Sela is a dramatic volcanic outcrop that rises abruptly from the plain at the northwestern edge of Medina, its dark basalt rock standing out against the surrounding lava fields. The name simply means "the rock," and it has been a landmark here for millennia. The black terrain visible from its summit is part of the Harrat Rahat, one of the largest volcanic fields in Saudi Arabia, which last erupted in 1256 CE when a lava flow threatened Medina itself.
In 627 CE, during the Battle of the Trench, Muhammad climbed this rock to oversee the digging of the defensive trench. After the Muslim victory, it was from here that the news was announced to the city. The rock is a regular stop on the pilgrimage trail through Medina's historical sites. The ascent is modest — a short scramble — and the view from the top takes in the full sweep of the surrounding lava plateau and the minarets of the Prophet's Mosque in the distance.