Throughout its history, the Prophet's Mosque has remained a major center for learning and education in the entire Islamic World. Learned people (ulama) have flocked the mosques of Madinah, but mainly the Prophet's Mosque. Some of those ulama spent time studying, researching, and teaching and then returned to their own countries; others chose to stay and became part of the Madinah population. This practice is not unusual in the history of the Islamic world for it has occurred in other famous mosques in major cities, such as Al Azhar in Cairo, Zaitounah in Tunis, Qurawiyyin in Morocco, the Omawi (Umayyad) in Damascus. The Prophet's Mosque, however, like the Haram in Makkah, has always had a particular attraction for brilliant Muslim men of learning and students, it only for a single visit. Among the luminaries who in recent times visited or stayed in Madinah, and left a lasting impact are Taha Hussain, Muhammad Hussein Haikal (Egypt), Muhammad Al Amin Ashanqiti (Mauritania), Ali Bakathir (Yemen), Muhammad N. Al Albani (Albania/Syria), Ahmad Ridha Huhu, Abu Bakr Al Jazairi (Algeria).

When those renowned people came to Madinah they found it brimming with its own local activity. Well-known figures in this regard include Abdulrahman Al Ifriqi, Muhammad Attayyib Al Ansari, Hasan Ashair, Jafar Al Kinani. Various schools of sharia studies were established by indigenous men of learning as well by others who came from outside. Some of those schools were transtormed later into public schools, such as Annajah Al Ahliyyah, established in 1934 by Omar Adil from Turkey, and Al Aytaam (Orphans') School. Girls' schools had also existed in the period preceding Saudi rule and were encouraged and supported by the Saudi government. More than that, the ladies who had supervised those girls schools were honored and invited to continue in the new girls education system which began later.