SOUQ AL-MANAKHAH
The market established by the Prophet ﷺ.
The free market of Muslims
Upon the arrival of the Prophet ﷺ in Medina, trade was dominated by the Jews, who imposed taxes on Muslim merchants. The Prophet ﷺ then established a new market, free of taxes, 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)
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 was himself a merchant throughout his life. But he established an ethics of trade:
- No monopoly
- No abusive taxes
- No fraud
- Freedom for the poor as well as the rich