Al-Masjid al-Nabawi: Difference between revisions

'''Al-Masjid al-Nabawī''' (Arabic: {{ia|المسجد النبوي}}) is a mosque in [[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]] where [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] is buried. Second to [[al-Masjid al-Haram]], al-Masjid al-Nabawi is the holiest mosque in the world of Islam which was built by Prophet Muhammad (s) in the first year after [[Hijra]]; it was later expanded in different eras. The houses of Prophet Muhammad (s) and [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] and [[Lady Fatima (a)]] were built next to this mosque, which were later added to the mosque. Al-Masjid al-Nabawi is among the most important shrines for Muslims, which is highly revered by [[Shi'as]].

 

 

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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī-yi Mecca wa Medina'', p. 202.</ref> 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) started living in the northern side of the mosque which had a ceiling made of palm leaves.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 203-204.</ref> 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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 204.</ref> In the seventh/thirteenth century 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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina, p. 204.</ref>

In [[17]]/638 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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 205-206.</ref> Later in 29/649-50 in the time of [['Uthman b. 'Affan]], despite disagreements of the neighbors, al-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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 206.</ref>

[['Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz]], the governor of Medina, vastly expanded al-Masjid al-Nabawi between 88/707 to 91/710. It is said that the area of the mosque was expanded to 6400 or 7500 square meters.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 207.</ref> 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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 207.</ref> 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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 207.</ref> The strength of the structure of the mosque was increased and it was decorated with skillful Roman workers.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 208.</ref> 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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 208.</ref>

[[Al-Mahdi al-'Abbasi]], 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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 209.</ref>

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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 210.</ref>

In 886/1481-2 the mosque was hit by a lightning and it was set 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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 210.</ref>

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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 211.</ref>

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 mosque could accommodate 137000 people to say prayer plus 90000 people could say prayer on the roof. Accordingly, the capacity of the mosque was increased up to 257000 people to say prayer.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 211-213.</ref> 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 sunshades 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.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 213-214.</ref>

* Al-Baqi' Cemetery, which is located near al-Masjid al-Nabawi and four [[Shiite Imams (a)]] are buried there.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 239.</ref>

From the early years of [[Islam]], Muslims have come 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.<ref>See: Pūrḥusayn, "Qānūnmandī dar ḥukūmat-i nabawī", p. 153.</ref>

The house and the burial place of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] were located out of the mosque when it was not expanded. But later they were added to the area of the mosque and a pentagon-shaped wall was built around them; it is said the wall was not built in a square shape so that it would not look like [[Ka'ba]].<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 217-218.</ref> As it was likely for the Crusades to attack [[Medina]] and destroy the burial place of Prophet Muhammad (s), hence for protection a wall of stone and molten lead metal was constructed around the burial place of Prophet (s). Later in 668/1269-70 and 694/1294-5 a number of Sultans built wooden maqsuras for the house in the mosque.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 218.</ref>

The house of [[Lady Fatima (a)]] was located behind the house of [['Aisha]], Prophet Muhammad's (s) wife. The door of her house was on the western side of the house which led to Prophet's (s) house. Today the house is gone and it was added to the mosque, which is now located in the shrine and the house of Prophet Muhammad (s).<ref>Qāʾidān, ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmī-yi Mecca wa Medina'', p. 255.</ref> Sunni scholars believe she was buried in [[al-Baqi' cemetery]],<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 219.</ref> while the majority of Shi'ite scholars believe she was buried in her house, today it is located in al-Masjid al-Nabawi.<ref>Ibn Shabba, ''Tārīkh al-Medina'', vol. 1, p. 107.</ref> However, Shi'ite scholars are not sure about the burial place of Lady Fatima (s), but they believed that she was most likely buried in al-Masjid al-Nabawi.<ref>Ṣadūq, ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh'', vol. 2, p. 572.</ref>

The books on Medina studies largely talk about the doors of al-Masjid al-Nabawi. The number of the doors of the mosque have always been changed from 1st/7th century onward.

Throughout different eras, doors were added and built for the mosque and even some of them were closed. Currently al-Masjid al-Nabawi has eighty six doors.

In early days of Islam, whenever Prophet Muhammad (s) wanted to give a speech or sermon, he used to lean against a palm tree. Then in 7/628-9 or 8/629-30 a [[minbar]] (pulpit) was built for him.<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 3, p. 22.</ref> It had two steps and a seat.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 1, p. 235.</ref> In some narrations, merits of the pulpit are mentioned from Prophet Muhammad (s).<ref>Bayhaqī, ''Dalāʾil al-nubuwwa'', p. 197.</ref> After the demise of Prophet (s), the pulpit was used until the time of [[Mu'awiya]]. But then Mu'awiya tried to bring the minbar from [[Medina]] to [[Syria]] and to his palace in order to gain respect and authority which was opposed by people and it remained in the mosque. When al-Masjid al-Nabawi was on fire in 654/1256 the minbar was burnt as well. Later, the Sultan of Egypt sent another minbar to al-Masjid al-Nabawi. It was replaced a number of times in the next centuries. The current minbar in al-Masjid al-Nabawi was sent by Sultan Murad, an Ottoman king, in 998/1589-90.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 221.</ref>

*'''Mihrab of Tahajjud:''' This Mihrab does not exist now, it was located near the pillar of the same name. Prophet Muhammad (s) used to stand next to this pillar when he kept vigil and worshiped God at nights. In following centuries a commemorative Mihrab was built there which became famous as Mihrab of Tahajjud (worship and vigil); however, it was later removed by Saudi government.<ref>Najafī, ''Medina shināsī'', p. 100.</ref>

The first dome of al-Masjid al-Nabawi was built by Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun al-Mamluki in 678/1279-80. Later, Sultan Qaitbay repaired the dome in 887/1482-3 as it was damaged by fire. Also it was rebuilt in the time of Sultan Mahmud the Ottoman king in 1233/1817-8. In the time Sultan 'Abd al-Hamid, the Ottoman king, the color of the dome was changed to green which became famous as [[Qubbat al-Khazra']] (the Green Dome). It has become a tradition to repaint the dome green once a couple of years.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Āthār-i Islāmī Mecca wa Medina'', p. 235.</ref>

• ''Akhbar al-Madina'' written by Muhammad b. Hasan al-Makhzumi, known as Ibn Zabala (d. 200/815) appears to be the first book which had some parts about al-Masjid al-Nabawi. He also discussed the area of the mosque and explained the places and houses in the mosque.

• ''Tarikh al-Madina al-Munawwara'' written by Abu Zeyd 'Amr b. Shu'ba al-Numayri, known as Ibn Shu'ba (d. 262/875); its manuscript has been found in recent decades. The book has been published a number of times. The author discussed Medina in three parts, the time of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]], the time of [['Umar b. al-Khattab]] and the time of [['Uthman b. 'Affan]]. Ibn Shu'ba talked about al-Masjid al-Nabawi and its related traditions as well.

• The book ''Islamic places in Mecca and Medina'' written by Rasul Ja'fariyan (contemporary) has been published a number of times by Mash'ar publication.

• ''The history of al-Masjid al-Nabawi al-Sharif'' written by Muhammad Ilyas 'Abd al-Ghani (contemporary). The author exclusively discussed al-Masjid al-Nabawi in this book.