What is the importance of Petra?

Answer 1

The people of Petra are known to Muslims as the people of Al-Hijr. These people are mentioned twice in the Islamic holy book, the Qur'an:

[Salih said to his people,] "Remember when He appointed you successors to 'Ad and settled you in the land. You built palaces on its plains and carved out houses from the mountains. Remember Allah's blessings and do not go about the earth, corrupting it." (Qur'an, 7:74)

The people of al-Hijr denied the Messengers. We brought them Our Signs but they turned away from them. They carved out houses from the mountains, feeling safe, but the Great Blast seized hold of them in the morning, so all that they earned was of no use to them. (Qur'an, 15:80-84)

The people of Al-Hijr are used in the Qur'an as a warning to his creations to heed and remember God's will in daily life. When the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) visited Petra he began to weep, noting that God's wrath is something to be remembered with tragedy and sorrow. The following Hadith is mentioned during one of the Prophet's campaigns to the area that nears the ruins of Petra:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: (While we were going for the Battle of Tabuk and when we reached the places of the dwellers of Al-Hijr), Allah's Apostle said about the dwellers of Al-Hijr (to us). "Do not enter (the dwelling places) of these people unless you enter weeping, but if you weep not, then do not enter upon them, lest you be afflicted with what they were afflicted with." (Book #60, Hadith #225)

Many Muslims regard it as a cursed place, and do not go near it except to remind themselves to fear God. A custom similar to visiting a cemetery in Islam.

Answer 2

Petra is one of the world's most famous historical archeological sites. Thought to have been established in 312 BCE, Petra was located at a junction that China, India, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Syria and southern Arabia used for trading spices and silk, among other products. Also noteworthy is that this city had a water conduit system that provided water for 30,000 inhabitants and even allowed for gardens in the desert. To this day, only 15% of Petra has been explored.

Answer 3

It's admired for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels.