Masjid al-Nabawi is the heart of Madinah. Over hundreds of years, as the city expanded, this building became its focal point. When the beloved Prophet ﷺ established this mosque, it was not merely a place for performing the five daily prayers. It served as a center for spirituality, social affairs, legal matters, and political activities. The mosque was utilized for various purposes:
It was a place of learning where sacred knowledge was passed down from teachers to students.
Announcements for the public were made from the mosque. It served as a court for resolving legal disputes.
Discussions and agreements with foreign dignitaries took place here.
It provided refuge for the poor and a place of rest for people.
From the very beginning, it was not just a place of worship but a center for a thriving community.
The history of Masjid al-Nabawi
Begins with the Prophet ﷺ migrating from Makkah to Madinah. After staying in Quba for two weeks, according to the most authentic opinion, the Prophet ﷺ mounted his camel on a Friday and set off for the city of Madinah. The Banu Najjar clan, his paternal uncles by lineage, welcomed him. A group of 100 Companions also accompanied him. The Banu Amr ibn Awf clan expressed their concern, asking if the Prophet ﷺ was dissatisfied with them for choosing to move elsewhere. The Prophet ﷺ replied that he had no choice in this matter and would settle wherever Allah willed. He added that wherever his camel, Qaswa, sat down by the will of Allah, that place would become his residence.
When it was time for Jumu’ah prayer along the way, the Prophet ﷺ prayed with the Companions in the village of Banu Salim. This site is now known as Masjid al-Jumu’ah. After the prayer, the caravan resumed its journey. Everyone in Madinah hoped that the Prophet ﷺ would stay with their tribe. The clans of Banu Salim, Banu Baya Dah, Banu Sa’idah, Banu Harith, Banu Adi ibn Najjar, and Banu Malik ibn Najjar all offered their hospitality.
The camel Qaswa finally sat down at the site of Masjid al-Nabawi, a plot that belonged to two orphans under the guardianship of As’ad ibn Zurara. The land was used for drying dates and grazing livestock, and some Muslims would already perform prayers there. After Qaswa stopped, the Prophet ﷺ said, “This is the place of settlement, God willing.” He then recited a supplication, “O Allah, let this be a blessed place of settlement, for You are the best of settlers.”
Another narration describes how Qaswa first sat near the door of the masjid, but the Prophet ﷺ did not dismount. The camel got up, moved slightly ahead, and then returned to its original spot, signaling its approval of the location. The Prophet ﷺ then asked whose home was closest to the area. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari replied, “My home is nearby.” The Prophet ﷺ decided to stay in Abu Ayyub’s house while the mosque was constructed.
Al-Bukhari narrates from al-Bara’ (RA) that the people of Madinah had never been as overjoyed as they were upon the Prophet ﷺ’s arrival. Abu Dawood mentions that even the children and women sang welcoming songs from their rooftops. One such song was:
Tala‘a al-Badru ‘alayna
Min thaniyyat al-Wada‘
Wajaba al-shukru ‘alayna
Ma da‘a lillahi da‘
Meaning:
“The full moon has risen over us.
From the valley of Wada‘
Gratitude is due upon us.
As long as there is someone who calls to Allah.”
The young girls of Banu Najjar sang:
Nahnu jawarun min Bani Najjar
Ya hubbaza Muhammadun min jar
Meaning:
“We are the daughters of Banu Najjar,
How wonderful it is to have Muhammad as our neighbor!
The Prophet ﷺ asked them, “Do you love me?” They replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet ﷺ responded, “By Allah, I love you too.”
Abu Dawood narrates that upon the Prophet ﷺ’s arrival in Madinah, the people celebrated with songs and joy, wielding small weapons as a show of happiness. Rabee’ narrates that the day the Prophet ﷺ entered Madina was the brightest and most beautiful day the city had ever seen.
The construction of the mosque
The site of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi was predetermined by Allah and marked by the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) camel. This mosque became the center of Medina, around which Islamic civilization, culture, the Islamic state, law, and the propagation of Islam worldwide were established. The role of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi as an international Islamic capital is well-known. The spot where the Prophet’s (ﷺ) camel, guided by Allah, sat down was originally a place for drying dates and a grazing ground for camels and goats. A few Muslims also prayed there occasionally. The land was owned by two orphaned children, who were under the guardianship of As’ad bin Zurarah, according to Imam al-Bukhari. Their names were Sahl and Suhayl ibn Naafi’ ibn ‘Amr ibn Tha’labah ibn an-Najjar.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) summoned the leaders of Banu Najjar to discuss purchasing the land for the mosque. Offering to buy the land, he asked them to set a price. They replied, “Take the land and build the mosque. We will not accept payment from you; instead, we will seek our reward from Allah.” Sahl and Suhayl made the same offer, expressing their intention to donate the land for Allah’s sake. However, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) refused to accept the property of orphans for free. According to Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, he purchased the land from the two orphaned children for ten dinars, instructing Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA) to make the payment. Abu Bakr (RA) fulfilled the payment accordingly.
