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المسجد النبوي
মসজিদে নববী (নবী করীম's Mosque) in মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা is the second holiest মসজিদ in Islam. Built by Prophet Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) in 622 CE after his migration from মক্কা মুকাররমা, it houses his tomb beneath the iconic Green Dome. A সালাত here equals 1,000 সালাতs elsewhere. The Rawdah Sharif is described as a garden of Paradise.
মসজিদে নববী was founded by নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) in 622 CE (1 AH) upon his arrival in মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা following the Hijrah (migration) from মক্কা মুকাররমা. নবী করীম participated personally in its construction, carrying mud bricks and stones alongside his companions. The original মসজিদ was a simple, open-air structure approximately 30 by 35 meters, with walls made of mud bricks and a roof of palm fronds supported by palm trunk columns. The qibla initially faced Jerusalem before being redirected to the কাবা শরীফ in মক্কা মুকাররমা in 624 CE (2 AH). The মসজিদ served not only as a place of সালাত but as the center of the nascent Muslim community — it was a school, a court, a social welfare center, and the seat of government. The Suffah, a covered area at the back of the মসজিদ, housed the poorest companions who dedicated themselves to learning. Adjacent to the মসজিদ were the chambers (hujurat) of নবী করীম's wives. It was in the chamber of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that নবী করীম passed away on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal, 11 AH (June 632 CE), and was buried where he died, in accordance with the prophetic tradition that prophets are buried where they pass. Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) were later buried alongside him. The first expansion was carried out by নবী করীম himself in 7 AH after the conquest of Khaybar, roughly doubling the মসজিদ's area. The Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab expanded it further in 638 CE, and Uthman ibn Affan undertook a major reconstruction in 649 CE, replacing the mud brick walls with carved stone and the palm trunk columns with stone columns. The Umayyad Caliph al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik (705-715 CE) commissioned the most transformative early expansion, quadrupling the মসজিদ's size, incorporating নবী করীম's tomb within the মসজিদ structure, and introducing elaborate architectural elements including marble columns, gold mosaics, and the first minarets. The Ottoman Empire lavished attention on the মসজিদ for over four centuries. The iconic Green Dome was originally built as a white dome by the Mamluk Sultan Qalawun in 1279 CE over the tomb of নবী করীম, and was painted green by the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II in 1837 — it has been green ever since, becoming perhaps the most recognized Islamic landmark in the world. The Ottomans also built the ornate mihrab, elaborate calligraphy panels, and the beautiful Bab as-Salam (Gate of Peace). The Saudi expansions have been the most extensive in the মসজিদ's history. King Abdulaziz's expansion (1951-1955) introduced mechanical cooling and expanded the সালাত area. King Fahd's expansion (1985-1994) was monumental, increasing the মসজিদ's capacity to over 600,000 worshippers. It added the iconic retractable umbrella-shaped canopies in the courtyard, multiple new minarets (bringing the total to 10, each 105 meters tall), underground parking for 4,500 vehicles, and the vast outdoor marble plazas with electrically operated sunshade umbrellas. Further expansion under King Salman aims to increase capacity to 1.6 million worshippers.
মসজিদে নববী is one of the three মসজিদs to which Muslims may undertake special religious journeys, as stated in the hadith of নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম): 'Do not set out on a journey except to three মসজিদs: মসজিদুল হারাম, my মসজিদ, and Masjid al-Aqsa' (Bukhari and Muslim). Prayer in মসজিদে নববী carries immense reward — নবী করীম said: 'One সালাত in my মসজিদ is better than one thousand সালাতs elsewhere, except মসজিদুল হারাম' (Bukhari and Muslim). The Rawdah Sharif holds a uniquely blessed status. নবী করীম said: 'Between my house and my minbar is a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and my minbar is upon my hawd (basin in Paradise)' (Bukhari and Muslim). Scholars encourage visitors to pray two rak'ah in the Rawdah and make extensive দোয়া there, as it is considered among the most likely places on Earth for সালাতs to be accepted. Visiting নবী করীম's grave and offering salaam is considered a highly মুস্তাহাব act by all four schools of jurisprudence. The entire city of মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা is a haram (sacred precinct) declared by নবী করীম, and spending time there in worship, learning, and spiritual reflection is encouraged as part of the complete হজ্জ experience.
মসজিদে নববী is open 24 hours a day, year-round, with no entry fee. The মসজিদ is located in the heart of মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা and is accessible via numerous gates. Visitors must pass through security screening and remove their shoes before entering the carpeted সালাত halls. The মসজিদ is fully air-conditioned indoors, and the outdoor plazas feature the famous giant retractable umbrellas that provide shade during the day. The Rawdah Sharif (the area between নবী করীম's tomb and his minbar) is the most sought-after সালাত area, described by নবী করীম as 'a garden from the gardens of Paradise' (Bukhari and Muslim). Access to the Rawdah is managed through a reservation and queuing system, with separate sessions for men and women. Visitors should expect to wait, and visits are limited in duration to allow maximum access. The Rawdah is identified by its distinctive green carpet (the rest of the মসজিদ has red carpet). Visiting নবী করীম's tomb involves passing by the gilded enclosure and offering salaam (greetings of peace) to নবী করীম, Abu Bakr, and Umar. মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা is also home to several other historically significant মসজিদs and sites, including Masjid Quba (the first মসজিদ in Islam), Masjid al-Qiblatain (where the qibla was changed), and the Uhud battlefield. Many হাজীগণ visit these sites during their stay in মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা, either before or after their হজ্জ or উমরাহ in মক্কা মুকাররমা. Most হজ্জ packages include several days in মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা. The area around the মসজিদ has numerous hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers catering to visitors from around the world.