Mosques around the World — Page 6
6. The Prophet's Mosque. Af (Masjid-e-Nabwi) fter building the Quba Mosque, Holy Prophet. Muhammadsa, finally arrived in Medina where he stayed at the home of Abu Ayub Ansarira. It was here where he also purchased a vacant lot and began the construction of a modest structure made of mud and bricks, laboring himself alongside his companions. The roof was made from leaves and trunks of date palms. The dimensions of the Prophet's Mosque were as follows:. Height, 10 ft. ; Length, 105 ft. ; Width, 90 ft. . This mosque represents the height in structural simplicity, not to mention the zenith of righteousness. . Even the usually critical Western observers could not help but praise this mosque, as Sir William Muir remarked: "Though rude in material, and insignificant in dimensions, the Mosque of Muhammadsa is glorious in the history of Islam. Here, the Prophet and his. Companions spent most of their time; here, the daily service, with its oft-recurring prayers, was first publicly established; and here, the great congregation assembled. every Friday, listening with reverence and awe to messages from Heaven. Here, the Prophet planned his victories; here, he received embassies from vanquished and contrite tribes; and from hence issued edicts which struck terror amongst the rebellious to the very outskirts of the peninsula. Hard by, in the apartment of Aisha, he breathed his last; and there, side by side with his first two Successors, he lies buried. " (Life of Muhammad, page 177). The Mosque With Two Qiblas (Masjid-e-Qiblatain). The. The Holy Prophetsa used to face towards the sacred temple in Jerusalem all the time, even when he migrated to Medina. His personal desire was to face towards the sacred mosque in Mecca, yet he did not even pray for this change. Allah, however, fulfilled his wish and directed him to change his Qibla (direction of. Prayer) to the sacred mosque. This commandment was revealed while he was offering Zuhar prayers and had completed the first two raka'ats. He immediately obeyed this revelation and changed his direction while in the state of prayer. The followers also adopted this change. . This historic change took place at the Mosque of. Bani Salma and is now known as Masjid Qiblatain (the mosque with two Qiblas). This event has been chronicled in the Holy Qur'an as follows: قد ترى تَقَلبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ۚ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قبلة ترضه هاس قولِ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ السَعِيدِ الْحَرَامِ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنْتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَةً ، وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أوتُوا الْكِتَبُ لِيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِم وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ "Verily, We see thee turning thy face often to heaven; surely, then, will We make thee turn to the. Qibla which thou likest. So, turn thy face towards the. Sacred Mosque; and wherever you be, turn your faces towards it. And they to whom the Book has been given know that this is the truth from their Lord; and Allah is not unmindful of what they do. " (2:145). So Said the Holy Prophetsa:. Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa said: Shall I tell you something whereby Allah would wipe out your sins and raise your status? Thos present said: Certainly, Messenger of Allahsa. He said:. Performing the ablution carefully even in difficulty, frequent walking to the mosque, and waiting eagerly for the next salat (prayer) after one is finished. . . this is your striving in the cause of Allah. (Sahih Muslim). Buraidah relates that the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa said: To those who walk to the mosque in dark nights, give glad tidings of full light on the Day of Judgement. (Abu Daud and Tirmidhi). Ahmadiyya Muslim Association USA: 1994 Souvenir