Qubaa' Mosque

Qubaa' Mosque is the first mosque that was ever built in Islam. It was designed by the hand of the Messenger of Allah, (Muhammad, Peace be upon him), after he reached that spot on the way to Madinah during the Hijrah (migration from Makkah), as he intended to offer prayer there. The first stones were positioned by Prophet Muhammad, (Peace be upon him), and the mosque was completed by the Companions of the Prophet (Allah be pleased with them all). After that, he favoured Saturday as the day to visit Qubaa' Mosque and offer prayer there. He (Peace be upon him) urges us to visit this mosque as reported in some Hadith (speech and actions of the Prophet, Peace be upon him). One hadith says: (Who performs ablutions in his home, comes to Qubaa� Mosque and prays in it has the reward of 'Umrah; the minor pilgrimage). Another hadith says, (Who leaves and comes to this mosque --- meaning Qubaa' Mosque --- and prays in it; this is equivalent to 'Umrah).

In 998 A.H., the Ottoman Sultan, Murad, dispatched a new minbar to the Prophet's Mosque. The white marble minbar that had been given by the Sultan, Al-Ashraf Qaitibai (circa 888 A.H.) was moved to the Qubaa' Mosque, where it remained until the year 1408 A.H., when (during the renovation and expansion project that was carried out by order of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin 'Abdul 'Aziz AL-Sa'ud on some of the historic mosques of Madinah in conjunction with the Second Sa'udi expansion of the Prophet's Mosque) it was removed to the King 'Abdul 'Aziz Library (in Madinah), where it has remained ever since for conservation.

Masjid Qubaa' is very important to Muslims, so great attention has been paid to it through the ages. It has been restored and renovated many times, the last in the year 1405 A.H. (1984), which adhered to its traditional Islamic architecture and form.

The masjid is an open, colonnaded gallery on the south and on the north, there are two galleries on the east and west, which are separated by a large, open courtyard. The roof itself consists of six large domes, each with a diameter of twelve metres and fifty-six smaller domes, each with a diameter of six metres. Massive concrete pillars inside each of the galleries support the domes. The floor of the courtyard is covered with heat-resistant marble, while a moveable sunshade, (that opens and closes mechanically) made of extremely sturdy canvas, provides protection from the elements. Towering over the masjid are four, forty-seven metre high minarets. The main prayer area now encompasses five thousand and fifty-six square metres, while the entire masjid complex of buildings and accompanying secondary services, reaches one hundred and thirty-five thousand square metres. Prior to this most recent expansion the masjid was only twelve hundred square metres. Attached to the masjid are an office, shopping area, visitors services and residences for the Imam (prayer leader) and the Mu'adthin (the one who makes the call to prayer).

The Meeqaat Mosque

This mosque is known as the Mosque of the Tree (or Arbor) because the Prophet (Peace be upon him), as

 he was leaving for Makkah for 'Umrah or Hajj, stayed under a brown shade tree in this area and prayed, after which he began his journey. It is also called Dhul Hulaifah Mosque (after the name of the district in which the mosque is located). It is the meeqaat, the place of Ihram (the place where one embarking on a journey to Makkah for 'Umrah or Hajj cannot pass without being in a state of consecration --- intention and cleanliness --- part of the conditions for performing 'Umrah or Hajj), for the people of Madinah and those coming from farther away. The mosque is situated on the west bank of Waadi Al-'Aqeeq, approximately twenty-four kilometres from the Prophet's Mosque.

Al-Sabaq Mosque

This mosque is located near the SAPTCo Bus Station. It has been reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) entered, made ablution and prayed in it. It is called this name (al-sabaq means race, competition), as its location is at the field where the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) raced (trained) horses, to prepare them for jihaad (the struggle in the Allah�s cause).

Al-Raaiyah Mosque (The Banner)

Al-Raaiyah Mosque is located on a small mountain called Al-Raaiyah or Mount Dthabbaab, which is close to Mount Sila�a to its north. It has been narrated that it is called Al-Raaiyah because a dome had been erected on it as shelter for the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) during the Battle of Al-Ahzaab. It is also called Dthabbaab Mosque, the name of which is ascribed to a man of Al-Yemen who came to Madinah during the gubernatorial of Marwaan bin Al-Hukm. That man killed one official of the governorate. His penalty was death and he was crucified on this mountain, (but our information is scant). The important thing is that the mosque was built during the time of �Umar bin �Abd Al-�Aziz. It collapsed in the third century (hijrah) and the structure was restored by the Governor, Jaanibik, in 845 A.H..

