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Masjid al-Nabawi

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When Muhammad moved to Medina he began the construction of the Quba Mosque, then just a few days later he began the Masjid al-Nabawi, which translates to ‘The Prophet’s Mosque’. This mosque is where many of the modern traditions of the religion began to establish, the building of the central courtyard and the call to prayer for example. Muhammad would stand on a pulpit at the edge of one of the arcades to preach his sermons and he was interred in the grounds of the mosque. Because of it’s direct connection with Muhammad it is one of Islam’s three most important pilgrimage sites.

Obviously the building is much changed from the original Muhammad began in 622. It has a simple, rectangular floor plan on two floors which can accommodate half a million worshippers. 24 white domes adorn the roof and no expense has been spared with the design details in the newer section of the building which is all white marble, escalators and air conditioning. The older section has been encircled by the new, but retains most of it’s fading but detailed looks which involve colourful decorations and more pillars than is needed to hold up the roof.

The most sacred place in this most sacred of mosques it the ‘Dome of the Prophet’ the single large green dome amongst all the white ones, underneath is where Muhammad’s tomb was built.

Review by editor Worldreviewer

‘What to see’

The Prophet's Mosque has a flat paved roof topped with 24 domes on square bases. Holes pierced into the base of each dome illuminate the interior. The... Read more »

Review by expert member Martin Gray