Prophet's Mosque, Islamic place of worship in Medina, Saudi Arabia
The complex extends across an expansive area with ten minarets rising 105 meters and multiple interconnected prayer halls. Large shaded courtyards with colonnades surround the main prayer areas, while marble flooring and ornamented walls characterize the interior spaces. The structure combines Ottoman, Mamluk, and contemporary architectural elements throughout its multi-phase construction.
Muhammad established the original prayer facility upon his arrival in Medina in 622 CE on land donated by two orphaned children. Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz initiated a first major expansion in 707, while the Ottomans conducted further construction phases during the 16th century. Saudi authorities modernized the facility between 1950 and 2020 through multiple renovation and expansion projects.
This mosque serves as a religious learning center where scholars conduct courses in Islamic jurisprudence, hadith sciences, and Quranic interpretation for students from all continents. Pilgrims arrive to seek spiritual fulfillment through communal prayer and participation in religious ceremonies. The institution preserves manuscripts and religious texts that generations of theologians use for their research.
The prayer facility accommodates 600,000 worshippers at once across multiple prayer halls and courtyards with air conditioning and lighting systems. Visitors reach the complex through various numbered entrances that open according to gender and prayer times. Free water supply, ablution facilities, and medical services are available to attendees, while Ramadan sees particularly heavy crowds.
The Green Dome marks the burial site of Muhammad in the southeastern section and incorporates the original space of Aisha's residence into the structure. Beneath the dome also lie the graves of the first two caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar. The characteristic green color emerged only in the 12th century through a renovation under Sultan Qaitbay.
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