The Sa�udi Ministry of Endowments currently maintains its old appearance and it remains one of the traditional landmarks of Madinah. Its length reaches four metres and it has a height of six metres, topped by a dome.

Al-Fath Mosque (The Seven Mosques)

One of the very old landmarks in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah is this group of small mosques, which are situated at the western side of Mount Sila'a. It is also at the spot of Al-Khandaq (the Ditch, or Trench), which was dug at the time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), by the Muslims as a defense for Madinah when the tribes allied with the Quraish (of Makkah) advanced on Madinah, in the fifth year of the hijrah [626 C.E.], to fight the Muslims. Hence, the name of the battle, Ghazwah Al-Khandaq. The name of every mosque located therein takes its name from the one who was posted and supervised the battle from its site.

A dome was erected at the site from which the Prophet (Peace be upon him), supervised and made surveillance of the battle. The other mosques were subsequently erected, consecutively from north to south. They are: Fath Mosque, Salmaan al-Faarsi Mosque, Abi Bakr As-Siddiq Mosque, 'Umar bin al-Khattaab Mosque, 'Ali bin Abu Taalib Mosque, and Faatimah Al-Zahraa� Mosque.

We, do not however, have any actual historical documentation to establish the authenticity of these mosques, as we have pertaining to the Fath Mosque. It has been transmitted to us that �Umar bin �Abd Al-�Aziz built the Fath Mosque, as it was either the place of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) or it was the place in which he supplicated to Allah for victory over the confederate army.

Al-Qiblatain Mosque (The Mosque of the Two Qiblah's)

Al-Qiblatain Mosque is an old mosque dating from the time of Prophet Muhammad, (Peace be upon him). It was originally built by Bani Salamah, who were of the Al-Khazraj tribe, on a small hill near Waadi Al-'Aqeeq. It is five kilometres northwest of the Prophet's Mosque.

It is called Al-Qiblatain because of the report that some of the Companions had faced two different qiblahs (the direction of prayer), during one prayer. The original qiblah for Muslims was toward Jerusalem. In the second year of the hijrah, Allah, the Almighty, revealed the verse of the Qur'an (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 144) to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), to change the qiblah to the Ka'aba at the Holy Haram (the Grand Mosque) in Makkah. At the time of this revelation, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), dispatched one of the Companions to convey the newly revealed verse to the Muslims in the outskirts of the city. The emissary arrived at the mosque of Bani Salamah, while the people were engaged in prayer. He announced the news to them that Allah, the Almighty, had changed the Qiblah. Upon hearing of this new revelation while they prayed, they immediately changed the direction of their prayer.

Al-Ijaabah Mosque

Al-Ijaabah Mosque was built in the time of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) by Banu Mu�aawiyah bin Maalik bin �Aouf Al-Aousiyoon. At first it was called Bani Mu�aawiyah Mosque, but then its name was changed, as the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) had prayed (two ra�akats) in it and then asked Allah for His approval regarding certain special matters.

In the book of hadith (traditions of the Messenger of Allah � Peace be upon him), Sahih Muslim, it states that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) embarked one day from Al-�Aaliyah ('Awaali) and consequently passed the Bani Mu�aawiyah Mosque. He entered and prayed (made two ra�akats), so (we) prayed with him. He supplicated his Lord for a long time and came (to us). He said, �I asked my Lord three things. He gave me two and forbid one. I asked Him that He not destroy my nation by (their) practices; and I asked Him that He not destroy my nation by drowning; He gave them to me. I asked him that He not make injury between them. He denied that and that was the drought�.

Al-Ghamaamah Mosque (The Mosque of the Cloud)

The site of this mosque is the original location where the Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to pray Salaat Al-�Eidain (the two �Eid prayers) and Salaat Al-Istisqaa� (the prayer for rain). As a result it was called Al-Musalaa (the Place of Prayer) or Musalaa Al-�Eid (the �Eid Prayer Place). It was designated generally, as Al-Ghamaamah when it was said that here a cloud shaded the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) from the sun.

The current structure was rebuilt in the fourteenth century by the Sultaan, �Abd Al-Hameed, the Second. The latter portion of the same century saw a structural renovation by the Sa�udi Ministry of Endowments, which preserved its Ottoman design and style.

