Al-Masjid al-Nabawī

المسجد النبوي‎
Al-Masjid al-Nabawī

Basic Information
Location                     Medina, Saudi Arabia
Established                 c. 622
Style                          Classical and contemporary Islamic
Capacity                    600,000 (increased to 1,000,000 during the hajj period)
Minarets                    10
Minaret height           105 meters (344 ft)


History
Al-Masjid al-Nabawī المسجد النبوي‎ (Mosque of the Prophet) often called the Prophet's Mosque, is a mosque built by the Islamic prophet Muhammad situated in the city of Medina. It is the second holiest site in Islam (the first being the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca). It was the second mosque built in history and one of the largest mosques in the world. After an expansion during the reign of al-Walid I, it also now incoporates the site of the final resting place of Muhammad and early Muslim leaders Abu Bakr and Umar.

The site was originally adjacent to Muhammad's house; he settled there after his Hijra (emigration) to Medina. He himself shared in the heavy work of construction. The original mosque was an open-air building. The basic plan of the building has been adopted in the building of other mosques throughout the world. The mosque also served as a community center, a court, and a religious school. There was a raised platform for the people who taught the Quran. In 1909, it became the first place in the Arabian Peninsula to be provided with electrical lights.

The mosque is under the control of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. One of the most notable features of the site is the Green Dome over the center of the mosque, originally Aisha's house, where the tomb of Muhammad is located. It is not exactly known when the green dome was constructed but manuscripts dating to the early 12th century describe the dome. It is known as the Dome of the Prophet or the Green Dome.

Subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated it. History This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008) Outside the Prophets Mosque The original mosque was built by Muhammad next to the house where he settled after his journey to Medina in 622 AD. The original mosque was an open-air building with a raised platform for the reading of the Quran. It was a rectangular enclosure of 30 × 35 m (98 × 115 ft), built with palm trunks and mud walls, and accessed through three doors: Bab Rahmah (Door of Mercy) to the south, Bab Jibril (Door of Gabriel) to the west and Bab al-Nisa' (Door of the Women) to the east. The basic plan of the building has since been adopted in the building of other mosques throughout the world.