Both Bukhari and Muslim narrate that the land of the mosque contained date palms and the graves of polytheists, while part of it was low-lying. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) ordered the date palms to be cut down, the bones from the graves to be removed and reburied elsewhere, and the lower part of the land to be filled in, making it suitable for building the mosque. Until the mosque’s completion, the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed under a temporary shaded structure for 12 days. He instructed that the mosque’s roof be constructed seven cubits high, resembling the height of Prophet Musa’s (AS) roof, with wooden beams and a height sufficient to allow standing without difficulty.
During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), Al-Masjid an-Nabawi was constructed twice. The first construction took place in the first year of the Hijra, in 622 CE. At that time, the mosque’s dimensions were 70 by 60 cubits, approximately 8,503 square meters, and its height was 5 cubits (2.29 meters). The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructed Ammar bin Yasir to oversee the mosque’s construction. He personally carried bricks and stones, encouraging his companions to assist Ammar bin Yasir in the construction process. While carrying materials, he recited a couplet to inspire the companions, saying, “Oh our Lord, this burden of bricks is purer and better than the burden of the dates of Khaybar’s Jews. Oh Allah, the reward of the Hereafter is the true reward. Have mercy on the Ansar and the Muhajirun.” The companions also sang along with him.
He recited another couplet, which the companions collectively sang, saying, “Oh Allah, the reward of the Hereafter is the true reward. Help the Ansar and the Muhajirun.” Some sources attribute this second couplet to Abdullah ibn Rawaha.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) laid the mosque’s foundation stone himself, followed by Abu Bakr, who placed a stone, then Umar, who placed another, and finally Uthman. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) remarked, “This is how the Caliphate will proceed after me.”
The mosque’s foundation was built with stones, its walls with bricks, its roof with palm fronds and Ezkhir grass (fragrant grass), and its pillars with palm trees. The mosque’s palm trees were cut down, with its canopy constructed using date palm wood and mud plaster applied to cool the interior. The roof was slanted to allow rainwater to flow off. Essentially, it resembled a thatched structure.
Each companion carried one brick or stone, while the chief mason, Ammar bin Yasir, carried two or three. At one point, Ammar complained to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), saying, “Your companions each carry one brick, but they make me carry two or three. They want to kill me.” The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) held Ammar’s hand, walked around the mosque with him, cleaned the dust off his head, and said, “Oh son of Sumayyah, it is not my companions but a rebellious group that will kill you. Oh son of Sumayyah, you have two rewards, while others have only one reward. Before the rebels kill you, your last drink will be milk.”
During the Battle of Siffin, Ammar bin Yasir fought alongside Ali’s (RA) forces and was martyred. When Amr ibn al-As, who supported Muawiyah (RA), approached Muawiyah about the Prophet’s (ﷺ) prophecy regarding Ammar, Muawiyah replied, “Oh Amr, you are confused. Did we kill him? Those who brought him to the battlefield are responsible for his death.”
According to Abu Ya’la, when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) laid the foundation stone of the mosque, Abu Bakr placed the first stone, Umar the second, and Uthman the third. This construction took place after the Quba Mosque and was Medina’s second mosque. During heavy rains, the mosque’s floor became muddy, causing worshipers to become covered in mud. Even the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) forehead and blessed beard were affected. The companions spread gravel on the floor, and the Prophet (ﷺ) approved the action. However, when a proposal was made to pave the mosque’s roof, he was pleased but declined the suggestion.
In the 7th year of the Hijra, following the victory at Khaybar, the mosque was expanded to accommodate the growing number of worshippers. Its dimensions were then extended to 100 by 100 cubits, covering an area of 2,025 square meters, and its roof height was increased to 7 cubits. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) mentioned that the mosque was built based on Jibreel’s consultation.
Ibn Lajjar noted that after praying towards Bayt al-Maqdis for 17 months, Jibreel came and removed all obstacles between the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Kaaba, directing him to rebuild the mosque facing the Kaaba. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) realigned the mosque’s qibla towards the Kaaba, setting it precisely to face the Kaaba’s Mizab. The Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions performed the Asr prayer for the first time in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, facing the Kaaba. The mosque was quadrilateral in shape and devoid of decorative designs.
The boundaries of the mosque built by the Messenger of Allah (SAW)
Due to various expansions and renovations of Masjid al-Nabawi over time, it is now impossible for any visitor to precisely identify the original boundaries of Masjid al-Nabawi constructed by the Messenger of Allah (SAW). Here, we will discuss those boundaries.
The southern wall: This wall runs lengthwise from east to west. The place where the Messenger of Allah (SAW) prayed as an Imam, the mihrab, is half a meter south of it. Currently, the yellow railing that stretches lengthwise from east to west, located half a meter south of the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah (SAW), marks the boundary of the original wall, and this side now faces the qibla.
