The Al-Rayah Mosque (Medina) The Al-Rayah Mosque (Flag Mosque), also known as Dhu'bab Mosque and Qarin Mosque, is a mosque located in the north of Medina on top of Mount Dhu'bab.
During the Battle of the Trench, a tent was erected for the Prophet (PBUH) on top of Mount Dhu'bab where he prayed. Later, Muslims built the Al-Rayah Mosque to commemorate this place. Location
Dhu'bab Mosque is located to the northwest of the Prophet's Mosque(1) ʿAbd al-Ghanī, Masājid al-Ātharīyah, p. 80. And it is situated on top of the small Mount Dhu'bab, on the right side of Uthman ibn Affan Street.(2) Kuʿakī, Maʿālim al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah Bayna al-ʿAmārah wa al-Tārīkh, vol. 2, p. 160,164. This mountain is to the east of Mount Sala' and near Thaniyat al-Wada'.(3) ʿIyāshī, Al-Riḥlah al-ʿIyāshīyah, vol. 1, p. 396.
Current Status The entrance to the Al-Rayah Mosque is from the Qibla (south) side.(4) ) Kuʿakī, Maʿālim al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah Bayna al-ʿAmārah wa al-Tārīkh, vol. 2, p. 168. The mosque has a simple appearance and does not have a minaret, prominent verses, or any decorations inside or outside.(5) ) Kuʿakī, Maʿālim al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah Bayna al-ʿAmārah wa al-Tārīkh, vol. 2, p. 172. In late 2022, the mosque was renovated, and its appearance changed from white to an old-style stone design. In late 2023, the houses surrounding the mosque were demolished.(6) Website of Saudi Press Agency (SPA) History During the Battle of the Trench (fifth year of Hijra) and while digging the trench around Medina, a tent was erected for the Prophet (PBUH) at this location to rest and oversee the trench digging activities. The Prophet (PBUH) also prayed there.(7) al-Samhūdī, Wafāʾ al-Wafā bi Akhbār Dār al-Muṣṭafá , vol. 3, p. 201. Names Apparently, the reason for naming this mosque Al-Rayah Mosque (Flag Mosque) is that the flag of the Prophet's companion, Muslim ibn Uqbah, was raised at this location during the Battle of Harrah (63 Hijri).(8) al-Samhūdī, Wafāʾ al-Wafā bi Akhbār Dār al-Muṣṭafá , vol. 3, p. 204. It is also possible that this name is due to the placement of the Islamic flag on this mountain during the Battle of the Trench.(9) al-Shanqīṭī, Al-Durr al-Thamīn fī Maʿālim Dār al-Rasūl al-Amīn , p. 71. It has also been said that Dhu'bab was the name of a man whom Marwan ibn Hakam hanged on top of this mosque.(10) ibn Shabbah Namīrī, "Tārīkh al-Madīnah Munawwarah", p. 262. Another name for it is "Qarin Mosque".(11) ) ʿAbd al-Ghanī, Masājid al-Ātharīyah, p. 80. Building History According to evidence, the Al-Rayah Mosque was first built during the time of Umar ibn Abdul Aziz's governance over Medina.(12) al-Samhūdī, Wafāʾ al-Wafā bi Akhbār Dār al-Muṣṭafá , vol. 3, p. 202. The mosque building had been destroyed during a period prior to the 9th century Hijri, and around 845 Hijri, it was reconstructed by Amir Janbak al-Nayruzi.(13)ʿAbd al-Qadūs al-Anṣārī, Āthār al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah, p. 129. Additionally, some Arab historians have seen and described this mosque at various times. Abdul Qadous Ansari (died: 1403 AH) observed this mosque at the end of the fourteenth century AH and noted its dimensions, stating that the length and width of the building were 4 meters and its height was 6 meters. He believed that the stone structure of the mosque resembled its construction in the ninth century.(13) ʿAbd al-Qadūs al-Anṣārī, Āthār al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah, p. 129. Shanqeeti (died: 1393 AH) also described this mosque as being built in 1405 with old-style light stones. According to him, the mosque only had a main chamber and a courtyard without a door.(14) ) al-Shanqīṭī, Al-Durr al-Thamīn fī Maʿālim Dār al-Rasūl al-Amīn , p. 172. Elias Abdul Ghani, in his work "Masajid al-Athariyyah," described the interior and exterior of the building as having been plastered in 1418 AH. He mentioned the presence of a covered prayer hall (musalla) which enlarged the mosque space, accommodating the five daily prayers.(1) ) ʿAbd al-Ghanī, Masājid al-Ātharīyah, p. 80. Contemporary researcher Kaaki, in his book published in 2011, states that the mosque remains in the same condition as described by Ansari. However, Kaaki also mentions the renovation of the mosque during the era of the Al Saud dynasty.(15) ) Kuʿakī, Maʿālim al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah Bayna al-ʿAmārah wa al-Tārīkh, vol. 2, p. 166.
