preparedness, and trust in Allah are our guiding principles.