Al-Aqiq Valley (Wadi Al-Aqiq)
The Blessed Valley and Confluence of Tributaries South of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah
Al-Baha
Al-Aqiq Valley (Wadi Al-Aqiq) is located south of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. It is known for its extended length exceeding 150 km and the diversity of its names along its course: its upper part is called Al-Naqi', its middle part Al-Hasa', and its end Dhu Al-Hulayfah (the Aqiq of Madinah). Its tributaries are formed by torrents descending from the 'Awf Mountains southwest of the city, passing through areas like Qa' Al-Hamat and Qa' Al-'Udayrisah, meeting important valleys such as Buthan Valley (Wadi Buthan), Al-'Aqul Channel (Qanat Al-'Aqul), and Al-Nuqmi (Wadi Al-Nuqmi), at an elevation of about 600 meters above sea level.
The valley holds religious and historical significance, having been mentioned in the Prophetic Hadith: "Were it not that I would impose a burden upon my nation, I would have settled Al-Aqiq," which reflects its status in the hearts of Muslims. A number of wealthy Companions and Successors settled there, and its name appeared in Arab poetry, linking it to the religious geography surrounding Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. During the rainy seasons, water accumulates, and its banks turn into attraction areas for visitors and picnickers, offering a natural and spiritual scene simultaneously.