The northern wall: The northern wall, built during the time of the Messenger of Allah (SAW), runs lengthwise from east to west in alignment with Bab al-Nisa. During the expansion of the mosque by the Turkish Sultan Abdul Majid, a pillar was erected there to construct a roof. From that pillar onward, the open courtyard of the mosque begins.
The eastern wall: This wall is situated 18 meters from the fifth pillar to the east of the mihrab of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and is connected to the sacred chamber. Hazrat Aisha said, “In my state of menstruation, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) would extend his head into the mosque, and I would comb his hair from the chamber.”
The western wall: This wall runs lengthwise from north to south. Currently, one row of pillars has Arabic writing in golden letters that reads “Hadha Masjid al-Nabi,” meaning “This is the boundary of Masjid al-Nabawi.” This stretches up to the fifth column west of the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah (SAW).
Are expanded parts of the mosque considered the mosque?
The expanded parts of Masjid al-Nabawi are also included within the mosque. Ibn Shibah and Yahya al-Dilmi have narrated from Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Even if this mosque is expanded to Sana (Yemen), it will still remain my mosque.” Ibn Shibah and Yahya have also narrated from Ibn Abi Umrah, “Even if we expand this mosque up to the graveyard of Baqi, it will still remain the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (SAW).”
The doors of the mosque during the time of the Messenger of Allah (SAW)
When prayers were offered facing Bayt al-Maqdis for 17 months, the mosque had three doors, one each on the east, west, and south sides. The mihrab and pulpit were on the north side, and there was no door in that direction. However, 17 months later, and two months before the Battle of Badr, when the qibla was changed towards the Kaaba, the southern door was closed, and a similar door was constructed to the north.
The eastern door: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used this door to enter the mosque from his chamber. Hence, it was called Bab al-Nabi (the Prophet’s door). Another name for it is Bab Uthman because Uthman’s (RA) house was situated just in front of this door. It is also known as Bab Jibreel, as the same door in the expanded mosque retains its name. If one proceeds westward from this door, it aligns with the chandelier marking the eastern end of the original eastern wall of the mosque built by the Messenger of Allah (SAW). It was adjacent to the southern side of Suffah. One day, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) spoke to a rider outside this door. In response to Umm Salamah’s question, he said, “That rider is Jibreel.” From that day onward, this door was named Babe Jibreel.
The western door: Previously, this door was called Bab Atikah, and currently, it is known as Bab al-Rahmah, the Gate of Mercy. In the expanded mosque, this door is situated further inside. If one proceeds eastward from the present door, it aligns with the inscription “Hadha Masjid al-Nabi” on a pillar, marking the location of the original door built by the Messenger of Allah (SAW). The current door has been constructed further west. It is said that one day, during the Friday sermon, a Bedouin entered through this door and requested the Messenger of Allah (SAW) to pray for rain, as drought and heat were destroying crops and livestock. Upon his prayer, rain began to pour from a clear sky. Therefore, this door is called Bab al-Rahmah.
The southern door: This door is called Bab Ahl Umar. It was located on the eastern part of the southern wall, between the mihrab of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and the chamber. Its exact location was southwest of the sacred chamber’s present window. When the qibla was changed towards the Kaaba, this door was closed.
The northern door: After the qibla was changed to face the Kaaba, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) constructed this door directly opposite the southern door.
The significance of prayer in Masjid al-Nabawi
One rak’ah of prayer in Masjid al-Nabawi earns the reward of one thousand rak’ahs. Hence, devotees from around the world flock to gain this immense reward. Currently, there are six imams in the mosque. Since the era of King Abdul Aziz, the chief justice of Madinah’s Islamic court has also served as the chief imam of the mosque.
The current prayer schedule is as follows:
The adhan for tahajjud is given one hour before the adhan for Fajr. Iqamah for Fajr is called 20 minutes after the adhan.
Iqamah for Maghrib is called 5 minutes after the adhan.
Iqamah for other prayers is given 15 minutes after the adhan.
For Jumu’ah prayers, the adhan is called twice. The first adhan is given one hour before the sermon begins, and the second adhan is given before the sermon.
Twenty rak’ahs of Tarawih are offered, while in other mosques of the city, eight rak’ahs of Tarawih are prayed. Witr is prayed in two salams with three rak’ahs, and a long dua is recited in the final rak’ah with Qunoot. The Quran is completed during Tarawih in Ramadan.
For funeral prayers, if the deceased is male, the announcement says:
الصلاة على الرجل يَرْحَمُكُمُ الله
For females, the announcement says:
الصلاة على المرأة يرحمكم الله
There are special arrangements for women to pray in Masjid al-Nabawi. They pray in a separate area from Bab al-Nisa to the north. Women are also allowed to worship in the sacred Rawdah after Fajr prayers for half an hour and until 11 a.m. After each prayer, worshippers visit the grave of the Prophet (SAW). Women are prohibited from approaching the grave. At every adhan and iqamah, when the words “Ashhadu anna Muhammadur Rasulullah” are recited, the feelings and emotions of the worshippers standing before the grave of the Prophet (SAW) are indescribable in words.
