Al-Masjid al-Nabawi
In Medina, the first enterprise of God's Messenger was the erection of a mosque. Before this, a mosque had been built by him and his noble companions in Quba as well. Such an achievement indicates the important role of mosque in Islam. The most honorable mosque after al-Masjid al-Haram in rank is the Mosque of the Prophet (s) that is located in Medina. About saying prayer in this mosque, the Prophet of God (s) says: "For God, a prayer in my mosque equals ten thousands prayers in the other mosques, except al-Masjid al-Haram where a prayer equals one hundred thousand prayers."
Construction
Most historians believe the initial area of the mosque had approximately been 1060 square meters, i.e. 35 meters length and 37.5 meters width. But after the Prophet (s) returned from the Battle of Khaybar in 628 CE, the mosque area was increased because of the increase in the number of Muslims and each of its length and width was enlarged nearly 50 meters and its area came up to 2475 square meters and consequently, the mosque turns into a square in shape.
Umar b. al-Khattab's Development
In 639 CE, Umar b. al-Khattab extended the mosque 10 meters in the east side, 5 meters toward Qibla (south of Medina) and 15 meters to the north and as a result, the mosque length came to 140 meters, its width to 60 meters and its area to 3575 square meters.
'Uthman b. 'Affan's Development
In 649-50 CE, 'Uthman b. 'Affan added 496 square meters to Mosque of the Prophet (s) and its area came to 4071 square meters and maintained its shape and size till the time of al-Walid b. Abd al-Malik.
Al-Walid b. Abd al-Malik's Development
In 707 to 710 CE, al-Walid added 2369 square meters to the mosque area and it came to 6440 square meters.
Al-Mahdi al-Abbassi's Development
In 778 CE, al-Mahdi al-Abbasi attempted to develop the mosque again and its area came to 8890 square meters.
Development in Mamluk Age
In Mamaluk age, Qaitibay added 120 square meters to the mosque area in 1482 CE, and its area came to 9010 square meters.
Development in the Ottoman Age
In 1849, Sultan Abd al-Majid had been adding 1293 square meters to the mosque area and made it came to 10303 square meters.
Additions in Saudi Age
After the Saudis accession, 6024 square meters were added to the mosque area in the first development in 1951 and the mosque total area came to 16327 square meters. In the second development that began from 1984, 82000 square meters were added to the mosque area and it came to 98500 square meters that inhabits over 167000 praying people. It is worthy to say that thousands have been added to the population of praying people because of the development of the mosque environment.
Names and sayings of Imams of Shi'a, Sunni governors and some of the Prophet's (s) companions are seen in the inscriptions on the walls of the Mosque of the Prophet (s). They are the memorials to Uthmani kings who considered all the Islamic sects in their Islamic-artistic architecture. It is interesting that the name of the last Imam of Shi'a and the savior of the Apocalypse is written as "Mohammad al–Mahdi" in one of the inscriptions on the mosque wall in such a way that the word of "alive" displays itself from the inside of the pattern.
Parts
Rawda (Garden)
The part of Mosque of the Prophet (s) that is located in the south-eastern site (toward Ka'ba), is known as Rawda (graden). This part owns much esteem and it is introduced as one of rawdas of paradise in one of the saying of God's messenger (s): "there is one of paradise gardens between my tomb and my pulpit".
Rawda is 330 square meters. Its length is 22 meters and its width is 15 meters. In Rawda, there are other three holy places, too including the Prophet's (s) tomb, pulpit, and prayer–arch.
Tomb of God's Messenger
One of the best points of the mosque is the Messenger's resting place. The messenger who was the beloved of God and his creatures and precious inheritances of Islam are the fruit of his twenty–three years attempt. In the eastern side of the mosque, the God's messenger (s) built some chambers for his wives to live where maintained for nearly ninety years after his decease. First a chamber for Suda, then one for Aisha and along with it, another for Fatima –peace be upon her – were built. The historians wrote that God's messenger was buried in the chamber where he passed away.
The tomb of God's messenger was located in a small room and had maintained its form till the development of the mosque in al-Walid's time, when the eastern part of the mosque was developed, the pure tomb was located in the mosque.
At present, the area of the chamber which contains the tomb is 240 square meters (16 meters length and 15 meters width). A Golden frame is constructed all around it. In four corners of the chamber, four firm pillars are erected on which a green dome is put. This chamber has some doors: the door of Fatima's chamber that indicates the position of her chamber, the door of asceticism on the north of the pure chamber, the door of message entrance or the door of mercy on the west, the door of repentance or the Messenger's door on the south (Qibla). In the chamber, a place is determined as Fatima's tomb in particular delimitation put in a frame. In the southern side of this particular delimitation is Fatima's prayer–arch.
