The Prophet’s Mosque in Medina Facts & Worksheets

The al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Arabic: المسجد النبوي), also known as the Prophet’s Mosque, is a historic Mosque founded and built by Prophet Muhammad. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi was the second mosque erected in Islamic history, after the Quba Mosque, and is currently one of the world’s largest mosques.

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Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• The mosque’s current design comes from the early 1990s and blends works from the late Ottoman period to the early and modern Saudi periods. 
• Masjid An Nabawi (SAWS), located in the holy city of Madinah, is Islam’s second holiest mosque, hosting hundreds of thousands of Muslims worldwide each year. 
• The mosque was erected by Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) after he moved to Madinah in 622 AD, and it is the second-largest mosque in the world after Masjid al-Haram. 
• It is also the final resting place of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), which draws pilgrims worldwide to see the tomb. 
• Furthermore, the tomb is the ultimate resting place of the Prophet’s closest companion and friend, Abu Bakr. 
• The Rawdah (resting sites) of some of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAWS) family members and friends can be found southeast of the Masjid. 
• The Masjid is always open, regardless of the day or hour. The site was initially close to Muhammad’s house, and the original mosque was an open-air structure serving as a communal center, court, and school.
• The mosque is overseen by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The mosque was once the heart of Medina, with many hotels and historic markets nearby. 
• It is a famous pilgrimage destination. Because of Muhammad’s link to the mosque, many Hajj pilgrims continue to Medina to visit it. 
• The mosque has been expanded several times, the most recent in the mid-1990s. The green dome over the mosque’s center, which houses the tombs of Prophet Muhammad and early Islamic leaders Abu Bakr and Umar, is one of the site’s most famous features.
• Today, the Prophet’s Mosque is a sprawling complex of buildings and structures that not only encompasses practically the whole Medina of the early seventh century CE but also includes numerous other locations, such as Jannatul Baqi and Saqifah Bani Saidah that were obviously outside the city limits.
• Jannat al-Baqi is Madinah’s oldest and earliest Islamic cemetery.

ARCHITECTURE

• The mosque is made of white marble and features multiple minarets. The mosque’s green dome, positioned over the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) in the middle, is one of its defining features. 
• The mosque has been extended several times to accommodate the worshippers.
• It features dozens of massive umbrellas built in its courtyard to protect worshippers from the elements. 
• The mosque’s flooring is paved with red stone and marble and covered with thick carpets. There are numerous markets, hotels, and apartment complexes around the mosque where visitors can rest comfortably as their lifelong desire to visit Madinah comes true.

Rawdah Riyadh ul-Jannah circa 622 CE

• The Rawdah ul-Jannah (Garden of Paradise), also known as the Riaz ul-Jannah, is the oldest and most important section of Masjid al-Nabawi. 
• It stretches from Muhammad’s tomb (Rawdah) to his pulpit (minbar). Ridwan (Arabic: رضوان‎ Riḍwān) signifies “pleased.” Ridwan is the name of an angel in charge of keeping Jannah in order in the Islamic religion. 
• According to Abu Hurayrah, Muhammad said, “The area between my house and my minbar is one of Paradise’s gardens, and my minbar is on my cistern (hawd),” thus the name. 
• This area has various critical and historical interests, including the Minbar Nabawi, Bab al-Taubah, Mihrab Nabawi, approximately eight notable pillars, and the Mukabariyya.

Rawdah Rasool circa 610 CE

• The Rawdah Rasool (roughly, “the garden of the prophet,” referring to Prophet Muhammad’s tomb) is located in the southwest corner of the Ottoman prayer Hall, the oldest section of the existing mosque complex. 
• This mosque area is the Rawdah al-Sharifah (the Noble Garden). The Prophet Muhammad’s grave cannot be seen from any point outside or inside the existing grilled structure. 
• The small 10’x12′ room that houses the tombs of Prophet Muhammad and two of his colleagues (Abu Bakr and Umar) is surrounded by at least two additional walls and one blanket shroud.

