The Masjid of the Prophet
The first thing a visitor of Madeenah sees upon entering it is the Mosque of the Prophet with its ten towering minarets.
It is the second most sacred Mosque in Islam, and one of only three Mosques around the world to which a Muslim may undertake a journey to visit. The Prophet said: "Do not set out for a journey to any Mosque (intending to earn blessings or special reward of prayer) other than the three Mosques: Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, and my Masjid." [Al-Bukhari]
Imam Al-Bukhari also narrated that the Prophet indicated that the reward for making a single prayer in it is more than the reward of a thousand prayers performed in any other Mosque except for the Sacred Mosque of Makkah. If you happen to be attending prayer during the month of Ramadan or the season of Hajj (and many other times as well), each time the call for prayer is made, you will see about half a million man and woman rise up to stand in straight lines, facing the Qiblah; and at that time, you realize that the calculations are not an over statement.
After arriving from Makkah and spending a few weeks in the Mosque of Qubaa’, at Al-‘Ulayyah outskirt of Madeenah, the Prophet decided to find a more suitable place to build a larger Mosque, as well as a place where he and his family could live. And since all tribes wanted to provide free land for that purpose, and so that he would not appear like he was favoring any one over another, the Prophet told them that he would ride his she-camel and wherever she sits down, it will be the place he would choose for the Mosque. The she-camel stopped and sat down in a piece of land that was owned by two orphans. The Prophet asked Abu Bakr to buy that piece of land from them. Right after the purchase of the land, the Prophet designed the Mosque and participated in its erection along with all of the Muslims there. While the Mosque and the Prophet's residence were under construction, which took more than a month, the Prophet was hosted by the Madeenan native, the Companion Abu Ayyoob Al-Ansaari .
When finished, the Mosque was in the shape of a rectangle, whose length runs from North to South, and its width, East to West; with a total area of about 1050 square meters. The front of the building was sixty meters in length. Today, we see above this section of the Mosque, in the Eastern area, the famous green dome and a square minaret of medium height. Over the Western section of this part of the building, is a cylindrical minaret, also of medium height and many other small, silver colored domes. The two minarets mentioned, are of less height than the others, and their shapes and design are different, as they were erected in past eras.
The first Mosque did not have any minarets because the call for prayer was not prescribed then. The Mosque had three doors, and one section of it had a simple roof made of palm tree branches under which there was As-Suffah which served as a residence for those Companions alien to Madeenah and had nowhere else to live. As the number of Companions housed in As-Suffah increased, they were relocated to many guesthouses around the Madeenah.
The Mosque became the center of life in Madeenah, and the place where all of public affairs were managed.
The first change in the size of the Mosque took place in the seventh year of Hijrah. After the Battle of Khaybar, the Mosque was expanded causing its area to exceed 2500 square meters. Renewals and additions to the Mosque continued to take place throughout time; with the last and most important one beginning about twenty years ago and still going on.
Special Virtues of the Prayer in the Prophet’s Mosque
As one enters from the door of Jibreel (Gabriel), one is led to the Ar-Rawdhah Ash-Shareefah (literally, the honored and purified meadow), which is the area between the room housing the grave of the Prophet and his Companions, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and the Prophet's pulpit.
Closer to the right side of Ar-Rawdhah, one would encounter the Mihraab or the niche in which the Prophet had used to prostrate himself before Allah throughout his life in Madeenah. Prayer in Ar-Rawdhah is highly recommended. The Prophet said: "In the space between my house and my pulpit is a Meadow of Paradise." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
But other forms of worship, like recitation of the Quran and supplication, are also highly recommended there. One must always bear in mind, however, that the space is limited and one should, therefore, be courteous to allow others opportunity to enjoy the blessing.
In Ar-Rawdhah, listening to the splendid, solemn recitation of the Quran; the soft murmuring of words of supplication; and watching people in a deep state of wordless contemplation, is overwhelming. This - along with the realization that for over 1400 years, so many Companions as well as countless thousands of scholars and good Muslims, have flocked to the Prophet's Mosque eager to be in that same spot - forces many to feel the intensity of the Prophetic presence, so much so they sit in awe at a respectful distance. It is a moment when one feels truly humble, and finds it really hard to resist crying.