• It is the first mosque built in Islam. The Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him), built it when he first came to Madina as a migrant. Before he entered Madina, he stayed in Quba for four days. On the fifth day he continued his journey to Madina with Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, (may Allah be pleased with him).
• Allah Almighty says, {A mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in. Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allah loves those who purify themselves}. [9: 108]

Virtues of Quba Mosque

• The Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him), regularly visited and prayed in Quba Mosque. He said "Anyone who performs ablution at home, goes to Quba Mosque and prays there shall have a reward equivalent to that of 'Umrah."

Location

• Southwest of Madina, in an area rich in date palm plantations.

Area

• The mosque has a total area of 13,500 square meters and accommodates 25,000 worshipers.

King Salman Project to Expand Quba Mosque 1443 AH

• This project is the largest expansion of Quba Mosque. It aims to expand the mosque and improve the surrounding area. The project seeks to expand the total area of the mosque to 50,000 square meters, with a capacity of up to 66,000 worshipers.

It has been the cemetery of Madinah since the time of the Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him). Many dead people have been buried there over the ages, foremost among them are some of the mothers of the believers, and a large number of the honorable companions, (may Allah be pleased with them). Al-Baqi' Cemetery is located to the southeast of the Prophet’s Mosque. It has an area of 180,000 m².

It was given this name because it used to have many trees. "Al-Baqi'" denotes a vast place where various types of trees grow. The Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him), used to frequently visit Al-Baqi’ Cemetery and pray for the dead.

Men can visit Al-Baqi' Cemetery:

• After the Fajr prayer until 08:00 a.m
• After Asr prayer for the duration of an hour
• Immediately after obligatory prayers if there is a funeral

Mount Uhud is a magnificent mountain, about 4 km to the north of the Prophet’s Mosque. The Noble Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him), assigned it a special status; he said, "Uhad is a mountain that loves us and we love it." The Battle of Uhud, which is one of the greatest battles in the history of Islam, took place in the vicinity of this mountain. Seventy companions of the Prophet met martyrdom in this battle, notably among them is the sayyed of all martyrs, Hamzah bin Abdulmuttalib, (may Allah be pleased with him).

Why was 'Mount Uhud' called by this name?

• Because it stands alone, separated from other mountains in the area. It extends as a chain from east to west and slants towards the north.

Approximate Dimensions:

• Length: 7 km
• Width: 2-3 km
• Altitude: up to 1,077 m

In this area, visitors will see Mount Uhud, the Archers' Mount, and the Martyrs' Cemetery.

This mountain can be reached through two means of transportation

Madinah buses

• The starting point is the Haram
• Madinah bus station (Al-Haram-Uhud) Sightseeing buses

• The Uhud Martyrs' Cemetery is 5 km to the north of the Prophet’s Mosque, at the foot of Mount Uhud. The area is called the Martyrs’ Square.

• The Martyrs' Cemetery is so called because it holds the bodies of 70 of the noble companions who were martyred in the Battle of Uhud.

• One of the most famous companions buried there is the sayyed of martyrs, Hamza bin Abduluttalib, uncle of the Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him).

• Today, the cemetery is surrounded by a wall on all sides, allowing visitors to see the inside of the cemetery.

• It is Sunnah for visitors of the cemetery to greet and pray for the dead. The Messenger of Allah, (blessings and peace be upon him), used to say when visiting cemeteries, “Peace be upon you, inhabitants of the abode of a believing people. Allah willing, we will join you. May Allah have mercy on those who have gone ahead of us and those who come later.”

It is a small mountain next to Mount Uhud.

Origin of the Name

• It was given this name because the Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him), ordered the archers in the Battle of Uhud to take their positions at the top of the mountain and to stay firm to protect the Muslim army and prevent the enemy from turning around the mountain and besieging the Muslims.

There were 50 archers under the command of Abdullah bin Jubair, (may Allah be pleased with him). The inevitable came to pass as some archers disobeyed the Prophet's commands when they saw that the polytheists had initially been defeated and started to flee the battlefield. Then, the archers left their positions and went down to collect booty while their commander, bin Jubair, tried in vain to dissuade them.

Therefore, Khaled bin Al-Walid, still a polytheist at the time, took advantage of that mistake, turned around the mountain with some elements of the polytheist army and attacked the Muslim army. He managed to reverse the outcome of the battle, and the victory of the Muslims turned into a defeat in which many of the Prophet's companions, (may Allah be pleased with them), were killed.

Allah Almighty says, {Why [is it that] when a [single] disaster struck you [on the day of Uhud], although you had struck [the enemy in the battle of Badr] with one twice as great, you said, ""From where is this?"" Say, ""It is from yourselves [i.e., due to your sin]}. [3: 165].

• It is the mosque which witnessed the change of the qiblah direction.

• When the Messenger of Allah, (blessings and peace be upon him), was in Makkah, he used to turn towards Jerusalem in his prayers, with the Ka'bah in front of him, between him and Jerusalem.