It consists of two colonnaded galleries, which support six domes. Its length reaches twenty-six metres, its width thirteen metres, its height twelve metres and the thickness of its walls one and one half metres. Despite this mosque being an old landmark of Madinah, the five daily prayers are still held in it.

Al-Jumu'ah Mosque (The Mosque of the Friday Prayer)

This mosque is located on the banks of Wadi Ranoonaa', approximately nine hundred metres north of Qubaa' Mosque. It is called Al-Jumu'ah Mosque because the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), reached there at the time of the Jumu'ah (Friday) prayer, after having stayed at Qubaa' for a number of days during the Hijrah (migration to Madinah).

He had left Qubaa' on a Friday morning, proceeding to Madinah and reached the place of Banu Salim bin 'Auf, of the Ansaar (helpers) at the time the prayer was due. He, and those with him, prayed the first Juma'ah prayer in Islam, at this spot.

When 'Umar bin (son of) 'Abd Al-'Aziz, was the Governor of Madinah, during the period 86 - 93 A.H. [705-711 C.E.], he erected a mosque in this place, guided by accurate descriptions accorded to the Prophet's (Peace be upon him) biographies. It had been renovated a number of times in the past. Built on a small knoll, the length of the prayer area is eight metres and its width five and one-half metres. There is also a spacious plaza to the north, which can accommodate an overflow of worshippers, if necessary.

The Ministry of Endowments gave consideration to the historic location in the most recent expansion design. The old building was razed and the knoll on which it had stood, levelled. A new structure was erected that is larger than the original, encompassing several additions.

Al-Fadeekh (Al-Shams) Mosque

Al-Fadeekh is the wine that is made from dates. At the time when the Prophet (Peace be upon him) laid siege to Bani Al-Nadeer, in the month of Rabi�e Al-Awwal in the year 4 of the hijrah, he erected his tent near this site. Abu Ayoub and some Sahaabah stayed not far from it and near them was Al-Fadeekh, the wine of the date. The verse from the Qur�an descended prohibiting alcohol, so Aba Ayoub ordered them to spill it. Thus the mosque that was erected here became famous by this name. It is also known as Al-Shams Mosque, perhaps for the reason that the sun rises on it first, before the rest of the buildings in the district.

This mosque is located to the east of Qubaa� Mosque, on the side of Waadi But�haan. Its distance from the Prophet�s Mosque is approximately three kilometres. It is a small mosque, square in shape and built of black basalt. In all probability it was constructed during the time of �Umar bin �Abd Al-�Aziz and restored in that of the Ottoman Sultaan, �Abd Al-Majeed, the First, in 1266 A.H.. It consists of one colonnade and courtyard; the length of the colonnade reaches about nineteen metres, its width about fourteen. The courtyard has an area of around one thousand four hundred metres. The edifice has five domes, however it does not have a minaret. It is noteworthy to mention that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) prayed in it six nights at the time of his siege of Bani Al-Nadeer.

Al-Duraar Mosque

Al-Duraar Mosque was built by Al-Munaafiqoon (the Hypocrites) as a place of assembly, where conspiracy spearheaded by Abi �Aamir Al-Faasiq, was conspired and intrigued against Islam and the Muslims. At the time that they completed its construction, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) was intending to leave for the Battle of Tabuk. He requested of them that he pray with them in it, but they asked for respite until he returned from Tabuk. When the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) was returning from the battle to arrive at Madinah, Allah revealed the reality of their (the Hypocrites) position as regarded himself, with respect to this mosque. He revealed the noble verse (107) from Surah (9) Al-Taubah (The Repentance), �And as for those who put up a mosque by way of harming and disbelief, and to disunite the believers, and as an outpost for those who warred against Allah and His Apostle aforetime � �. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) dispatched some of the Companions who were ahead of him and ordered them to incinerate it, which they did. This mosque was located near Qubaa� Mosque and was never reconstructed after that.

Abu Dthar Mosque (Al-Sajaadah � The Prostration)

This mosque is located at the intersection of Abu Dthar Street and Airport Road, 900 metres north of the Prophet�s Mosque. It has been reported that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) prayed in it and lengthened one of his prostrations to such an extent that �Abdur Rahman bin Aouf, who had been with him, thought that he was dead. When the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) rose, he said to �Abdur Rahman, �Indeed Jibreel informed me that he who prays for me, Allah prays for him.