Al-Masjid al-Nabawi: Difference between revisions

This mosque is called al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the Grand Mosque of Medina, Masjid al-Rasul, Masjid Rasul Allah, Masjid al-Nabi and the mosque of Medina. The most famous name of the mosque is "al-Masjid al-Nabawi". [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] used to say daily [[congregational prayers]] in this mosque and he promoted political and social frameworks in this mosque, as a result it was called as Masjid al-Nabi in its early days. In addition, as the house of Prophet Muhammad (s) was added to the mosque and he was buried there, it was named as the mosque of Prophet Muhammad (s), al-Masjid al-Nabawi. Furthermore, Prophet Muhammad (s) called this mosque "masjidi" (my mosque) in a narration.

Al-Masjid al-Nabawi is located at 24.46 N 39.61 E in the center of [[Medina]] in [[Saudi Arabia]]. It is situated 597 meters above sea level.

When [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] entered [[Yathrib]], he let his camel to stop wherever it wanted and the place was supposed to be where Prophet (s) would live, the camel finally stopped in the current place of al-Masjid al-Nabawi. Then [[Muslims]] began to build a house for Prophet Muhammad (s) and a mosque there. Also other Muslims, built houses around the mosque with their doors which were opened to the mosque. The first structure of the mosque was built by sun-dried mud bricks in an area of 1050 square meters. [[Ashab Suffa]] (people of al-Suffa) where started living in the northern side of the mosque which had a ceiling made of palm leaves. When [[Qibla]] of Muslims was changed from [[Masjid al-Aqsa]] toward [[Masjid al-Haram]], it changed from north of al-Masjid al-Nabawi to its southern side, as a result the southern doors of the mosque were closed and new doors were made in northern side; also the roofed part was moved from the north to the south of the mosque. In the seventh century A.H. it became necessary to expand the mosque as the number of Muslims increased. Then the mosque was expanded to 2475 square meters and it changed to a square shaped area.

In [[17]]/838 the houses around the mosque were added to the area of al-Masjid al-Nabawi and it was expanded five meters from south, ten meters from west and fifteen meters from north. Later in 29/649-670 in the time of [['Uthman b. 'Affan]], despite disagreements of the neighbors, Masjid al-Nabi was expanded by destruction of the houses around the mosque and its area was expanded by 496 meters. He also ordered to use stones masonry art in decorations and teakwood in repairing its roof. In addition, a Maqsura, a place where the [[Imam of prayer]] should stand, was built in front of the mosque.

[['Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz]] the governor of Medina vastly expanded al-Masjid al-Nabawi between 88/707 to 91/710. It is said the area of the mosque was expanded to 6400 or 7500 square meters. He was also ordered by Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik, the [[caliph]] of the time, to build a wall around the grave of Prophet Muhammad (s) and the houses of Prophet's (s) wives were added to the mosque. In addition, the house of [[Lady Fatima (a)]] was added to the mosque; in that time [[Fatima al-Sughra]], the daughter of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]], and the wife of [[Hasan b. al-Hasan b. 'Ali]] were living in that house. Some believe that the main goal of Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik in expanding the area of the mosque, especially its eastern side, was seizing the house of Hasan b. al-Hasan's house from him in order to keep him away from al-Masjid al-Nabawi. As a result, for years people avoided saying [[prayer]]s in that area as they believed it was confiscated from him. The strength of the structure of the mosque was increased and it was decorated with skillful Roman workers. Walid asked the Roman Emperor o help building new structure for the mosque and he sent a large amount of gold with one hundred skillful workers to Walid.

[[Mahdi b. Mansur]], the [[Abbasid caliph]] expanded al-Masjid al-Nabawi 2450 square meters in 161/777-8 or 162/778-9. He also ordered to increase the number of the columns and gates of the mosque. In that time al-Masjid al-Nabawi had twenty gates, four in northern side, eight in western side and eight in eastern side. Meanwhile most of the houses around al-Masjid al-Nabawi which were occupied by famous [[companions]] of Prophet Muhammad (s) were destroyed and were added to the mosque, including the houses of [['Abd Allah b. Mas'ud]], [[Shurahbil b. Hasana]] and Miswar b. Makhrama.

