Al-Masjid al-Nabawi: Difference between revisions

Suffa is the name of the place outside of the mosque where a group of homeless emigrant Muslims inhabited during the first years of their emigration from Mecca to Medina, they were named Aṣḥāb al-Ṣuffa (people of Suffa). The place devoted to them was approximately 96 square meters and roofed and it was located between the door of Gabriel and the door of Women. Now the place is located inside the mosque. Individuals such as Bilal, Abu Dharr, Miqdad, Hudhayfa were among the Suffa inhabitants.

 

It is transmitted in the history as: “before Qibla was changed from Bayt al-Maqdis to Ka'ba, the mihrab of the Prophet (s) was in the north of the mosque. After the change of Qibla, this part of the mosque was roofed by the order of holy Prophet (s) as a place for homeless emigrants to rest and live in, which was included within the Mosque area during development activities in the seventh year after Hijra”.

 

 

===Houses of the Wives of the Holy Prophet (s)===

The houses for wives of the holy Prophet (s) which were in the form of hujra (chambers) were located in north, south and east of the mosque. After the demise of holy Prophet (s), he was interred in Aisha's chamber beside the mosque.

 

===Site of Gabriel===

This place was known as the site of Gabriel because this divine intimate angle came to the Prophet (s) through this door and met him. This place is located within the noble chamber, so it is inaccessible.

 

===First Doors of the Mosque===

====Mercy Door (Bab al-Rahma)====

This door is in the western wall of the mosque. The appellation of this door as "Mercy" is derived from a saying of the Prophet (s) that asked God to rain according to the request of someone who entered through this door and then he asked him to stop raining after seven days according to the same person's request. It is also called the door of 'Atika.

 

====Door of Gabriel ====

This door was the entrance of the Prophet (s) and it is in the eastern wall of the mosque. It is narrated that the Prophet (s) met Gabriel in the entrance of this door; therefore, it is called the door of Gabriel.

 

====Peace Door (Bab al-Salam)====

 

====Door of Women====

One of the important doors that was built in the mosque development in the second caliph's time is the door of Women. It is also known as the same name now. The door was devoted to the women's coming and going to the mosque. In the successive developments, many new doors have been added to the mosque.

 

When al-Walid developed the mosque, he built four minarets in the four corners of the mosque. Later, bigger and firmer minarets substituted the old ones and new minarets were also built for the mosque.

 

The four main minarets are Sulaymaniyya minaret and Majidiya minaret that are located at both sides of the northern wall and Qaitibay and Bab al-Salam minarets are located at both sides of the southern wall. At present, other towers are also added to the mosque and their number reaches ten.

 

When you enter Medina, after ziyara ghusl (ghusl before visiting holy shrines) and saying the prayer of entrance permission, enter through the door of Gabriel, and your first step should be with the right foot, then repeat takbir one hundred times. Then say a two-rak'a prayer for salutation of the mosque and move toward the noble chamber and stand up there and say:

 

:"Peace be upon you, O the Prophet (s), peace be upon you, O God's messenger, peace be upon you, O Muhammad b. 'Abd Allah, peace be upon you, O the last of the prophets, I testify that you indeed propagated your message, and said prayer and gave alms, and advised to do virtuous deeds, and prevented from vicious deeds, and worshiped God purely until you demised, so may God bless you and your pure, chaste descendants."

 

Then stand toward Ka'ba in such a way that your left shoulder is located toward the Prophet's (s) tomb and your right shoulder toward the pulpit and say:  

 

:"I testify indeed there is no god except Allah who is alone without any partner for Him, and I testify that Muhammad (s) is indeed His servant and messenger, and I testify you are indeed God's messenger, and you are indeed Muhammad b. 'Abd Allah, and I testify you have indeed propagated messages of your Lord, and advised your followers, and endeavored in God's path, and worshiped God until death came upon you, with wisdom and fair exhortation, fulfilled the duty that was incumbent upon you, acted compassionately to the believers, and been firm of heart against the unbelievers. Therefore, Almighty Allah has exalted you to the most honorable position of the ennobled ones. All praise be to Allah Who has saved us, through you, from polytheism and error. O Allah, pour Your blessings and the blessings of Your archangels, Your commissioned Prophets, Your righteous servants, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, and all those who glorified You, O Lord of the Worlds, from the past and the coming generations, on Muhammad —Your servant, Your messenger, Your prophet, Your trustee, Your confidant, Your most beloved, Your choice, Your select, Your elite, and the best of Your creation. O Allah, confer upon him with the elevated rank, grant him the right of intercession for entering Paradise, and raise him to a position of glory that all the past and the coming generations will wish to have. O Allah, You have said, "and had they, when they were unjust to themselves, come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah, and the Messenger had (also) asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful." Here I am, before you, asking forgiveness, repenting from my sins, and seeking your intercession for me before Allah—your and my Lord—that He may forgive my sins."

 

And beg your wishes. There is hope that they are offered –if Great God determines.

 

* Makkah and Madinah: The Cities of Bounties & Blessings, Hajj and Ziarah Research Center

* The Prophet's Mosque, Hajj and Ziarah Research Center