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The Prophet's Mihrab

The Prophet's Mihrab (Arabic: محراب النبي) is the place where Prophet Muhammad(a) used to pray, which is located in the al-Masjid al-Nabawi between the Prophet's pulpit and his grave. During the time of the Prophet (s), there was nothing in the form of a mihrab, until later during the development of the al-Masjid al-Nabawi during the period of al-Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik, a mihrab was built in the place of his prayer. Qaitbay, the king of Egypt (9th/15th century) rebuilt the hollow-shaped mihrab by renewing the mosque. This mihrab was decorated during the era of Ottoman rule and is still located in al-Masjid al-Nabawi.

the Prophet's Mihrab
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General Information
Other NamesMihrab al-Nabi, Mihrab Rasul Allah
PlaceAl-Masjid al-Nabawi
History
ReconstructionsIn the time of al-Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik and Mamaluks

History

During the time of Prophet Muhammad(a), in the place of al-Masjid al-Nabaw where he prayed, there was no mihrab in any form[1] and the place of prayer of the Prophet (s), had no sign except that it was next to the al-Mukhallaqa pillar.[2] This was the first time in the development of al-Masjid al-Nabawi, during the period of al-Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik (r. 86/705 -96/714-5), that a mihrab was built at the place of the Prophet's prayer.[3]

During the Mamluk Period

Although historical sources do not have any reports about the reconstruction of the mihrab during the period of Baybars al-Bunduqdari (r. 658/1259-60 - 676/1277-8), the fourth Mamaluk king, some researchers, by examining historical evidence, believe that the first hollow-shaped mihrab (carved into the wall) in the reconstructions of the Baybars period was made in the place that Prophet Muhammad(a) prayed; Because the reports of the sources before this date did not mention the existence of a hollow-shaped mihrab in the place of the Prophet's prayer.[4] In the reconstruction of al-Masjid al-Nabawi during the period of Qaitbay, the Mamluk sultan, in 888/1483-4 after the fire in al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the mihrab was rebuilt in the place of the Prophet's prayer, and in the same period, it was decorated with marble and verses from the Quran were engraved on it.[5]

In the Ottoman Period

In the reconstruction of al-Masjid al-Nabawi during the reign of king Abd al-Majid I, the Prophet's Mihrab, which was left over from the time of Qaitbay, was gilded. Also, during this time, ʿAbd Allah al-Zuhdi, a Turkish calligrapher, engraved verses of the Quran, texts and poems on the mihrab.[6] In the Saudi period, the same mihrab of the Qaitbay period remained.[7]

Location

The Prophet's Mihrab was built in the place of al-Masjid al-Nabawi where Prophet Muhammad(s) prayed.[8] This mihrab is located next to the al-Mukhallaqa pillar[9] and in the distance between the pulpit of the Prophet (a) and his grave (al-Rawḍa al-Sharifa).[10] Researchers are of the opinion that this place is the place where the Prophet(s) prayed.[11]

The mihrab is placed in such a way that the one who prostrates in it places his forehead on the Prophet's sitting place, not his prostration place.[12] The Prophet's prostration place is placed under the mihrab.[13]

Gallery

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    The the Prophet's Mihrab is connected to the al-Mukhallaqa pillar.

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    The location of the the Prophet's Mihrab on the map of al-Masjid al-Nabawi.

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    Decorations of the the Prophet's Mihrab with marble and gilding and verses from the Quran are written on it.

Notes

  1. ↑ Ṣāliḥ Lumaʿī, al-Madīnat al-munawwara, p. 59.
  2. ↑ ʿAṭṭār, al-Taʿrīf bi-tārīkh wa maʿālim al-Masjid al-Nabawī al-sharīf, p. 162.
  3. ↑ Sayyid al-Wakīl, al-Masjid al-Nabawī ʿibar tārīkh, p. 128; Jaʿfarīyān, Āthār-i Islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna, p. 260.
  4. ↑ Al-Shahrī, ʿImārat al-Masjid al-Nabawī, p. 227.
  5. ↑ Al-Shahrī, ʿImārat al-Masjid al-Nabawī, p. 342.
  6. ↑ Ṣāliḥ Lumaʿī, al-Madīnat al-munawwara, p. 96.
  7. ↑ Anṣārī, ʿImāra wa tawsiʿat al-Masjid al-Nabawī, p. 170.
  8. ↑ Sayyid al-Wakīl, al-Masjid al-Nabawī ʿibar tārīkh, p. 128; Jaʿfarīyān, Āthār-i Islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna, p. 260.
  9. ↑ Sayyid al-Wakīl, al-Masjid al-Nabawī ʿibar tārīkh, p. 163.
  10. ↑ Sayyid al-Wakīl, al-Masjid al-Nabawī ʿibar tārīkh, p. 163.
  11. ↑ Sayyid al-Wakīl, al-Masjid al-Nabawī ʿibar tārīkh, p. 128; Jaʿfarīyān, Āthār-i Islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna, p. 260.
  12. ↑ Sayyid al-Wakīl, al-Masjid al-Nabawī ʿibar tārīkh, p. 163.
  13. ↑ ʿAṭṭār, al-Taʿrīf bi-tārīkh wa maʿālim al-Masjid al-Nabawī al-sharīf, p. 164.

References

  • Anṣārī, Nājī Muḥammad Ḥasan ʿAbd al-Qādir al-. ʿImāra wa tawsiʿat al-Masjid al-Nabawī al-sharīf ʿibar tārīkh. [n. p], Nādī l-Madīna al-Munawwara al-Adabī, 1996.
  • Hazzaʿ al-Shahrī, Muḥammad al-. ʿImārat al-Masjid al-Nabawī munz inshāʾihī ḥattā nihāyat al-ʿaṣr al-Mamlūkī. Cairo: Maktabat al-Qāhira li-l-kutub, 2001.
  • Hazzaʿ al-Shahrī, Muḥammad al-. Al-Masjid al-nabawī al-sharīf fī al-ʿaṣr al-ʿUthmānī. Cairo: Dār al- Qāhira, 2003.
  • Jaʿfarīyān, Rasūl. Āthār-i Islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna. Tehran: Mashʿar, 1391Sh
  • Ṣāliḥ Lumaʿī, Muṣṭafā. Al-Madīnat al-munawwara, taṭawwurihā l-ʿumrānī wa turāthihā l-miʿmārī. Beirut: Dār al-Nihḍa al-ʿArabīyya, 1981.
  • Sayyid al-Wakīl, Muḥammad al-. Al-Masjid al-Nabawī ʿibar tārīkh. [n. p], Dār al-Mujtamaʿ li-l-Nashr wa l-Tawziʿ, 1988.
  • ʿAṭṭār, al-Sayyid Ḍīyāʾ b. Muḥammad b. Maqbūl al-. Al-Taʿrīf bi-tārīkh wa maʿālim al-Masjid al-Nabawī al-sharīf. Jeddah: Kunūz al-Maʿrifa, 1432AH.
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