The Prophet's Mosque. The Prophet's (PBUH) prayer ground was an open area without any buildings to the west of the Prophet's Mosque, where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to perform the Eid prayers. This location, originally used as a resting place for the camels of caravans and the market of Medina, was known as "Minaqah," later referred to as the "Maidan-i-Masjid."
Three mosques were eventually built in this area: the Mosque of Ghamama (or Masjid al-Musalla), the Mosque of Ali ibn Abi Talib, and the Mosque of Abu Bakr. It is reported that the Prophet (PBUH) performed various prayers, including the Eid prayers, the prayers for rain, and some other prayers, such as the funeral prayer for the Negus of Abyssinia, in the Masjid-i-Masjid. Location of the Prayer Ground
The Prophet's (PBUH) prayer ground in Medina was an open area without any buildings to the west of the Prophet's Mosque.(1)( • Samhūdī, ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh. Wafāʾ al-wafā bi akhbār dar al-Muṣṭafā.vol3.p122). This area was known as "Minaqah," used as a resting place for camels and as the location for the market of Medina. It was also referred to as the "Maidan-i-Masjid," the prayer ground.(2)( • ʿAbdu-l Ghanī, Muḥammad ʾIlyās. Al-Masājid al-Atharīyya fī al- madīna al-munawwara.p223).
The Prophet's Prayer Spaces in Minaqah In the sources, reference has been made to places in Minaqah where the Prophet performed the Eid prayers. It should be noted that the locations identified as the Prophet's prayer grounds based on these narratives did not exist during the Prophet's time; they were constructed later.(3)( • ʿAbdu-l Ghanī, Muḥammad ʾIlyās. Al-Masājid al-Atharīyya fī al- madīna al-munawwara.p224/225). According to the narrations transmitted by Ibn Shu'ba, the Prophet performed the Eid prayers in the following locations, all of which are in Minaqah: [4] Numīrī, Ibn Shubba. Tārīkh al-madīna al-munawwara' .vol1.p133-135
Near Dar al-Shifa, In Harat al-Dawus, In the house of Hakim ibn 'Adda, In the residence of the family of Dura, In the house of Kathir ibn al-Salt, Next to the stones at the Hanatin, In the fortress of Bani Zariq.
The mosques in the Masjid-i-Masalla area in Minaqah include:
The mosques in the Masjid-i-Masalla area in Minaqah were not built during the time of the Prophet and the caliphs. The construction of these mosques took place for the first time during the reign of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, the governor of Medina.(5)( • Samhūdī, ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh. Wafāʾ al-wafā bi akhbār dar al-Muṣṭafā.vol3.p122).
During his time, many of the Prophet's prayer spaces were transformed into mosques. The ancient mosques built in the Masjid-i-Masalla area include three mosques: Ghamama Mosque, Mosque of Ali ibn Abi Talib, and Mosque of Abu Bakr.(6)( • Samhūdī, ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh. Wafāʾ al-wafā bi akhbār dar al-Muṣṭafā.vol3.p122/123).
In the ninth century, within the same vicinity, a mosque named after Umar ibn Khattab was also constructed. Additionally, in the fifteenth century, another mosque in Masjid-i-Masalla was built, named Mosque of Uthman.(7)( ʿAbdu-l Ghanī, Muḥammad ʾIlyās. Al-Masājid al-Atharīyya fī al- madīna al-munawwara.p223).
Some researchers have studied the mosque called "Masjid Qashla."(8) Khiyārī, Sayyid Aḥmad Yāsīn.Tārīkh maʿālimal-madīna al-munawwara qadīman wa ḥadīthan.p148).
And the mosque named "Masjid Bilal" in Minaqah.(9)( Khiyārī, Sayyid Aḥmad Yāsīn.Tārīkh maʿālimal-madīna al-munawwara qadīman wa ḥadīthan.p148).
They have also considered it as one of the mosques in the Prophet's prayer grounds in Minaqah.
The Ghamama Mosque
The Mosque of Masjid-i-Masalla or Ghamama is built in a location where the Prophet (PBUH) used to perform prayers in the last years of his life.(***)
The Mosque of Abu Bakr
During his caliphate, Abu Bakr performed the Eid prayers in a location in Minaqah, and later, the Mosque of Abu Bakr was built in that place. [10]( ʿAbdu-l Ghanī, Muḥammad ʾIlyās. Al-Masājid al-Atharīyya fī al- madīna al-munawwara.p223).
