Enter it in peace and safety, says the inscriptions in Arabic above all the entrances.
Insha’allah, this is the first of a series I intend to post focusing on the distinctive features of Al-Masjid An-Nabawi As-Sharif.
Pink: The original Masjid constructed by the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam 1 Hijrah. Aishah RadhiAllahu anha said: "Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wassalam mounted his camel, which knelt down at the site of his Masjid. It belonged to two orphan boys, in the care of As’ad bin Zurarah; and when his mount knelt Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wassalam said: ‘This, Allah willing, is the place where it has stopped.’ The he called for the two orphan boys and negotiated with them over the price of the land, in order to use it for the Masjid, but they said: ‘No, we will donate it to you, O Messenger of Allah!’ The he had the Masjid built on it and he began to move the bricks with them for the building of it, and he said:
‘This work is not the work of Khaybar,
This is more precious, O our Lord, and purer.’
And he said:
O Allah ! The reward is the reward of the Hereafter, so show mercy to the Ansar and the Muhajirun.’" (Bukhari)
And Nafi’ RadhiAllahu anhu said that Abdullah bin Umar RadhiAllahu anhu told him that in the time of Rasulullag SallAllahu alaihi wassalam, the Masjid was built from date-palm branches and its pillars were the trunks of the date-palm trees.
The Masjid measured 35x30m. From how we see the Masjid today, the original one included the Rowdha, plus two rows of pillars on the western side and two rows on the northern side. Insha’Allah I intend to cover these in greater detail later.
Dark Orange: The first expansion took place after the Battle of Khaybar due to the increase in the number of Muslims, Alhumdulillah. The foundations were made of stone and its walls from adobe bricks and the pillars from the trunks of the date-palm trees and the height of the roof was seven cubits. It was Uthman bin’Affan RadhiAllahu anhu who purchased the land for this extension. This extension became a sunnah for future efforts to expand the Masjid. Umar RadhiAllahu anhu was to have said during his Caliphate that had he not heard the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam say that he would increase the size of the Masjid, then he never would have done so.
There was no expansion as such during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq RadhiAllahu anhu, but he supervised the replacement of the pillars made form date-palm trunks from the time of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam due to their decaying.
Yellow: The expansion during the Caliphate of Umar bin Al-Khattab RadhiAllahu anhu, 17 AH. It was built in the same style as done by The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam, except that the stone foundations were built to the height of an average man, and the date-palm trunks were replaced with wood, adobe bricks and date-palm branches were still used.
Umar RadhiAllahu anhu made a public square outside the Masjid, known as Al-Butaiha’. He said about it: "Whoever wishes to make a noise, or raise his voice, or recite poetry, let him go out to it." This area was incorporated into the main Masjid during subsequent expansions.
A detail of the above. Each dot represents a column, so I have not stated that x number were added at each of the stages of expansion. Insha’Allah details regarding some of the pillars to be posted later.
Orange: During the time of Uthman bin’Affan RadhiAllahu anhu, 29 AH. Apart from the increase in size, the changes made during this expansion included use of carved stone and plaster for the walls and a roof of Saj, a soft wood from India which has a pleasant sweet smell. The current Mihrab is located where Uthman bin’Affan RadhiAllahu anhu used to lead the prayer from.
The eastern side was untouched as this was where the houses of Ummuhatul Mu’mineen were.
Blue: During the time of the Umayyad caliph, Al-Walid bin ‘Abdul-Malik, (88-91 AH), who sent the order to the then Governor of Madinah, Umar ibn ‘Abdal-Aziz to enlarge the Masjid and to incorporate into the extension the houses of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam’s widows RadhiAllahu anhunna, who had all passed on by then. A wall was built around the house of Lady Aishah RadhiAllahu anhu, containing the three tombs. Four minarets were added to the Masjid, one at each corner. The walls were built of carved stone and the pillars were hollowed-out stone, filled with iron and lead for supports. Two ceilings were made, an upper and a lower, the lower one being of Saj wood. The internal walls were decorated with geometric designs of marble and gold and mosaic. The gilding of the ceilings and tops of the columns and the lintels of the doors was completed, and twenty doors were opened.
Purple: During the time of Al-Mahdi, the Abbasid, 160-165 AH. The doors were increased to twenty four with the northern side expanded taking in the houses of Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf, which was known as Darul Mulaikah, the house of Shurahbil bin Hasanah and the remains of the house of Abdullah bin Mas’ud RadhiAllahu anhuma, which was known as Darul-Qurra.
Brown: During the time of Qaitbay 886-888 AH. When the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam’s Masjid was burnt on the night of the 13th of Ramadhan 886 AH, Sultan Qaitbay undertook the task of a complete restoration of the Masjid. He widened the eastern side, and made a single ceiling at the height of twenty-two cubits, and he rebuilt the Chamber as it is now. The current Mihrab dates from then and the first Mukabbariyyah was erected at that time. These extensions remained for three hundred and seventy years!
Salmon: During the time of Sultan ‘Abdul-Majeed 1260-1277 AH. (More details of this time here) The Ottomans quarried a red rock, resembling carnelian from mountains around Madinah to use for this phase of the extensions. The floor was covered in marble and the pillars burnished to resemble the colour of the stone. The domes were engraved with designs and patterns and the pillars in the Rowdha were clad with white and red marble to distinguish them from the others.
Light Blue: The first Saudi extension, during the time of King ‘Abdul-’Aziz. 1370-1373 AH. This extension was distinguished by the fact that it was built in the form of a concrete edifice. Three of the five existing minarets were demolished, with two new ones erected at the eastern and western corners, the height of each being 72 meters. The number of pilgrims increased dramatically, so King Faisal in 1392 AH was responsible for the erection of large shaded enclosures made with metal roofing on the western side, but this did not affect the actual structure of the Masjid.
Green: The second Saudi extension, during the time of King Fahd bin ‘Abdul-’Aziz 1405-1414 AH. By far the largest extension increasing the surface area on all four sides, making the capacity to accommodate 650,000 worshippers. The number of minarets was increased to ten and the doors to 86, with the roof available for more pilgims during the high seasons, and the basement used as a two leveled car park.
And the THIRD Saudi extension….in progress, Insha’Allah! A huge increase hugging Jannatul Baqi! Masha’Allah.
To be continued, Insha’Allah.
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.
