History of Mihrab of Prophet’s Mosque
Date Added
24/07/2019
Content Type
Article
Category
News paper
Link to Content
Author
ARAB NEWS
Year of Publication
2016
Description
MADINAH: The
Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah is like a magnet pulling Muslims from across the
world who come to pray there and salute Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
and two of his close companions.
However, a rich
Islamic history lies hidden behind the breathtaking view of the mosque, which
is an epitome of modern and ancient art and architecture. Riyazul Jannah (green
carpet area), where the original mosque once stood, is the center of attraction
for various reasons.
Historians were
quoted by local media as saying that the Mihrab facing the first Qibla was at
the end of the mosque, from the northern side opposite the Othman gate and next
to the fifth column, and to the north at Ayesha’s column.
The Prophet
(pbuh) and his followers performed prayers in the direction of Jerusalem after
they came to Madinah. However, after the Prophet (pbuh) was ordered to change
the direction of the Qibla to Kaaba, he placed the Mihrab from the north of the
mosque to the south, and prayed at Ayesha’s column for two or four months.
The Prophet
(pbuh) later moved forward and prayed for a few days at another column, where
he subsequently placed the Mihrab.
Omar bin
Al-Khattab, the second caliph of Islam, later moved the Imam’s Mihrab to the
far south. The mosque did not have a curved Mihrab during the Prophet’s time or
during the time of the four caliphs.
Sources said
that the first curved niche or Mihrab was added during the Ummayad period. The
niches varied and include the Al-Rawdah niche, which is on the left of the
Mimbar; the Othmani niche on the eastern wall of the mosque from where the imam
leads the prayer now; Al-Suleimani niche, which was known as the Hanafi niche
to the left of the Mimbar; Fatima’s niche, to the south of the night prayer
niche inside the honorable room, and Sheikh Al-Haram niche, to the back of
Dakat Al-Aghwath.