Gallery
Images of the mosque, in 2021 (the time when this white appearance of the mosque came into existence is not specified)
- The exterior environment of the mosque with white walls and white color scheme.
- Image of the interior environment of the mosque + the mihrab area.
- The public section of the mosque's prayer hall that has been attached to the main section.
- The exterior view of the mosque along with the surrounding houses and the public passage.
- The main and old section of the mosque with dimensions approximately 4 meters in length and width + a view of the ceiling.
Images of the mosque after the 2022 renovation.
- Entrance of the mosque.
- The return of the appearance of the mosque's walls and arches to their former and ancient look.
- Public space of the mosque.
- Presence of worshipers in the mosque.
- A view of the mihrab and the main old section of the mosque.
Images from 2024, after the demolition of the houses around the mosque.
- Images from a distance of the mosque area during the municipality operations in Medina.
- The back wall of the mosque in the midst of the municipality operations.
- View of the mosque after the demolition of the surrounding houses.
- A distant view of the mosque after the renovation operations where only the mosque building remains.
- The current image of the mosque after leveling the surrounding lands.
Old pictures of the mosque building.
References . Al-Durr al-Thamīn fī Maʿālim Dār al-Rasūl al-Amīn**, Ghālī Muḥammad Amīn al-Shanqīṭī, Jeddah: Dār al-Qiblah, 1992.
. Al-Majmūʿah al-Muṣawwarah li-Āshar al-Maʿālim al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah**, ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz al-Kuʿakī, Madinah, 1999
. Maʿālim al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah Bayna al-ʿAmārah wa al-Tārīkh**, ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Kuʿakī, Madinah, Publisher: Author, 2011.
.Āthār al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah**, ʿAbd al-Qadūs al-Anṣārī, Al-Maktabah al-Salafīyah bi al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, 3rd edition, 1393 AH.
. Masājid al-Ātharīyah**, Muḥammad al-Yās ʿAbd al-Ghanī, 1418 AH, Matābiʿ al-Rashīd bi al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, 2nd edition, 1419 AH
. Wafāʾ al-Wafā bi Akhbār Dār al-Muṣṭafá**, ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Samhūdī, Tahrīq Qāsim al-Sāmarrāʾī, London: Mawsasah al-Furqān li al-Turāth al-Islāmī, 2001. . Tārīkh al-Madīnah Munawwarah**, ʿUmar ibn Shabbah Namīrī.
. Al-Riḥlah al-ʿIyāshīyah**, Abū Sālim ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ʿIyāshī, Dār al-Sawīdī li al-Nashr wa al-Tawzīʿ, 1st edition, 2006.
. Tārīkh Maʿālim al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah Qadīman wa Ḥadīthan**, Khayyārī, Aḥmad Yāsīn Aḥmad, 1419 AH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Al-Mamlakah al-ʿArabīyah al-Saʿūdīyah, Al-Amānah al-ʿĀmmah li al-Iḥtifāl bi Mawrūr Miʾah ʿĀm ʿalá Tāsīs al-Mamlakah.
. Website of Saudi Press Agency (SPA)**.