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 1916 (for 400 years), 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.