Three years before the fall of Abbasid dynasty, in 654/1256 al-Masjid al-Nabawi was on fire and it was massively destroyed. Then Egyptian Mamluks sent architectures to repair the mosque. Later, Nasir al-Din Muhammad b. Qalawun a Mamluk Sultan of [[Egypt]] ordered to build the roofs in the western and eastern sides of the mosque. In 705/1305-06 and 706/1306-7 new courtyards were built for the mosque as well.

In 886/1481-2 the mosque was hit by a lightning and it was on fire. Again Egyptian Mamluks sent workers to repair al-Masjid al-Nabawi. They also built a ribat (hostel), a school and kitchens for it. In that time the area of the mosque was increased to 9010 square meters.

It took thirteen years for Sultan 'Abd al-Hamid I to reconstruct al-Masjid al-Nabawi in a firm and beautiful way which finished in 1265/1848-9. Some believe the structure built in that time was the strongest structure the mosque had until that time.

In 1373/1953-4 'Abd al-'Aziz expanded the mosque up to 16327 square meters from its northern, western and eastern sides. 6025 square meters were added to the area of the mosque and an area of 16931 meters around the mosque which included houses were destroyed in order to build the streets and squares leading to al-Masjid al-Nabawi.

The last expansion of al-Masjid al-Nabawi took place in 1405/1984-5 by Malik Fahad b. 'Abd al-'Aziz in which the area of the mosque was increased to 82000 square meters. The vast floor of the ground mosque of the mosque could contain 137000 people to say prayer plus 90000 people could say prayer on the roof parts. Accordingly the capacity of the mosque was increased up to 257000 people to say prayer. Also numerous places were built for Muslims to perform [[Wudu']] (ablution) and a lot of spotlights were set on the stone columns of the mosque. In addition, large-scale convertible umbrellas were built in some of the courtyards of al-Masjid al-Nabawi which protect people from the sunlight. Also six minarets were added to the mosque with the height of 104 meters; today the mosque has ten minarets.

Second to Masjid al-Haram, al-Masjid al-Nabawi is the holiest Mosque for Muslims and it has its own special fiqh rules. Also having special places in the mosque and around it increased the significance of the mosque, including the burial place and the house of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] and [[al-Baqi' Cemetery]] where grand figures of Islam are buried. Muslims usually pay a visit to al-Masjid al-Nabawi before performing [[Hajj]], as they believe it will complete their spiritual journey of Hajj. al-Masjid al-Nabawi is significantly important among Muslims, here are a number of the reasons:

* [[Lady Fatima (a)]] is possibly buried in al-Masjid al-Nabawi, between the burial place of Prophet (s) and the Minbar (pulpit) of Prophet (s).

* Al-Baqi' Cemetery, which is located near al-Masjid al-Nabawi and four [[Shiite Imams]] (a) are buried there.

From the early years of [[Islam]], Muslims came to al-Masjid al-Nabawi in order to say prayers and worship, furthermore it has been a place that Muslims gathered together which played a huge role in representing unity of Muslims. Significant political decisions related to Muslims community were made in this mosque. Also [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] managed Muslims territory in al-Masjid al-Nabawi and he held military, political and social meetings there.

It is recommended that when you enter al-Masjid al-Nabawi, stop by its gate and read Idn dukhul (permission for entrance). Then you should enter with your right foot from the gate of [[Gabriel]] and repeat Allah Akbar (God is the Greatest) for hundred times. Then a two rak'a (unit) [[prayer]] of the mosque is recommended to be performed.

The travelers are allowed to say prayers in al-Masjid al-Nabawi in usual fashion or traveler's fashion.

It is haram (forbidden) for those who are required to perform [[Ghusl al-Janaba]], [[Ghusl al-hayd]] and [[Ghusl al-nifas]] to enter al-Masjid al-Nabawi; but they are allowed to enter from one gate and exit from another.

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