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