Medina, or as Muslims call it “Taibah al Taibah,” is one of the main destinations for millions of Muslims around the world. It is the first capital of Islam in history, and the second holiest place for Muslims after Makkah al-Mukarramah.
Medina is located in Hejaz Region in the west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It has the Noble Prophet’s Mosque, which was built by the Prophet himself in the first year after Hijrah (622 AD.). It is one of the largest mosques in the world and the second holiest Islamic site after the Holy Mosque.
Millions of Muslims around the world visit Medina every year, and such visit is a wish for many Muslims, as it is rich in historical Islamic sites and has a great religious position.
- Road to Medina
- The Prophet’s Mosque
- Most Prominent Landmarks
- Enrichment Destinations
- Climate
- Service Centers (Care)
- Important Numbers
Whoever wishes to visit Medina can choose one of the public means of transportation approved in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or use private vehicles.
- Whoever wishes to visit Medina from inside or outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can:
- Book direct flights to Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina.
- Whoever wishes to visit Medina. from inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. can:
- Book direct flights to Medina Station at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport via Al-Haramain Express Train.
- Use the public buses to move from a city to another in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Reach Medina by land using private vehicles.
The Prophet’s Mosque
The Prophet’s Mosque is located in the most important city after Makkah al-Mukarramah. It was built by the Prophet, may peace and prayers be upon him, in the first year of Hijrah (Migration) (622 AD.). About its virtues, the Prophet said: A prayer in my mosque is a thousand times more excellent than a prayer in any other mosque, except the Holy Mosque of Makkah. The Mosque has 85 doors and 250 moving umbrellas in the courtyards. The area of the Mosque is currently more than 400 thousand square meters. It accommodates approximately 700 thousand worshipers. The Mosque received great attention from the kings of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from the founder King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Highness the Crown Prince, may Allah protect them.
Ar-Rawdhah Ash-Shareefah
It is the place between the house of the Prophet and his pulpit, as the Prophet, may peace and prayers be upon him, said: (Between my house and my pulpit is one of the gardens of Paradise). The shape of Ar-Rawdhah is rectangular, and its length from the pulpit to the Sacred Chamber is 53 cubits, equivalent to 26.5 m. It is now defined by green carpets different from the other carpets of the Mosque.
It has a number of landmarks: The pulpit, the prophetic mihraab (prayer niche), and Al-Asateen [the pillars].
The Sacred Chamber
It is the house in which the Prophet, may peace and prayers be upon him, lived with the Mother of Believers Aisha bint Abi Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with them. It is located in the southeast side of the Prophet’s Mosque. The Prophet died and was buried in this Chamber in the direction of the Qibla. When Abu Bakr al-Siddiq died, he was buried behind the Prophet, and when Omar ibn Al-Khattab died, he was buried there, as well.
The Sacred Chamber has six doors: The southern door, the Door of Repentance; the northern door, the Door of Tahajjud; the eastern door, the Door of Fatima; the western door, the Door of the Prophet or the “Door of Delegations”; in addition to tow doors, one to the right and the other to the left of the triangle inside the Chamber.
Pulpit of the Prophet
It is the pulpit on which the Prophet, may peace and prayers be upon him, used to stand to deliver sermons. It was two cubits, one span, and three fingers long, and one cubit wide. It was developed over the years and received attention from the Saudi Government. About its virtues, the Prophet, may peace and prayers be upon him, said (Between my house and my pulpit is one of the gardens of Paradise, and my pulpit is on a canal of the canals of Paradise), and the canal is: A garden on a high place.
Mihraab (Prayer Niche)
It is the place designated for imam during the congregational prayers in the mosque. During the time of the Prophet, the mihraab had no sign that distinguished it from other parts of the mosque, and the place where the Prophet stood to lead prayers was called a mihraab. The Prophetic Mihraab is located in the Ar-Rawdhah Ash-Shareefah, to the left of the pulpit. The imam of the Prophet’s Mosque stands in the Prophetic Mihraab to lead prayers.
Mihraabs of the Prophet’s Mosque
The Prophet’s Mosque currently has five Mihraabs, as follows:
- The Prophetic Mihraab: The Mihraab is located to the left of the pulpit in Ar-Rawdhah Ash-Shareefah.
- Othmani Mihraab: It is located in the southern wall of the Mosque where the imam prays at the present time.
- Al-Suleimani Mihraab: It was known as the Hanafi Mihraab and is located to the west of the pulpit.
- Fatima’s Mihraab: It is located to the south of the Tahajjud Mihrab inside the Sacred Chamber.
- Sheikh Al-Haram Mihraab: It was located to the back of Dakat Al-Aghwath, the most recent expansion by Sultan ‘Abd al-Majid.
Moving Domes and Umbrellas
They are the 27 openings innovated for natural ventilation to help provide an appropriate climate. When the sun heats up, these openings are closed to serve as fixed domes. They are opened and closed either automatically or manually. The manual opening takes half an hour while the automatic opening takes half a minute.
Minarets of the Prophet’s Mosque
The first person to construct a minaret at the Prophet’s Mosque was Omar bin Abdulaziz, during maintenance in the reign of Al-Walid bin Abd Al-Malik. He placed a minaret at every corner of the Mosque. With continued efforts through the ages, new minarets were constructed, and the total number amounts to 10 at the present time.