Abu Bakr Mosque (Medina): Difference between revisions

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'''Abu Bakr Mosque (Medina)''' is one of the [[Musalla Mosque|musalla mosques]] located in the Manakhah area of Medina, west of al-Masjid al-Nabawī. Muṣallā mosques were built in open spaces where the Prophet (s) performed Eid prayers. It is said that the Prophet (s) prayed for Najashi's death in this place. Abu Bakr performed Eid prayers here during his caliphate after the [[Prophet Muhammad (s)|Prophet (s)]].

==Location of the Mosque==

The Abu Bakr Mosque is one of the mosques in the [[Manakha]] area of [[Medina]] and close to [[Masjid al-Nabi|Masjid al-Nabawi]].<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aمساجد_الاثریه.pdf&page=223 Masājid al-Atharīyah, p. 223.]</ref> Manākhah was an open area that served as Medina's market.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aمعالم_المدینه_المنوره_بین_العمارة_و_التاریخ_جزء4_المجلد1.pdf&page=402 Maʿālim al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah bayn al-ʿImārah wa l-Tārīkh, part 4, p. 402]</ref> Some researchers believe that this mosque was built on the site of Kathir b. al-Salt's house, where, according to narrations, the Prophet (s) once performed Eid prayers.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aمعالم_المدینه_المنوره_بین_العمارة_و_التاریخ_جزء4_المجلد1.pdf&page=4032 Maʿālim al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah bayn al-ʿImārah wa l-Tārīkh, part 4, volume 1, pp. 403-404]</ref>

The Abu Bakr Mosque is the second of the three mosques ([[Masjid al-Ghamama|Ghamamah Mosque]], [[Imam Ali Mosque (Manakha)|Imam Ali Mosque (a)]], and Abu Bakr Mosque) located in the Musalla al-Aʿyad square (the place for Eid prayers).<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aمساجد_الاثریه.pdf&page=223 Masājid al-Atharīyah, p. 223.]</ref> The distance from Abu Bakr Mosque to [[Masjid al-Nabi]] is 335 meters.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده:معالم_المدینه_المنوره_بین_العمارة_و_التاریخ_جزء4_المجلد1.pdf&page=405 Maʿālim al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah bayn al-ʿImarah wa l-Tārīkh, part 4, volume 1]</ref> This mosque was formerly located in a wide alley. Currently, after the removal of the surrounding buildings, it overlooks the courtyard of al-Masjid al-Nabawī.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aمساجد_الاثریه.pdf&page=237 Masājid al-Atharīyah, p. 237]</ref>

Older sources mention the existence of this mosque in the middle of a garden called ʿAyn al-Arzaq.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aالتعریف_بما_انست_الهجرة.pdf&page=146 al-Taʿrīf, p. 146]; [https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده:معالم_المدینه_المنوره_بین_العمارة_و_التاریخ_جزء4_المجلد1.pdf&page=406 al-Maʿālim, p. 406].</ref> It is also said that this mosque was located near the house of Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allah b. Kathir b. al-Ṣalt.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aمعالم_المدینه_المنوره_بین_العمارة_و_التاریخ_جزء4_المجلد1.pdf&page=403 al-Maʿālim, p. 403].</ref>

==Prophet's Prayer==

It is narrated in sources that when the Prophet(s) learned of the death of Najāshī, the ruler of Abyssinia, he informed the people and, along with his companions, prayed for Najāshī in this place.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aمعالم_المدینه_المنوره_بین_العمارة_و_التاریخ_جزء4_المجلد1.pdf&page=402 Maʿālim al-Madīnah, p. 402.]</ref> It is said that Abu Bakr, after the Prophet (s), performed Eid prayers in this place during his caliphate, and for this reason, this place was named Abu Bakr Mosque.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aالتعریف_بما_انست_الهجرة.pdf&page=146 al-Taʿrīf, p. 146]; [https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aالتعریف_بما_انست_الهجرة.pdf&page=147 al-Taʿrīf, p. 147.]</ref>

==History of the Building==

Some believe that mosques were first built in the places where the Prophet (s) prayed in this area during the time of [[Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz|Umar b. Abd al-Aziz]] (governor of Medina in 87-93 AH).<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aوفاء_الوفاء_سمهودی_ج۳.pdf&page=122 Wafāʾ al-Wafāʾ, vol. 3, p. 122]</ref><ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aالمدينه_المنوره_تطورها_العمراني.pdf&page=145 al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah, p. 145]</ref>

The mosque was destroyed during the time of al-Samhudi (d. 911 AH), the historian of Medina. According to al-Samhūdī, this mosque was located in the middle of a garden near a spring, and the local residents would lead their livestock through the mosque's area. Al-Samhudi stated that livestock entered through the northern door of the mosque, and over time, the residents kept their livestock there, turning it into a dump. Al-Samhudi requested the Shaykh al-Haram, Ashraf Inal, to address the situation of this mosque, and he assigned the jurist Shihab al-Dīn Ahmad al-Nusi to this task.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aوفاء_الوفاء_سمهودی_ج۳.pdf&page=122 Wafāʾ al-Wafāʾ, vol. 3, p. 122]</ref> Consequently, a wall was placed on the northern side of the miḥrāb, which was roofed, to prevent the entry of livestock. A path was also allocated on the northern side for the passage of livestock.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aوفاء_الوفاء_سمهودی_ج۳.pdf&page=123 Wafāʾ al-Wafāʾ, vol. 3, p. 123]</ref> There is no report on subsequent constructions of the mosque.

==Features of the Mosque Building==

The Abu Bakr Mosque in [[Medina]] consists of two sections: the western part, which is roofed with a dome, and its entrance is on the eastern side. A minaret is located in its northeastern corner. The eastern part of the mosque is open. The length of the mosque reaches 19.5 meters. Its width is 15 meters. Its area is 292.5 square meters.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده%3Aمساجد_الاثریه.pdf&page=237 Masājid al-Atharīyah, p. 237]</ref> The walls are high and made of stone. The entrance is in the eastern wall, and two columns are placed on either side of the entrance. The mosque's entrance is square, measuring ten meters, with a dome over it.<ref>[https://wikihaj.com/index.php?title=پرونده:المدينه_المنوره_تطورها_العمراني.pdf&page=146 al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah, p. 146]</ref>