• When he migrated to Madina, he kept praying toward Jerusalem for a year, while he liked to turn towards the Ka'bah. Ultimately, the following ayah was revealed to him {We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So, turn your face [i.e., yourself] toward Al-Masjid Al-Haram}. (2: 144). Immediately, the Prophet turned towards the Ka'bah.

• It is reported that the change of the qiblah direction occurred when the Messenger of Allah, (blessings and peace be upon him), was in Bani Salamah neighborhood. He had already prayed two rak'ahs of Zuhr when the change of the Qiblah direction was revealed to him. He immediately turned towards the Ka'bah without interrupting the prayer and moved ahead of the congregation from the other direction. So, the Mosque was called Al-Qiblatain Mosque.

• This mosque is 4 km away from the Prophet's Mosque. It is located in Bani Salamah area.

• Known as Al-Ghamamah Mosque, it was built on the site where the Messenger of Allah, (blessings and peace be upon him), performed the Eid and rain request prayers.

• It is about 500 meters to the southwest of the Prophet’s Mosque.

• This mosque was built during the tenure of Caliph Omar bin Abdulaziz as governor of Madina. It underwent successive renovations throughout the ages. Today, the architectural style of the mosque has been maintained.

• The five daily prayers, except for the Friday prayer, are held in this mosque.

The Seven Mosques (or Al-Khandaq Mosques) are located on the western side of Mount Sala' in Madinah. They are erected on a part of the site of the Battle of the Trench (aka the Battle of the Confederates). These mosques are:

Al-Fath Mosque (aka Al-Khandaq or Al-Ahzab Mosque)

• It was built by Caliph Omar bin Abdulaziz. It underwent many repairs and restoration works until the Saudi era.

Salman Al-Farisi Mosque

• It is 20 meters to the south of Al-Fath Mosque.

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq Mosque It is 15 meters southwest of Salman Al-Farisi Mosque.

Omar Bin Al-Khattab Mosque

• It is 10 meters to the south of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq Mosque.

Fatima Az-Zahra Mosque

• It is also called Sa'd bin Moadh Mosque. It is the smallest of the seven mosques.

Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque

• It is located to the east of Fatima Az-Zahra Mosque, on a high rectangular mound.

The Qiblatain Mosque

• It is the mosque which witnessed the change of the qiblah direction. It is located in Bani Salamah area, 4 km away from the Prophet’s Mosque.

• This mosque was built on the site where Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, (may Allah be pleased with him), used to perform Eid prayer with the people of Madina during his reign. The location is adjacent to the prayer ground where the Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him), used to lead the Eid prayer. It is very close to Al-Ghamamah Mosque.

• It is a historic mosque that attracts visitors as its traditional style has been preserved.

• This mosque was built during the tenure of Omar bin Abdulaziz, (may Allah be pleased with him), as governor of Madina. Its black stone wall and traditional style have been preserved. The 1254-AH architectural style of the building is maintained today.

• Visitors can enjoy a close view of the mosque and take photos in the outer courtyard.

• It was erected on the site where Eid prayers were established during the reign of Caliph Omar bin Al-Khattab, (may Allah be pleased with him).
• It is located to the southwest of the Prophet’s Mosque, some 455 meters away from the expanded building.
• It was first built after 850 AH.

• It was erected on the site where Eid prayers were established during the reign of Caliph Ali bin Abi Talib, (may Allah be pleased with him).
• It is approximately 400 meters to the west of the Prophet’s Mosque.
• It was first built during the tenure of Omar bin Abdulaziz as a governor of Madina.
• It was restored and repaired during the Saudi era in 1411 AH.

• It is an ancient historic mosque, built during the time of the Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him).

• The Prophet supplicated Allah in that mosque and his prayer was accepted, hence the name ijabah (response). The Prophet passed by this mosque and prayed two rak'ahs along with some of his companions. Then he supplicated his Lord, asking Him for three graces. Two of these graces were granted, while the third was denied.

• Al-Ijabah Mosque is 580 meters to the northeast of the Prophet’s Mosque after the expansion.

• The current mosque was built on the site of the old one during the Saudi era. It has an estimated area of 500 square meters.

• Quba Walkway is a wide pedestrian path connecting the Prophet’s Mosque with Quba Mosque. It is equipped with state-of-the-art pedestrian facilities.

• There are many shops, cafés and traditional food restaurants along the path.

• The walkway is 3.6 km long. A part of the walkway serves as a park where adults and children can enjoy walking and experience the atmosphere of Madina.

• It is ideal for night walks during the hot season.

It is a leading complex dedicated to serving the Holy Quran, Quranic sciences, translations of the meanings of the Quran, and protecting the Quranic text from distortion through optimal utilization of advanced technologies in the fields of printing, audio recordings, electronic publishing and digital applications.

The Complex owns the largest Holy Quran printing press in the world. It is a culmination of the services rendered by the Kingdom to Islam and Muslims.