Pulpit
One of the holy places in the mosque, is the pulpit of God's Messenger (s). It is said that the Messenger, at first, lectured while leaning against a date tree. One of his companions suggested building a pulpit so that God's Messenger (s) sat on it so that all of people see him and he does not get tired of standing. This pulpit had three stairs. The pulpit of God's Messenger (s) has been re-constructed eight times and each time it has been put on its previous place.
The existing pulpit is the one that King Morad Uthmani ordered to be built and set. This pulpit has twelve stairs and it is valuable artistic achievement.
Mihrab
The mihrab was built where God's Messenger (s) said his prayers and there is no doubt that the place of his prayers is the very existing mihrab. When al-Walid had the mosque development and 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz developed it, a mihrab was built in the place of the Prophet's (s) prayers. Besides, other mihrabs were built in the mosque that was the place of some governors' prayers.
Pillars
The ceiling of the Mosque of the Prophet (s) was put on the pillars that kept the ceiling as well as were used by God's Messenger (s) and his companions. The eight pillars of God's Messenger time remind of particular memories that cause their holiness. Each time that the mosque was re-constructed the position of these pillars didn't change, just the new pillars were substituted for the old ones. Naturally, other new pillars have been added along with the mosque development as well in such a way that there are nearly 706 pillars in the mosque now.
The pillars that were located in the old position of the mosque and the southern section of the present mosque are separated from the rest of pillars with the white color now. The characteristics of some of them include:
Pillar of Protection
Ali b. Abi Talib (a) stood beside this pillar and protected God's Messenger (s). The pillar of protection is known as the pillar of Ali b. Abi Talib (a) too; because he said his prayers beside it.
Pillar of Repentance
This pillar is also called the pillar of Abu Lubaba, because he became conscience-stricken after what he did for the sake of the Jews of Banu Qurayza. In order to be repentant and punished by himself, he fastened himself to a pillar and continued this condition more than ten days and nights in such a way that his daughter unfastened him from the pillar just for the prayer times and emitting body waste till God inspired His messenger (s) that Abu Lubaba's repentance was accepted. Then God's messenger (a) came to the mosque and unfastened him from the pillar. Prayer and repentance beside this pillar has much esteem.
Pillar of Delegations
One of the routines of God's Messenger (s) was to meet the tribe leaders. The place of these meetings was beside one of the mosque pillars that would be known as the pillar of delegations later.
Pillar of Bed
It is the place where God's messenger (s) put a bed made of date branches and relaxed on it.
Pillar of Emigrants
The reason why the name of emigrants was chosen for this pillar is that they gathered beside it. It is also known as the pillar of Aisha, because it is narrated from her that people threw dice to come beside this pillar if they knew the esteem of saying prayer beside it. For this reason, it is called the pillar of dice, too.
Pillar of Asceticism
It is narrated when people left the mosque to their home at night, God's messenger (s) spread a mat beside this pillar and said the night prayer and proceed with asceticism and for this reason it is known through this name.
Pillar of Site of Gabriel
This pillar that is also called Murbi'at al-Qabr (مربعة القبر) is beside the northern side of the pure frame where the door of Fatima's house was being opened and this is the same door that according to Ibn Abbas's narration, God's messenger stood beside this door five times a day –at the time of five imperative prayers- for nine months and said: "peace be upon you, may God bless you and grant you his abundance. Indeed, God determines that the impurity withdraws from you –the Prophet's (s) household- and He cleanses you thoroughly."
