Masjid-e-Nabvi has a special place in the hearts of Muslims. Being one of the holiest places in Islam, Muslims congregate to it in the millions. Masjid-e-Nabvi has its charm that’s why every Muslim dream to visit this beautiful Mosque. Masjid-e-Nabvi is also known as the Prophet’s Mosque. Allah says:
لَن تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
“Never will you attain [the] righteousness until you spend from what you love. And whatever you spend of a thing then indeed, Allah of it (is) All-Knowing.” (Surah Al Imran, 3:92)
Millions of Muslims visit this beautiful mosque every year for offering prayers from around the world, for it is the symbol of their emotional attachment with Muhammad (PBUH). The original mosque was very simple, which had a roof covering straw, walls with date branches, and pillars of supportive tree trunks and a floor of bare sand. Its appearance and interior have been restructured many times over the past centuries to have a room for the maximum number of lovers of the Prophet (PBUH) to offer prayers at a time. Allah says:
Here are some points about great masjid in Madinah that might give you the extra push to go for a visit:
- Masjid Nabawi was the second mosque built in the history of Islam. It is the second-holiest site in Islam, after al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.
- 2. Do you know that there are fabricated stories about a body in the green dome of Masjid Nabawi?
- Masjid Nabawi is always open, regardless of date or time. Do you Know that Raudah Opens only for a short time for the ladies?
- The site was originally adjacent to Prophet Muhammad’s house; he settled there after his Hijra (emigration) to Medina in 622 CE.
- Originally Masjid Nabawi was an open-air building made with only palm trunks, beaten clay and palm leaves.
- The Pulpit and mimbar of the Mosque are looked after by a rare group of people who are called “guardians of Prophet’s Mosque.
- It is a major pilgrimage site. Many pilgrims who perform the Hajj go on to Medina to visit the mosque due to its connections to the life of Muhammad.
- The mosque was built by Prophet Muhammad in 622 after he arrived in the city of Medina.
- Rawdah is floored with Green Carpet just to identify it, and the entire Mosque is floored with red carpet.
- In the heart of the mosque houses a very special but small area named Riad ul-Jannah (Gardens of Paradise).
- In 1909, the mosque was the first place in Arabia to have electricity.
- The current mosque is more than 100 times the size of the original structure.
- The initial mosque built by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ took 8 months to build.
- Much of it was roofless at that time.
- The room of Fatima (R.A.) is still inside the mosque.
- The Riad Ul Jannah extends till the hujra (inner chamber) of the Prophet ﷺ.
- The dome was constructed almost 650 years after the Prophet ﷺ’s burial.
- Every prayer there is worth 1,000 prayers in any other masjid.
Some Amazing Facts about Masjid Nabawi in Madinah:
- Masjid-e-Nabvi was the first place in Arabia to have electricity: When electricity was first announced in the Arabian Peninsula the Prophet’s Mosque was the first place to be lit up.
- The current mosque is more than 100 times the size of the original structure: The present mosque is 100 times bigger than the old Masjid-e-Nabvi. Now the Prophet’s mosque carries a total capacity of close to 1 million people. In the old days, Jannat ul Baqi was not included in the Prophet’s mosque but now it is in the Masjid-e-Nabvi.
- Masjid-e-Nabvi is the second largest Mosque on Earth: Masjid-e-Nabvi is the second holiest place on earth after Masjid-al-Haram. It is the second-largest mosque on the earth with further expansion plans underway.
- Masjid-e-Nabvi contains an older section within it: This is the part that has been built by the Ottomans and is on the southern end of the mosque. It is characterized by its unique pillars and heavy elements of Ottoman architecture in its design.
- There is an empty grave in Prophet’s room: It is the belief of some people who went to change the Hujra in 1970 that there is an empty grave next to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Hazrat Abu Bakar (RA) and Hazrat Umer Farooq (RA).
- The initial mosque built by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) took 8 months to build: The Prophet (SAW) himself contributed to the heavy work of the construction of Masjid-e-Nabvi. It took almost 8 months to build.
- Two Domes of Masjid-e-Nabvi: At present, there are two domes of Prophet’s Mosque as for more than 600 years there was no dome on Prophet’s (SAW) grave.
- Purple Dome: The dome was white then it has changed to purple-blue because the Hijaz was very fond of the purple colour.
- Much of it was roofless at that time: The Prophet’s mosque faced Jerusalem, as that was the Qibla during the early years of Islam.
- Three Mehrabs: Usually mosques have one Mehrab but Masjid-e-Nabvi has three Mehrabs. The one used now a day is used by the Imam to lead prayers.
- The room of Hazrat Fatima (RA) is still inside the mosque: Items belonging to the Prophet (SAW) were housed in the room.
Following is a list of some of the facts about it:
- Initial vs. Current Capacity. The early makeup of the mosque was extremely simple with a size of just about 35*30 meters and a height of 2.5 meters. With time, when more and more people embraced Islam, after the victory of the Khaibar Battle, the size and height of it were increased to 50*50 meters and 3.5 meters respectively. After the passage of Muhammad (PBUH), the dimensions of masjid have been changed many times. The current situation of its capacity is rough as follows: 90,000 square meters area, 1300 meters height, 66,000 meters long roof, and more than 2,000 pillars.
- Impact of As-Suffah. In the initial years, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) allocated a separate space with a cool shelter right along with the wall situated on the Northside of the mosque.
- As Learning Institute. The mosque was not only used for offering prayers but also a key place for enlightenment and education for all. Sahaba (R.A) used to learn Quran Reading and understand Quranic teachings and debate among one another.
- Sacred chamber of the Prophet (PBUH). Hujrah (the sacred chamber) is the place of the final residence and death of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) which is situated just outside the main mosque and has a golden vault in front of it.
- Ajar (blessing) of Salah. Masjid-e-Nabawi is considered one of the most significant mosques in religion Islam. Its importance can be observed in the following saying of Prophet (PBUH).
- Mimbar (Podium) of the Prophet (PBUH). The spot where Muhammad (PBUH) used to lecture His Muslim brothers has a great history and importance. There was no concept of a special place for Khateeb (addresser) at that time.
- Riyadh-ul-Jannah (backyard of paradise). Another great part of Masjid-e-Nabawi is 22 meters in length and 15 meters in width, with some part of it situated inside Hurrah (chamber) of Muhammad (PBUH).
- Garden of Abu Talha.
Every Muslim dream is to visit the two Holy Cities, Mecca, and Madinah, and visit the great masjids there. Most Muslims, after returning from these places, can’t wait to return there and worship Allah in the ancient and magnificent city of Mecca, wherein lies the Kaaba, or relax in the unexplainable tranquillity found in Madinah, praying in the same masjid that the Messenger of Allah Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam and his companions prayed in.
كُلُّ الطَّعَامِ كَانَ حِلًّا لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِلَّا مَا حَرَّمَ إِسْرَائِيلُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تُنَزَّلَ التَّوْرَاةُ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِالتَّوْرَاةِ فَاتْلُوهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
“All [the] food was lawful for (the) Children of Israel except what Israel made unlawful upon himself before [that] (was) revealed the Taurat. Say, “So bring the Torah and recite it if you are truthful.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran 33/;93)
The mosque of Muhammad (PBUH), i.e. Masjid-e-Nabawi is one of the greatest mosques in the history of Islam, which has laid the foundations for Muslims to not only pray and learn about the teachings of Allah but also preach it to others.
