Al-Masjid an-Nabawī
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi known in English as The Prophet’s Mosque, is a mosque built by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the city of Medina in the Al Madinah Province of Saudi Arabia. It was the second mosque built by Muhammad in Medina, after Masjid Quba’, and is the second largest mosque and second holiest site in Islam. Muhammad shared in the construction of the mosque. Originally an open-air building, the mosque served as a community center, a court of law, and a religious school. There was a raised platform or pulpit (minbar) for the people who taught the Quran and for Muhammad to give the Friday sermon (khutbah). Subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated the mosque, naming its walls, doors and minarets after themselves and their forefathers. One of the most notable features of the site is the Green Dome in the south-east corner of the mosque, originally Aisha’s house,[5] where the tomb of Muhammad is located. Many pilgrims who perform the Hajj also go to Medina to visit (Ziyarah) the Green Dome. The mosque is located at the heart of Medina and is a major pilgrimage site. The mosque was built by Muhammad in 622 CE after his arrival in Medina.
The Ottoman prayer hall, which is the oldest part of Masjid an-Nabawi, lies towards the south. It has a flat paved roof topped with 27 sliding domes on square bases. Holes pierced into the base of each dome illuminate the interior when the domes are closed. The sliding roof is closed during the afternoon prayer (Dhuhr) to protect the visitors. When the domes slide out on metal tracks to shade areas of the roof, they create light wells for the prayer hall. At these times, the courtyard of the Ottoman Mosque is also shaded with umbrellas affixed to freestanding columns. The roof is accessed by stairs and escalators. The paved area around the mosque is also used for prayer, equipped with umbrella tents. The sliding domes and retractable umbrella-like canopies were designed by the German Muslim architect Mahmoud Bodo Rasch. The Rawḍah ash-Sharifah is an area between the minbar and burial chamber of Muhammad. It is regarded as one of the Riyāḍ al-Jannah. A green carpet used to distinguish the area from the rest of the mosque, which was covered in a red carpet.
- Al-Masjid an-Nabawī
- Location: Medina
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Built : 622 CE