8. The Pillar of Khaluq-perfumed
At first, the Prophet of God (s) put his back on the trunk of a date tree and lectured. It was written when the pulpit was built for him, this tree wailed similar to the female camel that is separated from her baby, therefore, this pillar is called the wailing one. The Khaluq-perfumed pillar was erected in the same place of the date tree. It is called the Khaluq- perfumed pillar because it was perfumed with Khaluq. Soffeh Soffeh is the name of the place where a group of homeless immigrant Muslims inhabited during the first years of their immigration from Mecca to Medina. 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. The Mosque of the Prophet (s) 21 Individuals such as Belal, Abuzar, Meqdad, Hozayfeh and… are among the Soffeh inhabitants. The Site of Gabriel: This place was known as the Site of Gabriel because this divine intimate angle came to the Prophet of God (s) through this door and meet him. This place is located within the noble chamber, so it is inaccessible. The First Doors of the Mosque: 1. The Door of Mercy : 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 22 The Mosque of the Prophet (s) request. It is also called the door of "Atekeh". 2. The Door of Gabriel : This door was the entrance of the Prophet (s) (s) and it is in the eastern wall of the mosque. It is narrated that the Prophet (s) (s) met Gabriel in the entrance of this door; therefore, it is called the door of Gabriel. 3. The Door of Mercy : This door is also located in the western wall of the mosque and it has existed since the time of the first construction of the mosque. 4. The Door of Women : One of the important doors that was built in the mosque development in the second governor'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 The Mosque of the Prophet (s) 23 new doors have been added to the mosque. The Towers of the Mosque When Valid developed the mosque, he built four towers in the four corners of the mosque. With the passage of time, the bigger and firmer towers substituted for the old ones and new towers were also built for the mosque. The four main towers include: the tower of Soleymanieh and the tower of Majidieh that are located at both sides of the northern line and the towers of Qaitibai and Babosalam are located at both sides of the southern line. At present, other towers are also added to the mosque and their number reaches ten. The Pilgrimage of the Prophet (s): When you enter the Prophet's City, after pilgrimage cleansing and leading the prayer of entrance permission, enter through the door of Gabriel, and your first step should be with the right foot, then repeat " God is indeed superior 24 The Mosque of the Prophet (s) than what can be described " one hundred times. Then say a two- part prayer for the salutation of the mosque and move toward the noble chamber and stand up there and say:" peace be upon you, thou the Prophet (s), peace be upon you, thou God's messenger, peace be upon you, thou Mohammad-Ibn-Abdullah, peace be upon you, thou the last of prophets, I witness that you indeed propagated your prophecy, and said prayer and gave alms, and advised to do virtuous deeds, and prevented from vicious deeds, and worshiped God purely until you reached certainly, so may God bless you and your pure, chaste descendants." Then stand toward Ka'aba in such a way that your left shoulder is located toward the Prophet's tomb and your right shoulder toward the pulpit and say: " I witness indeed there is no god except Allah who is alone, there is no partner for Him, and I witness Mohammad is indeed His worshiper and messenger, and I witness you are The Mosque of the Prophet (s) 25 indeed God's messenger, and you are indeed Mohammad-Ibn-Abdullah, and I witness you has indeed propagated your God's messages and advised your followers, and endeavored in God's path, and worshiped God until you reached certainty through erudition, friendly advice,and assisted the truth that you undertook and you have indeed been kind with believers and you have been angry with unbelievers, then God sent you the best nobility of the noble's position, praise belongs to God who saved us from disbelief and deviation, then, thou God, send your salutation and your confidant angles greeting and your intimate prophets, and your virtuous worshipers, and welcome of all the inhabitants of heavens and earth and of everyone who praise you from the first person to the last, thou the Lord of all Being to Mohammad, your worshiper and messenger and prophet and confidential and savior and beloved and intimate friend and the selected 26 The Mosque of the Prophet (s) person and the honest individual and the best among your creatures, thou God, bestow him a high degree, grant him paradise and offer him such a deserving rank that all the creatures from the first to the last covet him, thou God, you indeed said : "and indeed if they come to you when they do injustice about themselves, then they beg God to forgive them and beg the Prophet (s) to ask God their forgiveness, they certainly find out that God is indeed forgiving and merciful ",and I indeed come to you while I am repentant and I beg you forgive my evils and I indeed resort to God –my Lord and your Lord – through you in order to He forgives my evils. " And beg your wishes. There is hope that they are offered –if Great God determines. Then say the specific salutations to the Prophet (s): "Thou God, peace be upon Mohammad who carried your inspiration and The Mosque of the Prophet (s) 27 propagated your messages, peace be upon Mohammad who permitted your permitted deeds and prevented your prevented deeds and taught your Book, and peace be upon Mohammad who said prayer and gave alms and invited people to your religion, and peace be upon Mohammad who performed his contract and warned against your threats, and peace be upon Mohammad through whom you forgive evils and hide weaknesses, and you remove sorrows, and peace be upon Mohammad through whom you take away miseries, and you clear sadness, and you fulfill wishes and you save from adversity and peace be upon Mohammad through whom you sympathize your worshipers, and you develop cities, and you defeat the conceited, and you destroy cruel kings, and peace be upon Mohammad through whom you weaken properties, and you shelter from fears, and you break idols, and you sympathize creatures, and peace be upon Mohammad through 28 The Mosque of the Prophet (s) whom you send the best religion, and you endear belief, and you avoid idols and you grace Bayt-Al-Haram and peace be upon Mohammad and his pure and righteous descendants and bless them thoroughly. "