Masjid al-Nabawi
المسجد النبوي
al-Masjid an-Nabawi
Overview
The Prophet's Mosque is the second holiest site in Islam and the spiritual heart of Madinah. It houses the Rawdah ash-Sharifah, a garden of Paradise between the Prophet's pulpit and his noble chamber, as well as the iconic Green Dome marking his blessed resting place. The mosque has been expanded many times throughout history and can accommodate over one million worshippers.
Historical significance
Built by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself upon his arrival in Madinah in 622 CE, the mosque served as the center of the first Muslim community for governance, education, and worship. It is one of the three mosques to which Muslims may undertake a special journey, and a single prayer here is rewarded with one thousand prayers elsewhere. The mosque contains the graves of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, and Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Did you know?
The original mosque was a simple open-air structure built with palm trunks and mud bricks, measuring roughly 30 by 35 meters. Today it covers over 400,000 square meters.
Hadith
A prayer in my mosque is better than a thousand prayers elsewhere, except al-Masjid al-Haram.
— Sahih al-Bukhari 1190, Sahih Muslim 1394
Du'as
When entering a mosque
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Bismillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Allāhumma iftaḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik
In the name of Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy.
When leaving a mosque
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Allāhumma innī asʾaluka min faḍlik
O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty.
Sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Greeting the Prophet ﷺ at his blessed grave
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
Assalāmu ʿalayka yā Rasūlallāh, wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh
Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
General supplication
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanah, wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanah, wa qinā ʿadhāb an-nār
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.
Nearby sites
بيوت الصحابة
The area along the present Qiblah wall near Bab as-Salam marks where homes of several companions were located. Four are specifically identified: House of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, House of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, House of Ammar bin Yasir, and House of Nawfal bin Haris.
حجرات أمهات المؤمنين
Originally 9 chambers for the Prophet's wives. The chamber of Aisha became the Sacred Chamber. Other chambers were on the eastern and northern sides but have been incorporated into mosque expansions over the centuries.
مسجد الغمامة
Masjid al-Ghamama is a graceful Ottoman-era mosque located just southwest of Masjid Nabawi. Its name means "Mosque of the Cloud" and it features elegant stonework and a distinctive dome characteristic of Ottoman architectural style. It is one of the closest historic mosques to the Prophet's Mosque.