Economical and Cultural Conditions
Madinah was a veritable oasis. The soil was conducive to systematic cultivation and hence,
its population was given over to farming and gardening. The main produce of the city con-
sisted of grapes and dates, of which there were numerous groves, trellised and untrellised.
Two or more palm-trees occasionally grew out of a single root. (See Qur’an 141 and 13:4)
Cereals and vegetables of different varieties were cultivated in the farms but the date
palm remained the chief item on the menu of the people, especially in times of drought, for
the fruit could be stored for sale or exchanged with other necessities. The date palm was
the queen of Arabian trees, the source of prosperity concerning the people of Madinah,
providing them with solid food and fodder for the camels. Its stems, barks and leaves were
also utilized in the construction of houses and manufacture of other goods for daily use.
Countless varieties of date palm were grown in Madinah where the people had, through
experience and experimentation, developed methods to improve the quality and production
of dates. Among these was the distinction made between the male pollens and female
pistils of date palms and the fertilization of ovules which was known as Tabir.
Madinah was a leading agricultural center, it had also a flourishing mercantile business
though not of the same magnitude as that of Makkah. The barren, rocky valley of Makkah
allowed no other occupation save to set out with merchandise caravans regularly during the
summer and winter season for their source of livelihood.
Certain industrial pursuits were restricted to the Jews of Madinah. They had probably
brought the expertise to Madinah from Yemen as, for instance, Banu Qaynuqaa practiced
the trade of goldsmithy. Wealthier than other tribes occupying Madinah, the houses of the
Jews were flushed with money and abounded in gold and silver. (Al-Yahud fi Balad il-‘Arab,
p. 128)
The soil of Madinah is excessively fertile because of the volcanic matter that made possi-
ble the surrounding lava plains. The town stands at the lower part of the valley where water
courses running from the higher altitudes irrigated the agricultural lands and date-palm
plantations. A verdant wadi well supplied with water and laden with gardens and vineyards,
then known as ‘Aqiq, was the pleasure spot of Madinah’s residents. There were many wells
scattered all over the town whereby almost every garden had one by which it was irrigated,
for underground water was found to be in excess.
The vineyards and date plantations, enclosed by garden walls, were known as ha’yet. The
wells had sweet and plentiful supply of water, which was channeled to the orchards by
means of canals or through lift irrigation.
Barley was the main cereal produced in Madinah with wheat as the second one, but vege-
tables were grown in abundance. Transactions of different types were in vogue, some of
which were retained by Islam while others were modified or forbidden altogether.