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المسجد النبوي
Masjid an-Nabawi (The Prophet's Mosque) in Madinah is the second holiest mosque in Islam. Built by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in 622 CE after his migration from Makkah, it houses his tomb beneath the iconic Green Dome. A prayer here equals 1,000 prayers elsewhere. The Rawdah Sharif is described as a garden of Paradise.
Masjid an-Nabawi was founded by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in 622 CE (1 AH) upon his arrival in Madinah following the Hijrah (migration) from Makkah. The Prophet participated personally in its construction, carrying mud bricks and stones alongside his companions. The original mosque 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 Kaaba in Makkah in 624 CE (2 AH). The mosque served not only as a place of prayer 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 mosque, housed the poorest companions who dedicated themselves to learning. Adjacent to the mosque were the chambers (hujurat) of the Prophet's wives. It was in the chamber of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet 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 the Prophet himself in 7 AH after the conquest of Khaybar, roughly doubling the mosque'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 mosque's size, incorporating the Prophet's tomb within the mosque structure, and introducing elaborate architectural elements including marble columns, gold mosaics, and the first minarets. The Ottoman Empire lavished attention on the mosque 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 the Prophet, 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 mosque's history. King Abdulaziz's expansion (1951-1955) introduced mechanical cooling and expanded the prayer area. King Fahd's expansion (1985-1994) was monumental, increasing the mosque'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.
Masjid an-Nabawi is one of the three mosques to which Muslims may undertake special religious journeys, as stated in the hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him): 'Do not set out on a journey except to three mosques: Masjid al-Haram, my mosque, and Masjid al-Aqsa' (Bukhari and Muslim). Prayer in Masjid an-Nabawi carries immense reward — the Prophet said: 'One prayer in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers elsewhere, except Masjid al-Haram' (Bukhari and Muslim). The Rawdah Sharif holds a uniquely blessed status. The Prophet 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 supplication there, as it is considered among the most likely places on Earth for prayers to be accepted. Visiting the Prophet's grave and offering salaam is considered a highly recommended act by all four schools of jurisprudence. The entire city of Madinah is a haram (sacred precinct) declared by the Prophet, and spending time there in worship, learning, and spiritual reflection is encouraged as part of the complete pilgrimage experience.
Masjid an-Nabawi is open 24 hours a day, year-round, with no entry fee. The mosque is located in the heart of Madinah and is accessible via numerous gates. Visitors must pass through security screening and remove their shoes before entering the carpeted prayer halls. The mosque 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 the Prophet's tomb and his minbar) is the most sought-after prayer area, described by the Prophet 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 mosque has red carpet). Visiting the Prophet's tomb involves passing by the gilded enclosure and offering salaam (greetings of peace) to the Prophet, Abu Bakr, and Umar. Madinah is also home to several other historically significant mosques and sites, including Masjid Quba (the first mosque in Islam), Masjid al-Qiblatain (where the qibla was changed), and the Uhud battlefield. Many pilgrims visit these sites during their stay in Madinah, either before or after their Hajj or Umrah in Makkah. Most Hajj packages include several days in Madinah. The area around the mosque has numerous hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers catering to visitors from around the world.