Ottoman Castle of Al-'Uyun

OTTOMAN CASTLE OF AL-'UYUN

The Turkish fortress on the water sources.

A Trace of the Ottoman Empire in Medina

Al-'Uyun means in Arabic "the sources" — a reference to the water sources that once flowed in this area. The Ottoman Empire, which controlled Medina from 1517 to 1919 (about 400 years, with an interruption from 1805 to 1812), built a fortified castle to:

• Protect the water sources of the area


• Monitor the pilgrimage caravans


• Serve as an Ottoman military base

A Post-Prophetic History

This castle has no direct link to the Prophet ﷺ or his companions. It belongs to a later historical phase — that of the long Ottoman presence in Medina.

However, this Ottoman presence is part of the history of Medina. The Ottomans:
1. Restored the Prophet's Mosque ﷺ several times
2. Painted the dome over the prophetic chamber green (1837)
3. Built the Hijaz railway (Damascus-Medina)
4. Protected the city for centuries

Note of Sincerity

This castle holds no prophetic value in a religious sense. Visit Arabia presents it honestly as an Ottoman monument, a witness to an important period in the history of Medina.