Complex achievements include:

• Printing more than 350 million copies of the Quran so far
• Printing about 20 million copies of the Quran annually
• Production and printing of more than 250 editions of different sizes and translations
• Issuing and printing the Holy Quran in more than 70 languages that cover all parts of the world, including 39 Asian languages

• This display is concerned with a comprehensive civilizational presentation of the biography of the Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him), in a distinct scholarly approach, utilizing innovative and creative presentation tools.

Location

• The southern area facing the Qiblah of the Prophet’s Mosque.

The display aims at

• Introducing knowledge of Allah Almighty, His names and attributes, and signs of His greatness
• Introducing knowledge about Islam and Islamic values and teachings
• Presenting the biography of Prophet Muhammad, (blessings and peace be upon him)
• Giving presentations on the prophets and messengers of Allah, (blessings and peace be upon them)
• Introducing Islamic monuments and Muslim civilizational landmarks

It is the first museum specialized in presenting the civilizational, cultural and Islamic history of Madinah from the Prophet’s migration to the present. This museum takes you on a rich tour of the history of Madina, the Prophet's Mosque, and the biography of the Prophet, (blessings and peace be upon him).

Museum guides present detailed information to visitors in several languages, highlighting:

• The number of historical and archaeological holdings
• Historical figures
• Pictures, drawings, inscriptions, writings and manuscripts

In 1983, a project was launched to convert the Hejaz Railway Station, which was built in 1908, into Al-Madina Museum.

Holdings

• The museum holds various archaeological collections, visual exhibitions, and rare pictures and photos that shed light on the history of Madina in the various eras.

• The museum holds nearly 2,000 artifacts that embody the heritage and culture of Madina, and document the landscape, demographics, and the ways in which Madina was shaped down the ages.

Location of the Museum

• It is located in the railway station building, which is the last station of Hijaz Railway, near Al-Anbariya Mosque in Madina.

• The architecture of the Prophet’s Mosque is a testament to the beauty and perfection of Islamic architecture and the rich historic heritage of the Prophet’s Mosque.

• This exhibition aims to enrich the visitor's experience and to highlight aspects of the architecture of the Prophet's Mosque and the provided services.

• It enriches the experience of its visitors by presenting features of the Prophet’s Mosque, such as the pulpit, the mihrab (niche), domes, umbrella canopies, gates and minarets. State-of-the-art presentation methods are employed to present the content in several world languages.

• Through 12 replicas, the history of the architecture of the Prophet’s Mosque is presented since it was first constructed, covering the various expansions of the mosque throughout history.

Location of the Exhibition

• It is located in front of the southern facade of the Prophet's Mosque.

It is a blessed valley and an authentic constituent of the history of Madinah. It is characterized by its sweet waters, clean air and fertile soil. It is also linked to the Prophet’s biography, a point that sets it above other sites and earns it fame and prestige in the hearts of Muslims. Omar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that he heard the prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, say, “Tonight, a messenger from my Lord came to me, and said: Pray in this blessed valley.”

Some of the companions and followers built their homes on the banks of this valley. A self-evident example is the Castle of Urwa bin Al-Zubayr, the ruins of which are still visible today. Pebbles collected from this valley were spread on the floor of the Prophet’s Mosque during the reign of Omar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him.

Al-Aqiq valley is more than 100 km to the south of Madinah.

It is currently a public park, comprising a garden, a park and a walkway.

Madinah is known for the abundance of palm trees and historical farms and orchards. Some of the most important orchards are:

Bayraha Orchard and Well

Bayraha was a garden in Al-Madinah, owned by Abu Talha Al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him. In Bayraha was a well by the same name. The Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, used to go into this garden, sit under its trees and drink of its sweet water. When the ayah "Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love" (3: 92] was revealed, Abu Talha gave the garden to the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, as alms. This garden has become part of the Prophet’s Mosque.

Al-Mustazal Garden

It is the garden surrounding the Well of Adhaq. The Helpers (Ansar) received Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, in this garden when he came to Madinah as a migrant. It is located to the southwest of Quba Mosque.

Sawalah Garden

It is located in Qurban area. It was owned by Abdurrahman bin Awf, may Allah be pleased with him. Rich in palm trees, it is still there today.

Salman Al-Farisi (Al-Faqeer) Farm and Well

This farm is located in Al-Awali neighborhood in Madinah.

Madinah Orchards Today

These and other orchards still exist today. Many of them have been transformed from date production farms into guest houses, museums and reserves, hence becoming permanent destinations for the residents and visitors of Madinah. Some orchards have disappeared due to urbanization.

It is one of the most beautiful parks in Madinah. It is 5 km to the south of the Prophet's Mosque. This park has an area of 4.5 km2. It is characterized by its dense, tall trees and symmetrical engineering. There are places to sit in the midst of beautiful scenery and pleasant greenery.

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 2 doors, one to the right and the other to the left of the triangle inside the Chamber.

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].

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.

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.

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.

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.