Prophet's Mosque

The Prophet's Mosque (Arabic: ٱلْمَسْجِد ٱلنَّبَوِي‎, romanized: al-Masjid al-Nabawī, lit. 'Mosque of the Prophet') is the second mosque built by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in Medina, after the Quba Mosque. It is also the second largest mosque and holiest site in Islam, after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, in the Saudi region of the Hejaz. Located in the heart of Medina, it is a very important place for people to visit during their pilgrimage.

Muhammad helped build the mosque himself. The land belonged to two young orphans named Sahl and Suhayl. They offered their land as a gift, but Muhammad wanted to pay for it because they were orphaned children. The payment was made by Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, who became known as the donor of the mosque.

Originally, the mosque was an open-air space. It served as a community center, a place for solving problems, and a school for teaching the Quran. It had a raised platform called a minbar where teachers shared the Quran and where Muhammad would speak to the people on Fridays. Over time, leaders expanded and decorated the mosque. One famous part of the mosque is the Green Dome, where Muhammad is buried.

In 1909, during the time of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the Prophet's Mosque became the first place in the Arabian Peninsula to have electric lights. Today, the mosque is open to visitors almost all the time. It was only closed once in modern times, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as the holy month of Ramadan was beginning.

History

Main article: Muhammad in Medina

See also: History of Islam

Under Muhammad and the Rashidun (622–660)

The mosque was built by Muhammad in 622 after he came to Medina. He rode a camel to the place where the mosque was built. Two young children offered the land to him, but he wanted to pay for it. It took seven months to finish building the mosque. The mosque had three doors and a roof made from palm trunks.

Umayyad era

In 706 or 707, a leader named al-Walid I expanded the mosque. It took three years to finish. The mosque grew larger and was decorated with marble and beautiful mosaics.

Abbasid era

The leader al-Mahdi made the mosque bigger by adding space to the north. Later leaders added more decorations around the tomb of Muhammad.

Mamluk era

In 1269, leaders rebuilt parts of the mosque. In 1279, they added a wooden dome over the tomb of the prophet. More changes were made later, including rebuilding roofs and walls.

Ottoman era

Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt parts of the mosque and added a new minaret. He also placed a new dome over the tomb of Muhammad. Later leaders added more decorations and spaces for prayer.

Saudi rule and modern history (1925–present)

When Saudi leaders took control in 1925, they made many changes to the mosque. They expanded the mosque several times and added new wings and minarets. In recent years, plans were made to make the mosque even larger to welcome more visitors.

Architecture

The Prophet's Mosque is built in a rectangle shape and has two floors. The oldest part is called the Ottoman prayer hall and is on the south side. It has a flat roof with 27 sliding domes on square bases. When the domes close, they let light into the building. During afternoon prayers, the roof closes to keep visitors cool. Umbrellas on columns also give shade for the courtyard. You can reach the roof using stairs and escalators. The area around the mosque also has umbrella tents for prayer.

Main article: Green Dome

The room next to the Rawdah holds the tombs of Muhammad and two of his close friends, Abu Bakr and Umar. There is also a grave prepared for Jesus, who Muslims believe will return one day and be buried there. This area is covered by the Green Dome.

The Rawdah is a special area between the pulpit and Muhammad's tomb. It is considered very holy, like a garden of paradise.

In the early days of the mosque, there were two markers called mihrabs that showed the direction Muslims should face during prayer. One was placed by Muhammad himself, and another was added later. Today, the mosque still has a mihrab from ancient times.

The original pulpit used by Muhammad was made from date palm wood. Over time, many leaders replaced the pulpit. The current pulpit dates back to Ottoman times and is still used today.

The first minarets were built between 707 and 709. More minarets were added over the centuries. After a big renovation in 1994, the mosque had ten minarets that were 104 metres tall. The minarets change shape from cylindrical at the top to octagonal in the middle and square at the bottom.

List of Imams

Main article: List of Imams of the Two Holy Mosques

Here are some of the important leaders who help guide prayers at the Prophet's Mosque:

• Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman al Hudhaify – main leader of prayers
• Salah Al Budair – helper to the main leader
• Abdulbari ath-Thubaity
• Saleh Al-Maghamsi
• Abdulmohsen Al-Qasim
• Abdullah bin Abdurahman al-Baijan
• Ahmad bin Ali al-Hudhaify, son of Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman al Hudhaify
• Muhammad Barhaji, guest leader during Ramadan in 2024, became a permanent leader in October 2024
• Abdullah Qarafi, became a leader in October 2024