Minarets of Masjid an-Nabawi circa 622 CE

• Following a 1994 refurbishment effort, the mosque has ten minarets totaling 104 meters (341 feet) in height. 
• The most historic of these ten is the Bab as-Salam Minaret, which is placed over the Bab as-Salam is one of the four minarets located on the southern flank of the Prophet’s mosque. 
• Muhammad ibn Qalawun added it, and Mehmed IV rebuilt it in 1307 CE. The minarets’ upper, lower, and center portions are cylindrical, octagonal, and square in shape, respectively.

Green Dome circa 622 CE

• The Green Dome (القبة الخضراء‎) is a green dome built over al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslim Caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar. 
• The dome is situated in Medina’s southeast corner of al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque). 
• The structure was built over the tomb around 1279 CE when an unpainted wooden dome was built. 
• The Green Dome got its name after it was painted green for the first time in 1837.

Ottoman Prayer Hall circa 622 CE

• The mosque’s oldest structure is the Ottoman Hall, located in the southernmost part of the current Masjid an-Nabawi. 
• The Qibla wall is the most ornamented wall of Masjid an-Nabawi and dates back to Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid I’s late 1840s repair and extension of the Prophet’s mosque. 
• The Qibla wall is embellished with 185 names of Prophet Muhammad. Other inscriptions and calligraphy include Quranic texts, a few Hadiths, etc.

Ottoman Courtyards circa 622 CE

• The Prophet’s Mosque featured two inner courtyards during the Ottoman era, which were maintained in subsequent Saudi additions and restorations. 
• The first courtyard (حصوة الأولى) is seen here, with the colonnade of the first Saudi enlargement (left) and the Ottoman prayer hall to the right, with al-Qubah al-Khar (القبة الخضراء) in the backdrop. 
• During the mosque’s expansion, al-Saud ibn’ Abdulaziz demolished and rebuilt the expanded courtyard north of the Ottoman prayer hall. 
• The prayer hall where the Prophet’s and Riyad ul-Jannah’s tombs are located dates back to the Ottoman period. 
• The ibn’ Abdulaziz addition features two courtyards shaded by 12 big umbrellas. 

Dikkat ul-Aghwat and al-Suffah circa 800 CE

• The Dikkat Al-Aghwat (دكة الأغوات), also known as the al-Suffah (الصُّفّة), is a rectangular raised platform located near Riyad ul-Jannah immediately south of the Prophet Muhammad’s grave enclosure within the mosque. 
• The present platform is positioned somewhat southwest of the Suffah’s original location. This is the site where Turk troops used to sit in the shade while defending the mosque. It is near (to the north of) Dikkat ul-Tahajjud. 
• During the Medina period, the original Suffah (meaning mud-bench) was available at the back side of Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Muhammad’s Mosque).

Library of the Prophet’s Mosque circa 622 CE

• The Maktaba Masjid al-Nabawi, situated in the western wing of the mosque complex, functions as a contemporary library and houses a collection of manuscripts and various historical artifacts.
• The main library, the antique manuscripts halls A and B, and the principality display of Masjid al-Nabawi’s construction and history are the four main divisions of the library. 
• It was built about 1481/82 CE (886 Hj.) and was destroyed in a later fire that consumed the mosque completely. 
• The contemporary library was most likely rebuilt in 1933/34 CE (1352 Hj.). It includes books provided by benefactors as endowments from several well-known personalities.

Gates of Masjid an-Nabawi circa 622 CE

• Today, the main structure of the Prophet’s Mosque contains 42 gates, each with a different number of portals. 
• The King Fahad Gate (Bab al-Malik Fahad) is one of the great gates of the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi), located on the mosque’s northern side.
• Initially, the Prophet’s mosque had only three modest doors on three sides; currently, the mosque has over two hundred gates, portals, and entryways to handle large crowds. 
• The number and location of the gates changed drastically over time as the mosque developed. Only a few original gates still need to be marked or known.

