The Mihrabs
The Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam prayed for about sixteen months facing towards Al-Quds when he first arrived in Madinah, and then Allah Ta’ala revealed:
Turn your face towards Masjid al-Haram. (2:149)
Rasulullah SallAllahu alahi wasallam then began praying for some time (narrations vary as to how long, some say a few days, others a few months, and Allah Ta’ala knows best) at the place known as Ayesha’s Pillar. (green dot on plan below, blue arrow indicates direction of Qiblah) He SallAllahu alahi wasallam then started leading Salat at the place where the current Mihrab is. During the time of the Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam and his four Rightly Guided Caliphs RadhiAllahu anhum there was no mihrab. This mihrab is the most accurately placed on earth, as the Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam assisted by Jibreel Alaihis Sallam directed its placement together, SubhanAllah! By standing in the mihrab for offering Salat, the place of Sajda will be where the Noble Nabi SallAllahu alahi wasallam’s feet would have been, as his place of Sajda has intentionally been covered by the thick wall of this Mihrab.
To the back of the mihrab is the Perfumed Pillar, (blue dot) where Rasulullah SallAllahu alahi wasallam used to offer his voluntary Salat. It is called the Perfumed Pillar because one day Rasulullah SallAllahu alahi wasallam saw that someone had spat on the palm trunk which was there at the time, and he was upset, whereupon one of the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhu quickly rose and perfumed it, at which Rasulullah SallAllahu alahi wasallam was pleased.
In 91 AH Umar Abdul Aziz made a hollow prayer niche at this position.
Sultan Qaitbuy in 888AH rebuilt the mihrab in the present form, while King Fahd in 1404 AH renovated it.
Uthmani Mihrab, to the south of the place where the Prophet led Salat, is where the Imams now lead Salat. Caliph Uthman RadhiAllahu anhu constructed this mihrab when he extended the Masjid.
On the right side of this mihrab is an inscription reading: “The Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, said, ‘If it would please you that your prayers be accepted, let the scholars among you lead you in prayer [under this portion of the inscription another line reads: let the best among you lead you in prayer] for they are your mediators, between you and your Lord, August and Majestic is He.”
Another inscription under this reads: “O Allah, let your blessings and peace be upon Your noblest creation, Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.”
On the left side the inscription reads: “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, said, ‘Straighten your ranks, for your ranks correspond to those of the Angels. Align your elbows and leave no interval between you. Be soft to your brother’s hands; leave no spaces for the devil. He who completes a rank, Allah, Exhalted and Blessed is He, will reward him accordingly, and he who breaks a rank, Allah will sever him.”
Umar Abdul Aziz constructed a mihrab at this place in 91 AH.
To the west of where the Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam used to pray is the Sulaimani mihrab, which did not exist at the time of the Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam or his Companions RadhiAllahu anhum. It was built at the time of by the ottoman Sultan Sulaiman for the Hanafi Imam to lead Salat for the Hanafis, leaving the main mihrab for the Imam of the Shafi congregation. As in Makkah at the time, the different Madhhabs would offer their respective Iqama according to their individual school of thought. Since the Saudi rule all are united behind one Hambali Imam, and thus this mihrab is no longer used. King Fahd ordered it to be decorated with colourful stones and a gold gilt.
Insha’Allah more on the Tahajjud Mihrab later.
The current Imams of Al-Masjid al-Nabawi with links to their recitations.
Sheikh Ali Abdur-Rahmaan Al Hudhaifi
http://is.aswatalislam.net/DisplayFilesP.aspx?TitleID=43&TitleName=Quran_-_Ali_AbdurRehman_Huthayfe
http://quran.mangga.com/quran_mp3_hudhaifi.html
http://quran.al-islam.com/Display/recitation.asp?nType=1&l=eng&nSora=1&nAya=1&sel=1
This is the translation of Sheikh Hudhaifi’s Khutbah that resulted in his arrest in 1998, an interesting read. He has subsequently been under “house arrest” on other occasions since then as well.
http://www.robert-fisk.com/sheikh_hudhaifi_khutbah_mar13_1998.htm
Sheikh Abdul Bari Al-Thubaiti
http://is.aswatalislam.net/DisplayFilesP.aspx?TitleID=13&TitleName=Quran_-_Abdul_Bary_Al-Thobaity
http://www.islamcan.com/cgi-bin/increaseiman/htmlfiles/static/104281147051740.shtml
http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/engblue/eqerraa_qaree.php?action=details&vqaree=35&vqerraa=1
Sheikh Husayn al Shaykh
http://is.aswatalislam.net/DisplayFilesP.aspx?TitleID=54&TitleName=Quran_-_Hosain_Al-Alshaikh
http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/engblue/eqerraa_qaree.php?action=details&vqaree=163&vqerraa=1
Shaikh Dr. Salah Al Budair (has led taraweeh prayers at Masjid al-Haram since 2005)
http://is.aswatalislam.net/DisplayFilesP.aspx?TitleID=106&TitleName=Quran_-_Salah_Al-Budair
http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/engblue/eqerraa_qaree.php?action=details&vqaree=71&vqerraa=1
Sheikh Abdul Muhsin al Qasim (for taraweeh prayers)
http://is.aswatalislam.net/DisplayFilesP.aspx?TitleID=23&TitleName=Quran_-_Abdul_Mohsen_Alqasem
http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/engblue/eqerraa_qaree.php?action=details&vqaree=29&vqerraa=1
Sheikh Maahir Hamad Al-Mu’ayqili (for taraweeh prayers)
http://is.aswatalislam.net/DisplayFilesP.aspx?TitleID=220&TitleName=Quran_-_Mahir_Hamad_Al-M’eiqili
http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/engblue/eqerraa_qaree.php?action=details&vqaree=161&vqerraa=1
Sheikh Abdullaah `Awwaad Al-Juhanee (for taraweeh prayers, but from 2005 has led taraweeh prayers at Masjid al-Haram)
http://is.aswatalislam.net/DisplayFilesP.aspx?TitleID=194&TitleName=Quran_-_Abdullah_Awad_Al-Juhani
http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/engblue/eqerraa_qaree.php?action=details&vqaree=68&vqerraa=1
Compilation of four reciters fro Masjid Nabawi
http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/engblue/eqerraa_qaree.php?action=details&vqaree=23&vqerraa=1
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The following was in today’s paper….reminded me of Surah Al-Asr, where Allah Ta’ala swears by TIME. Ma’ariful Qur’an tafseer (the end of volume eight) reveals the state of loss man is in if we do not heed the rest of the message of this Surah. This clock tower seems to defy this very message. May Allah Ta’ala save us all. Ameen.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.