The Mosque of Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS)
Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) also performed the Eid prayers in a specific location within this prayer ground, and later, a mosque was built in that place named after him. [11)( ʿAbdu-l Ghanī, Muḥammad ʾIlyās. Al-Masājid al-Atharīyya fī al- madīna al-munawwara.p223).
Location Map of the Masjid-i-Masalla Mosques
The image below illustrates the distance of the Masjid-i-Masalla mosques to one of the corners of the current Prophet's Mosque building. The Prophet's prayers at the prayer ground It has been narrated that the Prophet (PBUH), on the day of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, used to go to the prayer ground (Musalla). He would first perform the prayer and then stand in front of the people. While they were seated in prayer rows, he would address them. In one report, it is mentioned that the Prophet once prayed the Fajr prayer in his mosque, then went to the prayer ground, where he sat and spoke to the people. After the sun had risen, he performed the Eid prayer and then delivered a sermon. It is reported that the Prophet prayed the Eid prayer for the first time in the second year in the prayer ground.( 12]( • Numīrī, Ibn Shubba. Tārīkh al-madīna al-munawwara.vol1.p134). spear" یا "lance" It is also narrated that on the day of Eid, beforehand, the Prophet would carry a tall staff (spear). During the prayer, this staff would be planted in the ground, and the Prophet would pray facing towards it.(13)( • Numīrī, Ibn Shubba. Tārīkh al-madīna al-munawwara.vol1.p139-141). It is said that this spear was gifted to the Prophet by Najashi (the Negus of Abyssinia).(14)( Numīrī, Ibn Shubba. Tārīkh al-madīna al-munawwara.vol1.p139)
The Prophet's Journey to the Prayer Ground
In a collection of narrations mentioned by Ibn Shu'ba in his book, it is emphasized that on the day of Eid, the Prophet would go to the prayer ground through one route and return through another.(15)( Numīrī, Ibn Shubba. Tārīkh al-madīna al-munawwara.vol1.p136-137) The Rain Prayer
It is narrated that once the Prophet performed the rain-seeking prayer (Salat al-Istisqa) in a place called Zoraa, located in the Masjid-i-Masalla (Minaqah) field. [16)( ( Numīrī, Ibn Shubba. Tārīkh al-madīna al-munawwara.vol1.p135)
The Prayer for Najashi
It is reported that after the death of Najashi, the king of Abyssinia, the Prophet prayed for him from a distance at the prayer ground (Masjid-i-Masalla). Supplication
It is also narrated that when the Prophet returned from a journey and passed by the prayer ground (Masjid-i-Masalla), he would stand facing the Qibla and supplicate.(17)( Numīrī, Ibn Shubba. Tārīkh al-madīna al-munawwara.vol1.p138) The Pulpit of Masjid-i-Masalla
During the time of the Prophet (PBUH) and until the era of Marwan ibn Hakam, the Prophet's prayer ground did not have a pulpit. It is reported that after performing the prayer, the Prophet would stand in front of the worshipers and deliver a sermon.(18) Samhūdī, ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh. Wafāʾ al-wafā bi akhbār dar al-Muṣṭafā .vol3.p125). However, during the time of Marwan ibn Hakam, a pulpit was placed in the prayer ground. Marwan would deliver a sermon before performing the prayer, as it was believed that after the prayer, people might not stay to hear his words.(19)( Samhūdī, ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh. Wafāʾ al-wafā bi akhbār dar al-Muṣṭafā .vol3.p126). Some narrations also attribute the use of the pulpit and delivering the sermon before the prayer to Uthman ibn Affan.( 20]( Samhūdī, ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh. Wafāʾ al-wafā bi akhbār dar al-Muṣṭafā .vol3.p127/128).
"sources" • Samhūdī, ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh. Wafāʾ al-wafā bi akhbār dar al-Muṣṭafā. Edited by Muḥammad Muḥyi al-Dīn ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd. Beirut: 1984. • ʿAbdu-l Ghanī, Muḥammad ʾIlyās. Al-Masājid al-Atharīyya fī al- madīna al-munawwara. Medina: [n.p], 2000.
Khiyārī, Sayyid Aḥmad Yāsīn.Tārīkh maʿālimal-madīna al-munawwara qadīman wa ḥadīthan. Riyadh: al-Amāna alʿāmma li-liḥtifāl miʾat ʿām ʿalā tʾsīs al-mamlika al- ʿarabiyya al-suʿūdiyya, 1419 AH/1999.
• Numīrī, Ibn Shubba. Tārīkh al-madīna al-munawwara. Edited by Fahīm Muḥammad Shaltūt. Tehran: Mashʿar, 1380 sh.