Foundation Stones of Expansions and Reconstructions circa 1991 CE

• For the many expansions and reconstructions of Masjid al-Nabawi, a huge number of foundation Stones are put across the entire grounds of the mosque. 
• The Prophet’s mosque has undergone numerous rebuilding, construction, and expansion efforts, with each Islamic ruler considerably expanding and embellishing it. 
• From its humble beginnings as a small mud wall building measuring approximately 30.5 meters by 35.62 meters (100.1 feet by 116.9 feet), the mosque has expanded to cover approximately 1.7 million square feet. It can now accommodate between 600,000 to 1 million people at once.

Sliding Domes circa 610 CE

• The Masjid Nabawi features a flat paved roof with 27 movable domes on square bases. The second edition of Masjid an-Nabawi significantly expanded the roof space. 
• The inside is illuminated via holes drilled into the base of each dome. During peak hours, the roof is also utilized for prayer, with the domes sliding out on metal tracks to shade portions of the roof and create light wells for the prayer hall. 
• Kamal Ismael devised the concept of sliding domes to adjust the internal climate of the mosque. These domes are decorated with Islamic geometric designs, primarily blue in hue.

Piazzas and Umbrellas circa 610 CE

• The al-Masjid an-Nabawi Umbrellas are convertible umbrellas erected in Medina, Saudi Arabia, on the piazza of al-Masjid an-Nabawi. 
• The umbrella’s shadow reaches over 143,000 square meters and is split across four corners. These umbrellas are intended to protect worshipers from the sun’s heat during prayer and the risk of slipping and falling if it rains.

Jannat al-Baqi’ circa 610 CE

• The Jannatul Baqi’ graveyard, which measures around 170,000 square meters, is located on the eastern flank of the Prophet’s Mosque. 
• The Jannat al-Baqi in modern times. According to Islamic tradition, around ten thousand Prophet Muhammad’s companions are buried here. 
• The resting place of Imam Hassan ibn’ Ali, Zain ul-‘Abideen, Fatima bint Muhammad, Imam Baqir, and Imam Jafar Sadiq is situated there.
• According to many tales, Muhammad prayed every time he passed it. 
• Although it was initially located on the outskirts of Medina, it is now an integral element of but separate from the mosque complex.

Saqifah Bani Sa’idah circa 610 CE

• A little garden marks the location of a community building northwest of the Masjid Nabawi. 
• The place’s significance originates from a crucial event in early Islam when Muhammad’s followers pledged their allegiance to Abu Bakr as the initial caliph and the successor to Muhammad shortly after his passing in 632 CE (11 Hijri).
• What kind of structure or building stood here during Abu Bakr’s life is still being determined. 
• The Arabic word saqifa refers to a covered communal meeting space for talk. Still, it is now synonymous in historical records with the conference held soon after Prophet Muhammad’s death to discuss his succession.

FUN FACTS

Medina serves as the final resting place of Prophet Mohammad.

• Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, is renowned for housing Mecca and Medina, two of the most significant cities in the Muslim world.
• Medina is also known as “the enlightened city” and “the city of God’s Messenger.” 
• After Mecca, it is the second holiest location in Islam. This is because it is the final resting place of the Prophet Mohammad, who sought safety in the city after fleeing Mecca.

Prophet Muhammad assisted in constructing the Al-Masjid

• In 622 CE (1 AH), Muhammad assisted in constructing Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. It was Muhammad’s second mosque in Medina, the third mosque erected in Islamic history, and it is the world’s second-largest mosque and the second-holiest place in Islam.

The Prophet’s Mosque is situated adjacent to the residence of Muhammad.

• Muhammad and his spouse, Aisha bint Abu Bakr, resided in the immediate vicinity of the mosque, with the “Sacred Chamber” serving as the Prophet’s dwelling place. 
• This chamber is situated at the southeastern corner of the Prophet’s Mosque.
• Upon the Prophet’s passing, he was interred in the southern part of the Sacred Chamber, while his wife continued to reside in the northern wing of the Sacred Chamber.
• Aisha’s father, Abu Bakr, was buried beside the Prophet upon his passing.
• When the second caliph, Omar ibn Al-Khattab, died, he was buried beside Aisha’s father. 
• The tombs were added to the mosque during the time of Umayyad Caliph al-Walid I. 
• A green dome rises above the tombs. 
• The structure was constructed in 1279 CE, yet it acquired the moniker “Green Dome” when its dome was painted green in 1837.

