Souq Al-Manakhah

SOUQ AL-MANAKHAH

The market established by the Prophet ﷺ.

The free market of Muslims

Upon the arrival of the Prophet ﷺ in Medina, there were already markets, such as that of the Jewish tribe of the Banu Qaynuqa'. The Prophet ﷺ then established a market for the Muslims, free, without taxes, which Medinan tradition places at the location known as Al-Manakhah.

He declared: "This is your market. Let it not be diminished, and let no tax be imposed upon it." (Sunan Ibn Majah n°2233, chain judged weak)

The meaning of "Al-Manakhah"

The word Al-Manakhah comes from the root n-w-kh which means "to make a camel kneel." The market was named so because caravans would make their camels kneel there to unload goods. It was the vital commercial center of Medina.

An Islamic economic policy

This foundation teaches that Islam has never been against trade — on the contrary, the Prophet ﷺ had himself been a merchant before the prophethood. But he established an ethics of trade:

• No monopoly


• No abusive taxes


• No fraud


• Freedom for the poor as well as the rich