Some similarities between the creation of Sarajevo and Prophet Muhammad’s development of Madinah

This article explores how the creation of Sarajevo was influenced by Prophet Muhammad’s planning and development of the city of Madinah. The article concludes that despite being over eight centuries apart, the foundational histories of these two cities share more than a few similarities. This is because the Prophet’s urbanisation efforts in Madinah are considered part of his Sunnah, which Muslims are encouraged to follow. The parallels between the two cities focus on three main aspects: the priority of building a central mosque, which acted as a catalyst for growth; the strategic location of the mosque, neither away from nor in the midst of existing settlements, with the intention of promoting justice and social cohesion; and the interconnectedness of the mosque with other social institutions, emphasising the importance of the ideological institutional harmony for progress. The research methodology combined descriptive, interpretative, and analytical historical approaches.