The Foundation of the Mosque
The Prophet’s arrival: When the Prophet arrived in Medina following the Hijra in 1 AH / 622 CE, he allowed his camel (Qaswa’) to walk freely and settle where she would. She settled twice near the plot belonging to two orphan boys (Sahl and Suhayl, sons of ‘Amr) — the Prophet purchased the land and built the mosque there.
Construction by the Companions: The Prophet worked alongside his Companions in building the mosque — carrying bricks with his own hands. This act of prophetic participation in communal labor has remained one of the most cited examples of the Prophet’s character.
The original structure: The first mosque was approximately 30m × 35m, with palm trunk pillars, a roof of palm leaves, and simple brick walls. Three doors. The qibla was initially toward Jerusalem, then redirected to Mecca (2 AH / 624 CE) — the famous change of qibla narrated in Quran 2:142-144.
See also: Seerah Madinah, Nubuwwa, Five Pillars Of Islam
The Prophet’s Chamber and Grave
The Prophet’s residence: Attached to the mosque were the rooms of the Prophet’s wives (Ummahat al-Mu’minin) — small chambers of mud brick. The Prophet’s own room was adjacent to the mosque’s eastern wall.
The Prophet’s death and burial: The Prophet died on 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal 11 AH / 8 June 632 CE in the chamber of A’isha bint Abi Bakr. He was buried in that same chamber — not in the mosque itself but in the private room. Over subsequent centuries, the mosque’s expansion encompassed and eventually surrounded the original chambers.
The Green Dome: The distinctive green dome above the Prophet’s burial chamber (al-Hujra al-Sharifah) was added in the Ottoman period. The space beneath it — containing the graves of the Prophet, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, and ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab — is among the most visited sites in the world.
Visiting the Prophet: The Prophet: “Whoever visits my grave, my intercession will be guaranteed for him.” — Abu Dawud, Daraqutni. Visiting the Prophet’s grave (ziyarat al-nabi) is considered among the most virtuous acts a Muslim can perform — the pilgrim greets the Prophet directly at the grave.
See also: Nubuwwa, Ziyara, Salawat On The Prophet
The Rawda al-Sharifa
Between the Prophet’s pulpit and his grave: The Prophet: “Between my grave and my pulpit is a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and my pulpit is on my fountain [hawdh].” — Bukhari, Muslim. This area — approximately 22m × 15m — is known as al-Rawda al-Sharifa (the Noble Garden). Prayer in this space carries exceptional spiritual weight.
The Companions’ practice: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab’s grave stands adjacent to the Prophet’s — he asked A’isha’s permission to be buried there as a final honor. ‘Uthman was buried in al-Baqi’, the main cemetery of Medina, alongside many of the Prophet’s Companions.
See also: Ahl Al Bayt, Fatima Al Zahra, Ali Ibn Abi Talib
The Mosque in Islamic History
Successive expansions: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan, al-Walid ibn ‘Abd al-Malik, the Mamluk sultans, and the Ottoman caliphs each expanded the mosque significantly. The Saudi state has undertaken the most dramatic modern expansions.
The Friday prayer: The Prophet instituted the Friday prayer (salat al-jumu’a) in this mosque — it is from here that the weekly communal gathering of the Muslim Umma radiates across the world.
The Masjid al-Nabawi in Hajj: While Hajj does not require visiting Medina (it is not a pillar of Hajj), the overwhelming majority of pilgrims visit Medina before or after Mecca — the ziyara (visit) to the Prophet being its own spiritual obligation of love.
See also: Hajj Journey, Salat Al Juma, Understanding Namaz
See also: Seerah Madinah, Nubuwwa, Five Pillars Of Islam, Ziyara, Salawat On The Prophet, Ahl Al Bayt, Fatima Al Zahra, Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Hajj Journey, Salat Al Juma, Understanding Namaz