Abdurrahman Önül – Medine (English translation)
🐪 [Verse 1: The Journey Begins]
A caravan goes towards Medina—
This caravan drives me out of my mind.
My heart’s longing ends at the Ravza.
🕋 [Chorus: The Vision of Medina]
Medina, Medina—you are ever before my eyes.
In my mind, in my thoughts, there is only you, only you.
Medina, Medina—you are ever before my eyes.
❤️ [Verse 2: The Burning Love]
The love of Muhammad burns in my heart.
As I mention His name, my heart bleeds.
This heart has been searching for the Resul for years.
🕋 [Chorus: The Vision of Medina]
Medina, Medina—you are ever before my eyes.
In my mind, in my thoughts, there is only you, only you.
Medina, Medina—you are ever before my eyes.
🙏 [Verse 3: The Vow]
If I reach Medina, I shall not return.
I burn, crying “O Resul, O Nebi.”
This heart is in need of love and affection.
🕋 [Final Chorus]
Medina, Medina—you are ever before my eyes.
In my mind, in my thoughts, there is only you, only you.
Medina, Medina—you are ever before my eyes.
🕊️ Lyrics Meaning & Spiritual Context
This song is a prayer set to music, a heartfelt expression of the deep spiritual longing felt by millions of Muslims around the world to visit the city of Medina and the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
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Core Theme: The Longing for the Beloved City
The song is built around a single, overwhelming desire: to reach Medina. The speaker watches a caravan—a traditional image of pilgrims traveling—and is driven “out of my mind” by the sight. This is not a casual wish; it’s an all-consuming spiritual yearning that dominates every thought. -
The Ravza as Destination
“My heart’s longing ends at the Ravza.” The Ravza (Rawdah) is the area between the Prophet’s pulpit and his house, described in a hadith as one of the gardens of Paradise. For the pilgrim, reaching this sacred space is the culmination of a lifetime of devotion—the place where longing finally finds rest. -
Constant Vision
The chorus repeats: “Medina, Medina—you are ever before my eyes.” This is not literal sight but spiritual vision. The city is constantly present in the speaker’s mind’s eye, a guiding light that never fades. In thoughts, in memory, in prayer—“only you, only you.” -
The Burning Love of the Prophet
“The love of Muhammad burns in my heart.” This is the fire of divine love, a central concept in Islamic spirituality (and in Sufism particularly). Love for the Prophet is not a mild affection; it is a flame that consumes, purifies, and transforms. Mentioning his name makes the heart bleed—a metaphor for the intensity of emotion, the pain of separation, and the depth of devotion. -
Years of Searching
“This heart has been searching for the Resul for years.” The Resul (Messenger) is the Prophet Muhammad. The search is not physical but spiritual—a lifetime of seeking closeness, understanding, and connection. The journey to Medina is the outward expression of an inward quest that has lasted for years. -
The Vow of No Return
“If I reach Medina, I shall not return.” This is a powerful declaration. For many pilgrims, visiting Medina is the fulfillment of a dream so profound that they would be content to spend the rest of their lives there. It expresses a desire to remain in the presence of the beloved, both the city and the Prophet buried within it. -
Crying Out to the Prophet
“I burn, crying ‘O Resul, O Nebi.'” The speaker calls out directly to the Prophet using his titles: Resul (Messenger) and Nebi (Prophet). This direct address creates a sense of intimate conversation, of a heart speaking to the one it loves most. -
The Need for Love
“This heart is in need of love and affection.” Beneath all the spiritual language is a simple human truth: the heart needs love. The journey to Medina, the love for the Prophet—these are the fulfillment of that deepest need, the only affection that can truly satisfy the soul.
In essence, this song is a pilgrim’s prayer. It captures the yearning of a heart that has spent years searching for spiritual closeness, that burns with love for the Prophet, and that finds its only peace in the vision of Medina. The caravan represents hope, the journey represents devotion, and the Ravza represents the ultimate destination—where longing ends and love is finally face to face with its beloved. The repeated chorus is not just a refrain; it’s a mantra of love, a constant reminder of what the heart sees, even when the eyes are far away.
