Beneath the sun-drenched sky of Medina stands a place of profound serenity. This is Masjid Muhammad Balqaid. It is a sanctuary that has resonated with faith for centuries.
Masjid Muhammad Balqaid stands as a testament to Medina’s rich Islamic heritage. Medina houses the Prophet’s Mosque. It is also known as Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi. This mosque is one of Islam’s most revered sites.
The Prophet’s Mosque was the second mosque built by Prophet Muhammad. It was built in Medina after the Quba Mosque. The Prophet’s Mosque is the second largest mosque. It is considered the second holiest site in Islam. Only the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca is holier. The mosque is at Medina’s heart. It is a major pilgrimage site. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques oversees it.
Muhammad himself helped build the mosque. The land belonged to two young orphans, Sahl and Suhayl. They offered it as a gift when they learned Muhammad wanted it. Muhammad insisted on paying. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari paid the agreed price. Al-Ansari became the mosque’s endower. He also accommodated Muhammad upon his arrival in Medina in 622.
The original mosque was an open-air building. It served as a community center. It was also a court of law and a religious school. A raised platform or pulpit was present. People taught the Quran. Muhammad gave the Friday sermon from here. Islamic rulers expanded and decorated the mosque greatly. They named its walls, doors and minarets after themselves.
The Umayyad caliph al-Walid I expanded it. It now includes the final resting place of Muhammad. The first two Rashidun caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar are also here. The Green Dome is in the southeast corner. It was originally Aisha’s house. Muhammad’s tomb is located here. Many Hajj pilgrims visit the Green Dome in Medina.
In 1909, it became the first place in the Arabian Peninsula with electrical lights. Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II reigned at the time. Eunuchs guarded the mosque from the 14th century. The last guardians were photographed in 2015. Only five remained. The mosque is generally open. It closed to visitors only once in modern times during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Muhammad built the mosque in 622 AD. He arrived in Medina riding a camel named Qaswa. The site was a burial ground. Muhammad bought the land from the two orphans. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari paid for it. The mosque took seven months to build. It measured 30.5 m × 35.62 m. The roof was made of beaten clay and palm leaves. It was 3.60 m high.
The mosque had three doors. Bāb ar-Rahmah was to the south. Bāb Jibrīl was to the west. Bāb an-Nisāʾ was to the east. The qiblah wall faced north to Jerusalem. The Suffah was along the northern wall. After the Battle of Khaybar in 7 AH, the mosque was expanded to 47.32 m on each side. Three rows of columns were built beside the west wall.
Umar demolished houses around the mosque. He only spared Muhammad’s wives’ houses. The new mosque became 57.49 m × 66.14 m. Sun-dried mud bricks were used for the walls. The roof’s height increased to 5.6 m. Umar added three more gates.
The third Rashidun caliph Uthman demolished the mosque in 649. The new rectangular mosque faced the Kaaba in Mecca. It measured 81.40 m × 62.58 m. The number of gates remained the same. The enclosure was made of stones laid in mortar. Stone columns replaced palm trunks. Teakwood was used to rebuild the ceiling.
Masjid Muhammad Balqaid, like the Prophet’s Mosque, embodies Medina’s spirit. It represents devotion and history. Its walls echo with prayers. They also resonate with the stories of generations.