Surely, you have passed by many mosques, but how many of them have minarets that reach toward the sky at an impressive 104 meters high? Welcome to Masjid Nabil Hifzi. Though perhaps less known than the Prophet’s Mosque, it shares in the rich heritage of Medina.
Let’s talk about Medina’s heart and soul. The Prophet’s Mosque is Islam’s second holiest site. The Prophet Muhammad established it in 622 AD, shortly after his Hijra from Mecca.
Imagine Muhammad arriving in Medina. He selected a burial ground for the mosque’s site. He rode his camel Qaswa. He laid the foundation for a place that would change the world.
The land belonged to two orphaned brothers, Sahl and Suhayl. They offered it as a gift. Muhammad insisted on fair compensation. This act set the tone for the mosque’s values. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari financed the purchase.
Initially, the mosque was quite simple. It took seven months to build. It measured approximately 30.5 by 35.62 meters. Palm trunks supported the roof made of clay and palm leaves. It stood only 3.60 meters high.
It had three main entrances. 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 towards Jerusalem. The Suffah, a platform for learning, was along the northern side.
Over time, the mosque expanded. Following the Battle of Khaybar, it grew to 47.32 meters on each side. More columns were added to accommodate worshippers.
Under Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, the mosque expanded further. He ordered the demolition of surrounding houses. He spared only those of Muhammad’s wives. The mosque then measured 57.49 by 66.14 meters. Sun-dried mud bricks formed the walls. The roof height increased to 5.6 meters.
In 649 AD, Caliph Uthman ibn Affan reconstructed the mosque. He built a new rectangular structure. Its orientation shifted towards the Kaaba in Mecca. It measured 81.40 by 62.58 meters. Stone walls replaced the mud bricks. Stone columns replaced palm trunks. Teakwood formed the ceiling.
During the Umayyad era, al-Walid I significantly enlarged the mosque. It grew to 8,672 square meters. Craftsmen from Greece and Coptic contributed. The living quarters of Muhammad’s wives were demolished to incorporate their graves. Al-Walid introduced the first minarets.
The Abbasid Caliph al-Mahdi extended the mosque northward by 50 meters. He inscribed his name on its walls. Later caliphs like al-Ma’mun and al-Mutawakkil added marble to Muhammad’s tomb enclosure.
In 1269, Sultan Baybars rebuilt the sanctuary. He included enclosures around the tombs of Muhammad and Fatima. Sultan al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghuri added a stone dome over his grave in 1476.
Under Ottoman rule, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the east and west walls. He added the Sūleymaniyye minaret. He placed a steel-covered dome on Muhammad’s tomb.
In 1817, Sultan Mahmud II completed the Purified Residence. It was on the southeast side of the mosque. The dome was painted green in 1837 becoming the Green Dome.
From 1849, Sultan Abdulmecid I rebuilt the mosque. He used red stone bricks. Verses from the Quran were inscribed on the walls. A madrasah was built for Quranic studies.
During the Saudi insurgency, Wahhabis demolished nearly all tombs and domes in Medina, except the Green Dome.
In 1951, King Abdulaziz ordered demolitions for new wings. He replaced the Suleymaniyya and Mecidiyye minarets. Further expansions occurred under King Faisal and King Fahd.
Today, the mosque covers over 160,000 square meters. It features escalators and 27 courtyards. The Green Dome marks the tombs of Muhammad, Abu Bakr, and Umar.
The Rawdah ash-Sharifah, between Muhammad’s tomb and minbar, is considered one of the Gardens of Paradise.
The mosque has two mihrabs, one built by Muhammad and another by Uthman. Ten minarets rise high. The modern mosque has sliding domes and retractable canopies.
From its humble start, the mosque became a spiritual hub. It’s a major pilgrimage site. Its walls have seen Islamic history unfold. It stands as a symbol of unity. It harmonizes historical elements with modern innovations. Masjid Nabil Hifzi stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Islam.