A Historical Look at the Construction and Expansions of Masjid-e-Nabwi

Masjid e Nabwi is also known as Grand Mosque or Prophet's Mosque. Located in Medina, Saudi Arabia, it is the second holiest site in Islam, following Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. This place of worship holds a significant status for Muslims all over the globe as it is the final resting point of God’s beloved messenger. Apart from its spiritual value, the mosque itself is an architectural marvel to be admired. Having undergone numerous expansions, this structure is a timeless masterpiece. Masjid e Nabwi reflects the artistic and cultural influences of various Islamic eras. With its iconic Green Dome, towering minarets, and intricately designed interiors, Prophet’s Mosque is a testament to Islamic legacy. Whether it is to offer prayers or simply get awed by the beautiful structural design, Masjid e Nabwi welcomes every worshipper with open arms. People who are travelling during Ramadan can opt for the 1st Ashra Ramadan Umrah packages or the Last Ashra Ramadan Umrah packages for a smooth trip. This blog will delve into the history and the Three Saudi Expansions that led to the Grand Mosque known today.

A Brief History of the Construction of Masjid e Nabwi

In 622 CE, Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) ordered the construction of Masjid-e-Nabawi. The foundation was laid with stones, walls were made from adobe bricks, and palm trunks were used as pillars, with a roof of palm branches. The total area at that time was 805 square metres.

However, the Grand Mosque was further expanded during the reign of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab. It has stretched to a total of 1,100 square metres. Between 649 and 650 CE, Caliph Uthman ibn Affan replaced the palm trunk pillars with stone columns, enhancing the mosque’s durability. He added 4.96 metres more in the area. The Abbasid Caliph Muhammad Bin Mansoor a.k.a

Mahdi oversaw another expansion in 161 AH (778 and 781 CE), stretching it to 2,450 square metres. During the Ottoman Empire in 1233 AH (1817-1818), Sultan Mahmud II constructed a new dome over the Prophet's chamber, replacing the one built by Qaitbay (Sultan of Mamluk Sultanate). This dome was covered with lead and painted green, giving rise to the iconic Green Dome.

In 1265 AH (1849-1861), Sultan Abdulmeciid I of the Ottoman Era, ordered another expansion, extending the whole area of the mosque to 1,273 square metres. This expansion was completed in 13 years. However, no further adjustments were made for a long time after his tenure.

First Saudi Expansion

Shah Abdulaziz Al Saud began the First Saudi Expansion of the Holy Mosque, Madina in 1949. He ordered the expansion of the Masjid e Nabwi which was continued by his sons including King Shah Saud bin Abdulaziz, who laid the foundation stone of this site in 1950.

Due to the lack of cutting-edge tools, most of the construction was done via labour. This expansion took 5 years to complete. In the First Saudi Expansion, the Mataaf area was enlarged by adding a second floor. Moreover, the buildings of the Prophet’s Mosque were raised to three floors.

ZamZam water was made easily accessible with the installation of a pump, water duct, and taps. Additionally, the interior of the Kaaba was restored by filling the wall cracks. In 1979, Shah Khalid replaced the previous door with the new one, gilded in 280 kg of pure gold. During the expansion old carpets were changed with the standard ones and new gates were added as well.

Second Saudi Expansion

The Second Saudi Expansion occurred during the tenure of Shah Faisal bin Malik in 1405 Hijri (October 1984). This expansion is considered to be the largest renovation to this date. The estimated timeframe for completion was 6 years, stretching it 5x times more than the current area. A master plan for expansion was designed by the Egyptian architect Dr Muhammad Ismael Kamal. It involved adding the whole city area at the time of the Prophet (PBUH) in the current project.

During the Second Expansion, almost 8,558 pipes were used in the pillars of the mosque to make them withstand the weight of the structure. Moreover, in a nearby plant, 1 million concrete was being produced for the construction. To ensure the high quality of the concrete, ultrasonic sensors were added to the pillars.

Around 1,20,000 bricks were used for the walls of the mosque whereas more than 5 million man-made stones were added to the wall decor. These stones were carefully crafted by skilled craftsmen via negative technique. It is a process which involves designing on the backside so that the actual print becomes visible on the gypsum structure. Excellent quality materials such as red and grey graphite were used for the pillars. The pillars were polished to bring out their red colour, intensifying the overall beauty of Masjid e Nabwi.  This expansion further included the 27 new courtyards, each featuring movable domes.

These retractable domes were supervised by German Muslim- Mahmud Murash. To make the domes strong, plywood was used which came from Moroccan cedar wood. Water-proof PVC sheets were spread on the domes to protect them from weather conditions. As for the artwork of these domes, polycarbon stencils were used. Special stones such as Amazonite were imported from Kenya whereas the tip of the domes were made in Switzerland, gilded in 23-karat gold.

The second Saudi Expansion added new gates including Bab Malik Fahd, Bab Salam, and Bab Abu Bakr. Also, other modern facilities like car parking, air conditioning systems, escalators, extensive sound systems, and underground pathways were created.

Third Saudi Expansion

The Third Saudi Expansion started during the reign of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2011. While the work was completed in 2015 under the leadership of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, further changes are still ongoing. This expansion aims to increase the total area of the mosque from 414,000 square meters to 1.564 million square meters. The praying area will be increased from 390,000 to 912,000 square meters. Moreover, this renovation will include 16,726 restrooms, 12,639 ablution spots, and 2,500 fire extinguisher boxes. During this expansion, more than 13 billion rocks, 37,800 stones, 210,000 metres of marble, and 3 million cubic metres of concrete have been used.

Final Words

This blog has taken a look at the historical and current expansions of the Holy Mosque in Madina. From the Prophet’s time to the current monarchy, each era has taken a step towards improving the overall architecture of the mosque. Whether it is about expanding the praying area to installing facilities such as escalators, cooling floors, mist fans, and shaded umbrellas, every amenity has made this place accessible for Muslims. Are you looking for a way to fly to Madina City to view this magnificent mosque? Contact Muslims Holy Travel to get customised Umrah packages at an economical price.