Annually, the Prophet’s Mosque attracts millions of Muslim visitors.

• All pious and eligible Muslims must undertake a Hajj (pilgrimage) to the sacred destination of The Kaaba in Mecca at least once during their lifetime.
• Many pilgrims journey to Medina during their Hajj to offer prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque and visit the sacred site of the Tomb of Prophet Muhammad, which the iconic Green Dome recognizes.
• During Hajj in 2016, almost 300,000 pilgrims visited the Prophet’s Mosque and The Tomb of Prophet Muhammad daily. 
• Every year, millions of Muslims from all over the world flock to Madina’s Masjid-e Nabawi.

The blessings of praying in the Prophet’s Mosque are magnified

• Muslims think worshiping in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is more rewarding than praying in any mosque 1,000 times. 
• According to Shaikh ibn Uthaimin, an Islamic scholar in Saudi Arabia, the multiplication of the prayer’s rewards in Al-Masjid An-Nabawi means that performing one necessary prayer there is equivalent to performing a thousand obligatory prayers elsewhere.

The Prophet’s Mosque is closed to non-Muslims

• Medina, like Mecca, is a holy location in Islam. As a result, non-Muslims are barred from entering Nabawi Square in the city center. 
• This is the location of the Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi. The haram is the name given to the place that is off-limits to non-Muslims. 
• Non-Muslims, on the other hand, are welcome to explore Medina’s fringes and other regions.

The Prophet’s Mosque in Medina Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the The Prophet’s Mosque in Medina across 31 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about The Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. The al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Arabic: المسجد النبوي), also known as the Prophet’s Mosque, is a historic Mosque founded and built by Prophet Muhammad.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. The Prophet’s Mosque in Medina Facts
2. Vocabulary Practice
3. The Prophet
4. Mosques
5. Navigating the Mosque
6. Cultural Relativism
7. The Mosque’s Timeline
8. Virtual Tour
9. Mosque Features
10. Islam Symbol
11. A Gift for the Prophet

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of the Prophet’s Mosque in Islam?

The Prophet’s Mosque, also known as Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, is of great significance in Islam. It was built by the Prophet Muhammad and is the second holiest mosque in Islam after the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) in Mecca. The Prophet’s Mosque is where the Prophet Muhammad is buried, and it holds immense religious and historical importance for Muslims worldwide.

When was the Prophet’s Mosque built, and how has it evolved over time?

The original mosque was built by the Prophet Muhammad in 622 CE upon his arrival in Medina. Over the centuries, it has undergone several expansions and renovations. The most significant expansions were carried out during the reigns of the early Caliphs and various Islamic dynasties. The mosque’s architecture has evolved, incorporating various styles and designs, with the current structure being the result of multiple expansions and renovations.

What are some key features of the Prophet’s Mosque?

The Prophet’s Mosque is known for its distinctive green dome, which covers the tomb of Prophet Muhammad. The mosque’s courtyard is vast and can accommodate a large number of worshippers. The Rawdah, a section inside the mosque, is considered a highly blessed area where prayers are believed to have special significance. The mosque is adorned with beautiful calligraphy, intricate Islamic art, and it has a unique pulpit known as the minbar, from which the Friday sermon is delivered.

How is the Prophet’s Mosque significant during the Hajj pilgrimage?

While the primary rituals of the Hajj pilgrimage are performed in Mecca, many pilgrims visit Medina to offer prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque. It is considered a highly meritorious act for pilgrims to visit and pray at the mosque, and it is often included in the itinerary of those performing Hajj or Umrah.

How does the Prophet’s Mosque contribute to the spiritual atmosphere in Medina?

The Prophet’s Mosque serves as a spiritual center, attracting Muslims from around the world who seek to connect with the legacy of Prophet Muhammad. The mosque’s serene atmosphere, the opportunity to offer prayers in proximity to the Prophet’s burial place, and the sense of historical continuity create a deeply spiritual experience for worshippers. The mosque plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of community and Islamic identity among Muslims.

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