The Prophet's Mosque

Why the mosque matters

When the Prophet Muhammad arrived in Medina after the Hijrah, the first major structure the community built was this mosque — originally an open courtyard with walls of mud brick, palm-trunk columns and a roof of palm fronds, adjoining the rooms where the Prophet lived. He led prayers here, received delegations here, and was buried here in 632 CE in the room of his wife Aisha. In a well-known hadith, prayer in this mosque is described as better than a thousand prayers elsewhere, excepting the Sacred Mosque in Mecca.

The Green Dome and the Sacred Chamber

The Green Dome rises over the Sacred Chamber containing the graves of the Prophet and the first two caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar. A dome was first built over the chamber in 1279 CE under the Mamluk sultan Qalawun and has been rebuilt and repainted several times; the green colour dates to 1837. Visitors offer greetings (salam) at the chamber from the corridor along its southern face; men and women are directed to it at different times and entrances.

The Rawdah

The Rawdah ash-Sharifah is the area between the Prophet's tomb and his minbar, marked today by green carpets in contrast with the red carpets of the rest of the prayer hall. A hadith describes it as "a garden from the gardens of Paradise," which is why praying there is so sought after. Access is managed through timed permits booked in the official Nusuk app, with separate slots for men and women. Book early — slots are limited, and each permit typically allows a short visit. Full instructions are on the Rawdah booking guide.

From courtyard to mega-structure

Nearly every ruling dynasty enlarged the mosque: the caliphs Umar and Uthman, the Umayyad al-Walid I (who first incorporated the burial chamber into the mosque), the Abbasids, Mamluks and Ottomans (whose ornate southern prayer hall survives), and finally the Saudi expansions of the 1950s, 1980s–90s and 2010s. Today the complex, together with its marble piazzas shaded by giant folding umbrellas, can accommodate on the order of a million worshippers at peak seasons — from a courtyard that once measured about 30 by 35 metres.

Practical information

• Opening: the mosque is open to Muslim worshippers around the clock during most of the year, with the five daily prayers as the rhythm of the day. Crowds peak at Friday prayers, in Ramadan and during Hajj season.
• Access: the mosque and the central sanctuary district around it are open to Muslims. See the travel guide for how the access rules work in practice for the wider city.
• Dress and conduct: modest dress for everyone; women cover their hair inside. Keep voices low, follow the direction of the stewards, and note that photography rules inside the prayer halls are enforced with varying strictness.
• Shoes and bags: shoe racks stand at every gate; carry a shoe bag at busy times. Large luggage is not allowed inside.
• Accessibility: wheelchairs are available, floors are level marble, and dedicated entrances serve reduced-mobility visitors.
• Getting there: most central hotels are within a few minutes' walk. From the airport or the Haramain station, see getting around.