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Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Arabic: المسجد النبوي ) or the Mosque of the Prophet, in Medina, is the second holiest mosque in Islam. Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca is the holiest mosque; the Al-Aqsa mosque (adjacent to the Dome of the Rock, in Jerusalem) is the third holiest in Islam.
The original mosque was built by the Prophet Muhammad. Subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated the mosque. The most important feature of the site is the green dome over the center of the mosque, where the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad is located. This dome is known as the Dome of the Prophet. (Early Muslim leaders Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab are buried in an adjacent area as well.)
The edifice was originally Muhammad's house; he settled there after his Hijrah (emigration) to Medina. He later built a mosque on the grounds. He himself shared in the heavy work of construction. The original mosque was an open-air building. The basic plan of the building has been adopted in the building of other mosques throughout the world.
The mosque also served as a community center, a court, and a religious school. There was a raised platform for the people who taught the Qur'an.
Ar-Rawdah an-Nabawiyah
At the heart of the mosque is a very special but small area named ar-Rawdah an-Nabawiyah (Arabic: الروضة النبوية), which extends from the tomb of the prophet to his pulpit. All pilgrims attempt to visit and pray in ar-Rawdah, for there is a tradition that supplications and prayers uttered here are never rejected. Entrance into ar-Rawdah is not always possible (especially during the Hajj season), as the tiny area can accommodate only a few hundred people. Ar-Rawdah has two small gateways manned by Saudi soldiers charged with preventing overcrowding in the tiny area. The green fence at the tomb of Muhammad is guarded by Wahhabi volunteers; they stop pilgrims from touching the fence, a gesture of worship that the Wahhabis regard as shirk, idolatry.
The structure called Muhammad's pulpit is also guarded by a Wahhabi volunteer, who attempts to keep pilgrims from touching the pulpit. The current marble pulpit was constructed by the Ottomans. The original pulpit was much smaller than the current one, and constructed of palm tree wood, not marble.
Saudi expansion of the Mosque
The original mosque was not that large, and today the original exists only as a small portion of the larger mosque. The mosque was greatly expanded after the formation of Saudi Arabia. The latest renovations took place under King Fahd and have greatly increased the size of the mosque, allowing it to hold a large number of worshippers and pilgrims. It is also completely air-conditioned and decorated with marble.
The newer and older sections of the mosque are quite distinct. The older section has many colorful decorations and numerous small pillars.
The mosque is located in what was traditionally the center of Medina, with many hotels and old markets nearby. It is a major pilgrimage site and many people who perform the Hajj later go on to Medina to visit the mosque.
See also
- Timeline of Islamic history
- Islamic architecture
- Islamic art
- List of mosques
- Makkah
- Masjid Al Haram
- Kabaa
External links
Prophetenmoschee | Masjid al-Nabawi | Moskee van de profeet | 預言者のモスク
"Masjid al-Nabawi"