Saqīfat Banī Saʿidah (سقيفة بني ساعدة) is a historic meeting place in Madinah, located on the north-western side of Masjid an-Nabawi. In the early days of Islam it was a shaded courtyard used by the Banu Saʿidah clan of the Ansar for gatherings and consultation.
After the passing of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, this humble shaded shelter became the scene of one of the most important moments in Islamic history: here the Companions met, discussed the future of the Muslim community, and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (ra) as the first Caliph.
Today, Saqīfat Banī Saʿidah is preserved as a beautiful garden within the built-up area of central Madinah, just a short walk from the Prophet’s Mosque. Visitors enter a quiet green space surrounded by palm trees and pathways, and many pause here to reflect on the spirit of shūrā (consultation), unity, and responsibility that shaped the earliest leadership of the ummah.
